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Naval Air Station Brunswick
Naval Air Station Brunswick
Naval Air Station Brunswick
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Naval Air Station Brunswick (IATA: NHZ, ICAO: KNHZ, FAA LID: NHZ), also known as NAS Brunswick or the Brunswick Naval Air Station, was a military airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Brunswick, Maine, with a number of Navy-operated maritime patrol aircraft. As of November 28, 2009, the last aircraft (P-3 Orions) left.[1] The runways were permanently closed in January 2010. The base operated while the airport operated publicly under the name Brunswick Executive Airport until the base closed on May 31, 2011, as per the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure committee decision. Since then the base is known as Brunswick Landing. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority[2] has been managing base redevelopment with high-tech business and industrial park.[3] On April 2, 2011, the airport reopened as Brunswick Executive Airport.

Key Information

History

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The Brunswick airport was originally built in 1935 by the New Deal agency the Maine Emergency Relief Administration, a state division of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration after a survey of airports in the state by Capt. Harry M. Jones with the intention of building a chain of airports in coastal towns, inland towns, and lake resorts. It built 1 NW - SE 1800 x 50 gravel runway and 1 E - W 1800x100 graded runway.[4]

World War II

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Naval Air Station Brunswick was developed and occupied in March 1943, and was first commissioned on April 15, 1943, to train and form-up Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadrons with Vought Corsairs, Grumman Avengers and Grumman Hellcats. The 1,487-acre (6 km2) station was built in part on land that was donated by the town of Brunswick. By the early 1940s the town was using most of this land to operate a small municipal airport, which would become the core of the air station.

Operating under the motto, "Built For Business", the first U.S. squadron to arrive at NAS Brunswick was a heavier-than-air Scouting Squadron (VS1D1). During World War II, pilots from NAS Brunswick as well as those of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm used the station as a base from which they carried out anti-submarine warfare missions with around-the-clock efficiency. The air station had a contingent from the Fleet Air Arm, but the squadrons also practiced at other Naval Auxiliary Air Facilities (NAAF) in Maine before eventual transport to Britain. The station was supporting the Casco Bay NAAF seaplane base on Long Island from May 14, 1943 to December 15, 1946 and auxiliary landing fields Lewiston NAAF until December 1, 1945, Sanford NAAF until February 1, 1946, Rockland NAAF until March 15, 1946, and Bar Harbor NAAF from September 1, 1943 until November 15, 1945.[5] On August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered to Allied forces, ending the war. As a result, NAS Brunswick was scheduled for deactivation.

Cold War

[edit]

The air station was deactivated in October 1946, the land was reverted to caretaker status, and the land and buildings leased jointly to the University of Maine and Bowdoin College. When the station’s facilities were no longer required, the University of Maine and Bowdoin College terminated their leases and in 1949, operations at NAS Brunswick were taken over by the Brunswick Flying Service. This commercial deviation was short-lived however, when the Navy selected the station as a potential center for development of "Services to the Fleet". Plans were soon placed on the drawing boards to make this a thriving operational air station.

On March 15, 1951, the National Ensign was hoisted, re-commissioning the station as a Naval Air Facility. The station soon became a beehive of activity, as it was slated to become a Master Jet Base. New construction around the base was begun which included dual 8,000-foot runways, and new facilities to replace the temporary structures of World War II, including a modern operations tower capable of handling all the complex flights of a full-scale Naval Air Station. Two outlying fields were also planned to be built, one for gunnery and one for carrier practice landings.

On June 15, 1950, North Korea on Chinese authorization crossed the 38th parallel and invaded their neighbors in South Korea. Acting quickly and on little notice, the American military reversed the post-World War II trend of reduction-in-forces and several subordinate commands stationed at NAS Brunswick were re-commissioned. While not directly involved in combat operations in Korea, its squadrons contributed to the war effort by assuming the many responsibilities of commands who had been deployed to the Pacific.

In 1959, NAS Brunswick’s primary mission was support of Fleet Air Wing Three which was composed of Patrol Squadrons Seven, Ten, Eleven, Twenty One, Twenty Three, and Twenty Six. Flying the P2V Neptune and PB4Y-2 Privateer, the squadrons played a major part in the defense of the North Atlantic area, tracking Soviet submarines around the clock throughout the Cold War.

