Griffiss Air Force Base

Griffiss Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force installation, located in Rome, New York, about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Utica in central New York state. Missions at Griffiss AFB included fighter interceptors, electronic research, installation, and support activities, aerial refueling, and bombers. Opened in 1942, the base closed pursuant to BRAC action in 1995 and its airfield is now Griffiss International Airport, owned by Oneida County. In November 1984 the site was added to the National Priorities List because hazardous chemicals were found in soil and ground water. Solvents, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) had been disposed in landfills and dry wellsClosed September 1995, by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision, Realigned for civilian and non-combat purposes in 1995, it is now home to the Griffiss Business and Technology Park. Post-closure, two USAF activities remained on the former Griffiss AFB: the Rome Research Site of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as operated by the New York Air National Guard from a small complex of buildings in the Technology Park.