The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently celebrated the restoration and reuse of contaminated land at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in central New York state.

EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia and the Office of Land and Emergency Management Acting Assistant Administrator Barry Breen lauded the partnership between federal agencies, states, tribes, local partners and developers during the effort, a Dec. 8 EPA press release said.

"This formerly contaminated property is now a thriving mixed-use business and technology park that spurs economic growth in the Mohawk Valley and provides a renewed energy to the heart of Oneida County," Garcia said in the release. "The cleanup and redevelopment success at the Former Griffiss Air Force Base is a model that is sure to be replicated at other reuse projects in the future."

Garcia and Breen were joined by Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo, Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Correll of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure, State DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and other officials in a virtual ceremony, the release said.

Established in 1943 during the height of World War II, Griffiss’s was home to several air force operations including aerial refueling, long-range bombardment, electronic research and support activities, the EPA said in a separate release. During its 50 years of operation, the land and water at the site had become plagued with hazardous materials.

The base was closed in 1995 due to the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990, the release said. Since then, the land has gone through several decontamination projects conducted by the EPA, New York Department of Health and the U.S. Air Force.

The site now includes Griffiss International Airport, the Air Force Research Lab, the New York Air National Guard Base, and 72 tenants employing nearly 6,000 people, the release said.