In 1962, NAS Brunswick and Fleet Air Wing Five began the transition to the P-3A Orion marking the beginning of a new era in Naval Patrol Aviation. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and more encompassing, during the entirety of the Cold War between American and Soviet forces, both the P2V and P-3A became nationally well-known due to their surveillance of Soviet ships in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to a safe resolution.

Fleet Air Wing Five aircraft also played an important part in America’s early crewed space programs in 1965 and 1966, helping to locate Mercury and Gemini capsules after splashdowns.

In 1966, Wing Five began deployments in the Western Pacific. Based at Naval Station Sangley Point in the Philippines, squadrons flew patrol and combat missions in support of Seventh Fleet operations in South East Asia throughout the years of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

On August 2 of 1990, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launched an invasion on the neighboring country of Kuwait. In response, the United States launched a wholly defensive mission to the Middle East named Operation Desert Shield. Patrol Squadron Twenty Three was the first East Coast maritime patrol squadron in-theater for Operation Desert Shield, providing maritime surveillance throughout the Red Sea. Patrol Squadron EIGHT participated in joint operations during Desert Storm, flying combat sorties in the effort to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi forces.

Post Cold War

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At the end of the Cold War in 1991, many maritime patrol squadrons were reduced or relocated. Combat Wing Five disestablished Patrol Squadron 44 in May 1991, Patrol Squadron 23 in December 1994, and Patrol Squadron 11 in August 1997.

During the mid-1990s with the breakup and subsequent conflict in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Patrol Squadrons 8, 10, 11, 26 from NAS Brunswick were called upon to fly countless sorties in the Adriatic Sea in support of Operation Sharp Guard. Of specific note, Patrol Squadron 10 was the first VP squadron to conduct offensive missile attacks since Vietnam in the 1970s. In 1994, 10,138 enlisted, officers, civilian employees, and family members called NAS Brunswick home.

In the early years of the new millennium, squadrons home ported at NAS Brunswick continued to fulfill their missions by flying intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and maritime patrol sorties in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo and Operation Deliberate Forge in Bosnia in support of U.S. and NATO forces. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the U.S., those same squadrons began flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in the Middle East.

NAS Brunswick-based crews flew homeland defense maritime patrols off the Atlantic coast as part of Operation Noble Eagle and additional assets were surged in support of OEF operations. Fleet Air Wing Five squadrons were present during the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and continue to fly in support of ongoing operations.

On October 21, 2008, a P-3 Orion from Patrol Wing Five overshot the runway at Bagram Air Base while landing. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed but the only injury to the crew was one broken ankle. The aircraft was assigned to CTF-57 in Afghanistan.[citation needed]

Closure

[edit]

After being listed on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list, NAS Brunswick began preparing itself for shut down with a mandated September 2011 closure date. In May 2008, Captain Will Fitzgerald relieved Captain George Womack, becoming NAS Brunswick’s 36th and final Commanding Officer, and was tasked with the responsibility of closing the base.[citation needed] In September 2008, NAS Brunswick hosted the 33rd Great State of Maine Air Show for the last time, which boasted an attendance of more than 150,000 people from the local area and out of state. The air show will be held again in August 2017, without the support of a military base. In November 2008, the Patrol Squadron 8 Tigers were the first Fleet Air Wing Five squadron to permanently leave NAS Brunswick on deployment, scheduled to return to their new home port of NAS Jacksonville, Florida.[citation needed] May 2009 saw the last squadron Changes of Command held on base when the reins of the Patrol Squadron 26 Tridents and the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 62 Nor’Easters (having since been renamed the Nomads) were handed over to new Commanding Officers.[citation needed] In June 2009, the "Red Lancers" Patrol Squadron 10 departed Brunswick for their new home port of NAS Jacksonville, followed by Special Projects Patrol Squadron 1 and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 62 in July. The last squadron to leave NAS Brunswick was Patrol Squadron 26, which made their final departures late November 2009. Prior to its closure, there were approximately 1681 officers, sailors, and civilian employees actively working on base.[citation needed]

