Joint Interagency Installation (JII) Letter to the Editor

Posted: 4/15/2009 8:10 AM

October 15, 2008

To the editor:

We the members of Horsham Township Council feel the necessity to set forth the facts and our position as it relates to the recently passed federal legislation concerning the Horsham Joint Interagency Installation (JII). Since the summer of 2005 when the Department of Defense determined that the Naval Air Station was no longer needed for the National Defense, we have attempted to work with all levels of government to limit the use of the runway and develop a reuse plan that would have a minimal impact to this region. In our letter to Congresswoman Schwartz and Senators Casey and Specter dated August 28, 2008 (copy of which is attached for your ready reference) we forwarded to them proposed legislation. That proposed legislation would remove any chance that NAS-JRB Willow Grove could be turned into a commercial or civilian airport and also would ensure that the non governmental users would be required to comply with local codes and pay their fair share of local, county, and school district taxes. Additionally, our proposed legislation reflects our consistent position on the critically important issue surrounding the definition of "associated users" occupying the JII. The legislation we proposed reflects the stated purpose of the JII and defines "associated users" as only those non governmental organizations and private entities performing national defense, homeland security, or emergency preparedness missions of the installation. Regrettably the legislation that was passed does not contain those requirements as we had requested.

The legislation that did pass does not fulfill the objectives of limiting the use of the runway to mission related flights. In fact this new legislation actually dilutes the intent of the original legislation that provided for the creation of a Joint Interagency Installation by allowing any corporation that is a tenant of the Installation to have unrestricted use the runway. Those same corporations and businesses need not be conducting mission related activities and each and every one of those tenants can have unlimited number of flights in and out, on any day, at any hour, and for any purpose. If the base was "saved" for national defense, homeland security, and emergency preparedness, then the non governmental tenants that are allowed by the State to locate there should be performing those missions. However, the Governor's staff has taken the position that an "associated user" is any private corporation willing to pay the right price and is entitled to locate at the former base and use the runway for their corporate gain. That simply is not fair to the many tax paying, code complying businesses throughout the region and creates a scenario that could compromise the quality of life for not only Horsham's residents but for all the residents in our region.

We have asked to meet with our federal elected officials to review our proposed legislation so that we may point out the flaws in the existing legislation. We continue to be ready, willing, and able to work with our Senators and Congresswoman, the Governor, and all interested parties to ensure the long term best interests of the residents of our region are met at the same time that we work to insure the national defense, homeland security, and emergency preparedness.

Very truly yours,

Joanna M. Furia, Esq., President
W. William Whiteside, III, Vice President

Mark McCouch, Councilman

Gregory S. Nesbitt, Esq. , Councilman

Andrew Santacroce, Councilman