Environmental Impact Study of Base Expected in January

Before the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority takes ownership of the former Willow Grove air base, the federal government must present its final report related to various environmental conditions.

That could happen in January, HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee told Patch. 

The draft of the federal government's environmental impact statement has been completed and is being sent "up their chain of command," McGee said. 

The report, which analyzes everything from traffic, noise, air quality, land use, to water resources, socioeconomics, hazardous materials and environmental cleanup and more, could be presented in a public meeting in early January, according to McGee. 

The draft would be advertised in December and would be available on the Navy's Web site thereafter, McGee said. 

"They have not shared anything with us," McGee said. "They have to brief the people in Washington before they go public with it."

The environmental impact statement is integral in the HLRA's eventual acquisition of the 862 acres of Willow Grove air base. McGee said earlier this week that land transfer could occur by the end of 2014 or early 2015.