December 23, 2009 marked the last day of Navy Reserve activity at NAS Brunswick when the Navy Operational Support Center lowered the National Ensign and closed its doors for the last time. Captain Scott F. Walton, the NOSC Commanding Officer, had previously been the last C.O. of Patrol Squadron VP-92 Minutemen, a Navy Reserve squadron made up of many local Maine citizens. VP-92 operated out of NAS Brunswick from 1996 to 2007.[6]

At an onsite ceremony on May 31, 2011 the base was officially decommissioned. Navy officials handed over the remaining property to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority.[7] Property is being redeveloped for civilian use as Brunswick Landing. This started with the opening of the Brunswick Executive Airport. Southern Maine Community College has built a new campus on the site.[8]

Environmental problems

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared the base a Superfund Site in 1987 for chemical contamination after open-air detonation of ordnance. From 2007 until 2015, the Navy assessed and removed ordnance from the area, spending $3–4 million on site clean-up. In July 2015, EPA declared the area safe with so called "land use controls", such as signs and fencing.[9]

In September 2015, it became known that the Navy’s closure draft report mentioned contamination with perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). They had been "recorded at levels above the EPA’s provisional health advisory", a number derived from lab tests on animals, at several places, many of which were associated with past use of PFC-containing fire-fighting foam, such as areas around the airplane runway and between hangars. Groundwater is contaminated at the former fire department building and the foam storage building. Restoration Advisory Board members criticized the land use control plan as insufficient, after PFCs found in well water at Pease Air Force Base in neighboring New Hampshire had exposed people including children as blood monitoring has shown.[10] The Air Force had been testing 82 former and active installations nationwide for PFCs.[11]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Naval Air Station Brunswick

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Naval Air Station Brunswick was a airfield and base located southeast of , operational from April 15, 1943, until its closure on May 31, 2011, following designation under the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission process. The facility, originally a municipal airfield acquired by the amid demands, primarily supported and operations, hosting squadrons such as VP-26 equipped with P-3 Orion aircraft that contributed to deterrence efforts, including surveillance during the 1962 . Initially established to train pilots, NAS Brunswick evolved into a key hub for Atlantic Fleet patrol wings, emphasizing long-range reconnaissance and ASW training amid escalating submarine threats from the 1950s onward. Its strategic coastal position facilitated deployments for North Atlantic patrols, underscoring the Navy's focus on sea denial capabilities during the . Post-closure, the site underwent as a location due to legacy contaminants from fuels, solvents, and firefighting foams, with over $100 million invested in cleanup efforts; a 2024 malfunction in a fire suppression system released 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, exacerbating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concerns in local . The base's realignment spurred regional economic redevelopment into Brunswick Landing, transitioning military infrastructure to civilian , business, and research uses, mitigating projected job losses through .

Establishment and Early History

Founding and World War II Operations

The U.S. Navy acquired land for Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, in response to escalating threats during World War II, with initial federal purchases beginning in December 1942 on approximately 2,000 acres of former blueberry fields, pine woodlands, and a small civilian airfield. Construction rapidly progressed to support maritime aviation needs, and the station was formally commissioned on April 15, 1943, under U.S. Naval Service to bolster anti-submarine warfare capabilities along the Atlantic coast. During its World War II operations, NAS Brunswick primarily functioned as an advanced flight training facility for allied personnel, hosting squadrons from the Royal Navy's transitioning to F4U Corsair fighters destined for Pacific Theater combat, as well as pilots from the Royal Canadian Air Force. U.S. Navy units, including VS-31 (formerly VS-1D1) and utility squadron VJ-4, conducted anti-submarine patrols over the using aircraft such as PBY Catalina flying boats, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, J2F Duck amphibians, and PV Ventura patrol bombers to detect and engage German s threatening coastal shipping lanes. The station occasionally supported blimp detachments from airship squadron ZP-11 for additional , contributing to the broader Allied effort that reduced U-boat effectiveness in the western Atlantic by mid-1943. By war's end in , NAS Brunswick had trained thousands of pilots and logged extensive hours, though it transitioned to reduced operations before full deactivation in October 1946 as wartime demands waned. Its strategic coastal location enabled rapid deployment for convoy escort and missions, with no major losses attributed directly to base operations but underscoring the risks of .

Operational History

Cold War Maritime Patrol Missions

During the era, Naval Air Station Brunswick emerged as a critical hub for U.S. Navy maritime patrol operations, primarily focused on (ASW) to counter Soviet threats in the North Atlantic. Recommissioned in 1951 following its service, the station supported regular fleet reconnaissance and ASW aircraft operations, transitioning from earlier propeller-driven platforms to the turboprop aircraft by the early 1960s. The P-3 Orion, designed specifically for long-range ASW and maritime surveillance, enabled squadrons based at Brunswick to conduct extended patrols, acoustic tracking, and magnetic anomaly detection against Soviet and attack submarines operating near U.S. coastal waters and transatlantic shipping lanes. Brunswick-based squadrons maintained around-the-clock surveillance of Soviet activities, contributing significantly to the defense of the North Atlantic region amid escalating naval tensions from the through the 1980s. Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10), homeported there from 1951, and others like (from 1971) flew routine missions that included buoy deployments and overflight reconnaissance, often in coordination with allies to monitor Soviet movements out of bases like . These operations were vital during peak threat periods, such as the buildup of Soviet Yankee-class SSBNs, where P-3 crews provided real-time on transits and submerged positions, deterring potential disruptions to U.S. . Key squadrons, including , VP-10, VP-11, and VP-24, rotated through Brunswick for training and deployment cycles, with detachments to forward sites like Naval Station Keflavik, , and to extend patrol coverage. , for instance, conducted multiple deployments between 1969 and 1974, honing ASW tactics against simulated and actual Soviet targets. These missions emphasized acoustic processing, analysis, and torpedo delivery capabilities, amassing thousands of flight hours annually across the squadrons to maintain deterrence without direct confrontation. By the late , Brunswick's P-3 fleet had integrated advanced upgrades, enhancing detection ranges against quieter Soviet submarines like the Victor and Alfa classes.

Post-Cold War Activities and Transitions

Following the in 1991, Naval Air Station Brunswick sustained its core functions as a base for Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five, operating aircraft for , , and over the North Atlantic. Squadrons such as VP-11 and VP-23, among others, executed deployments supporting U.S. operations, including detachments to NAS Sigonella, , for Mediterranean surveillance and early post-Cold War contingencies like Operation Desert Storm in 1990–1991. These missions adapted to emerging threats, incorporating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles amid force reductions, with VP-23 disestablished on February 28, 1995, reflecting broader Navy drawdowns. The station also hosted reserve units, C-130 transport operations, and 29 tenant commands, including the Navy's sole cold-weather (SERE) school. In 2005, the (BRAC) Commission recommended closing NAS Brunswick to consolidate East Coast P-3 operations at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, citing efficiencies in a post-Cold War environment with diminished threats from former adversaries. The Commission voted 8–1 on August 24, 2005, to approve the closure and relocation of aircraft missions, with presidential endorsement on September 15, 2005. This transition involved transferring squadrons and associated ISR capabilities southward, reducing Brunswick's operational footprint while maintaining mission continuity elsewhere. P-3 patrols persisted at Brunswick until November 2009, when the final squadron departed, followed by deactivation in early 2010. The station was fully decommissioned on May 31, 2011, marking the end of active there and shifting remaining support functions to Jacksonville. This realignment streamlined resources amid evolving global priorities, though it prompted local economic planning for redevelopment.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Airfield and Hangars

The airfield at Naval Air Station Brunswick consisted of two parallel runways, designated 01L/19R and 01R/19L, each measuring 8,000 feet in length by 200 feet in width. These runways, surfaced with asphalt and concrete, were constructed during the base's expansion in 1951 to support Cold War-era operations, including anti-submarine patrols with Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft. A full-length taxiway ran parallel to the runways, enabling efficient ground handling of multiple aircraft without interfering with active operations. Hangars at the station were purpose-built for maritime patrol aircraft maintenance and storage, accommodating squadrons such as Patrol Squadron 8 and others equipped with P-3 Orions. A key facility was the P-3 Orion maintenance hangar spanning 106,000 square feet, including 62,000 square feet dedicated to shops and offices, plus over 20,000 square feet of elevated mezzanines for additional workspace. Another major hangar featured a deck with six bays designed to handle P-3 aircraft, with provisions for larger platforms like the Boeing 737-800 intended as P-3 replacements. These structures facilitated routine inspections, repairs, and modifications essential for extended North Atlantic missions.

Support and Logistical Elements

The Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) at NAS Brunswick provided intermediate-level repair and overhaul services for P-3 Orion aircraft components, including engines and , supporting Patrol Squadron operations with a reported repair turnaround time of 6.3 days in 1984. AIMD facilities included workspaces in Building 250 on the ground floor of Hangar 4 and an engine test cell in Building 611, enabling on-site testing and maintenance to sustain fleet readiness. Maintenance infrastructure encompassed dedicated shops within Hangars 4, 5, and 6, where Hangar 5 featured seven bays for control and general repairs, while Hangar 6 included shops for P-3 and 737-800 ground support. Building 86 served as the AIMD ground support facility, maintaining equipment such as tugs essential for airfield operations. The Complex housed administrative functions in Building 53, warehousing in Building 584, and repair in Building 225, facilitating base-wide logistical sustainment. Logistical storage and distribution were managed through Building 294, a 64,630-square-foot supply equipped with truck loading docks for parts and provisioning to squadrons. logistics included a pier on Harpswell Neck, constructed in for vessel-based resupply, and a northern farm with two large tanks and containment berms to support and ground vehicle operations. Approximately 20% of base activities and facilities extended logistical support to the adjacent shipbuilding program, including and services. Additional support elements comprised a and for personnel supplies, alongside integrated logistics support planning for P-3 squadron transitions, ensuring operational continuity through coordinated . These components collectively enabled NAS Brunswick to sustain missions by minimizing downtime and optimizing across 222 structures developed primarily in the 1950s.

Strategic and Economic Contributions

National Security Role

Naval Air Station Brunswick played a pivotal role in U.S. through its focus on and (ASW), leveraging its strategic position on Maine's coast to oversee the North Atlantic. Established during , the station initially conducted air and surface patrols to safeguard the U.S. Atlantic coastline from enemy threats, including incursions. By the late 1950s, it transitioned to operating P-3 Orion aircraft for extended-range ASW missions, which remained central until 2009, detecting and tracking submarine activity critical to countering Soviet naval expansion during the . The base supported multiple P-3C squadrons, including active-duty units , VP-10, and VP-26 for operational patrols, reserve squadron VP-92, special mission squadron VPU-1 with EP-3 aircraft for , and VP-30 as the primary training squadron for P-3 aircrews across the fleet. These assets employed acoustic sensors, sonobuoys, and torpedoes to maintain control, contributing to NATO's collective defense by monitoring adversarial movements and ensuring open lanes for transatlantic and military reinforcement. The station's operations extended beyond ASW to include surface surveillance and electronic reconnaissance, enhancing U.S. awareness of maritime domain threats. In the post-Cold War era, NAS Brunswick adapted to new security imperatives, notably providing P-3 surveillance flights under following the , 2001, attacks to patrol U.S. coastal waters and detect potential terrorist threats from the sea. This homeland defense mission highlighted the base's enduring value in rapid-response maritime interdiction and reconnaissance, supporting broader national objectives like counter-narcotics operations and international exercises. Until its 2011 closure, the station's capabilities addressed evolving naval challenges, from peer competitor submarines to asymmetric maritime risks.

Impact on Local and Regional Economy

The Naval Air Station Brunswick served as Maine's second-largest employer, sustaining approximately 4,863 and civilian positions, including 713 officers, 3,493 enlisted personnel, and supporting roles that bolstered local workforce stability. By the early 2000s, total employment linked to the base reached around 6,500 individuals, encompassing 700 local civilians, with an annual payroll exceeding $140 million that circulated through regional commerce, housing, and services. This direct infusion provided a counter-cyclical buffer, as staffing levels remained insulated from private-sector fluctuations, fostering consistent demand for and labor in Cumberland County and mid-coast during economic slowdowns. Beyond , the station injected over $187 million yearly into the local through contracts, , and operational expenditures, as documented in a 2007 Maine State Planning Office analysis; this encompassed purchases from regional suppliers, maintenance services, and infrastructure support that amplified economic multipliers estimated at 1.5 to 2.0 times the direct spending. These activities sustained ancillary businesses in retail, , and , with indirect effects supporting thousands more jobs in Brunswick and surrounding areas, contributing to a regional gross output equivalent to 0.7-0.9% of 's total economic activity prior to closure recommendations. Local dependency on such federal expenditures, however, created vulnerability to base realignments, as evidenced by projected post-closure output losses of $370-390 million statewide, underscoring the station's role in anchoring fiscal resilience amid 's tourism- and manufacturing-dependent .

Closure and Redevelopment

BRAC Recommendation and Execution

The Department of Defense (DoD) recommended the closure of Naval Air Station Brunswick in its May 2005 proposal, citing excess capacity in maritime patrol aviation infrastructure following the transition from P-3C Orion squadrons to newer platforms and consolidation at other East Coast bases. The independent BRAC Commission, tasked with reviewing DoD's selections for military value, cost savings, and environmental impacts, held public hearings and analyzed the proposal amid regional economic concerns raised by Maine's congressional delegation. On August 24, 2005, the Commission voted 8-1 to approve the closure, opting for full shutdown over DoD's initial realignment suggestion, with the dissenting vote from Commissioner James H. Bilbray citing potential disruptions to Northeast defense posture. The Commission's final report, submitted September 8, 2005, projected annual recurring savings of approximately $32 million post-closure after one-time implementation costs of $208 million, primarily from relocating two P-3C squadrons (VP-8 and VP-11) to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, and support functions to Naval Station Mayport. President George W. Bush approved the recommendations on September 15, 2005, and they became law on November 9, 2005, after Congress failed to enact a joint resolution of disapproval within the 45-day window. Execution began immediately with phased drawdowns: squadron relocations commenced in 2006, followed by transfer of 14 P-3C aircraft and associated personnel by 2008, alongside demolition of non-transferable facilities. The BRAC 2005 implementation timeline mandated completion by September 15, 2011, but the Navy accelerated the process, ceasing flight operations in 2010 and fully disestablishing the station on May 31, 2011, ahead of the deadline to minimize holding costs. Property transfer to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority began in 2010 under the BRAC process, with the Navy retaining limited environmental remediation oversight post-closure.

Transition to Civilian Use via Brunswick Landing

Following the closure of Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick on May 31, 2011, under the 2005 Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA), established by the Maine Legislature in 2004, assumed responsibility for repurposing the 3,363-acre site into Brunswick Landing, a mixed-use business, aviation, and innovation campus. The U.S. Navy's Record of Decision for disposal and reuse, signed in 2011, facilitated property transfers to MRRA starting that year, enabling adaptive reuse of hangars, runways, and support facilities while addressing prior military contamination through coordinated environmental controls. Brunswick Landing's centerpiece, the Brunswick Executive Airport, opened in 2012 on the former NAS runways, supporting , corporate flights, and with upgraded infrastructure funded partly by a $1.7 million U.S. grant for facility codes, utilities, and site improvements. By 2021, the site had evolved into a "live-work-play" community per the 2007 Reuse Master Plan, incorporating over 150 tenant companies in sectors like , , and , including first occupants in repurposed structures such as the former tower leased in 2022. This included expansions like the adjacent Topsham Commerce Park for light industrial and uses. Economically, the transition mitigated the loss of approximately 5,000 military and civilian jobs from operations by fostering private-sector growth; as of December 2023, Brunswick Landing and Topsham Commerce Park hosted 160 entities, with dozens of firms new to , generating revenues and exceeding pre-closure levels in the through diversified tenants in advanced and R&D. MRRA's ongoing efforts, supported by state agencies like the Department of Economic and , emphasized sustainable , with annual reports tracking metrics such as leased square footage—reaching millions of square feet by the mid-2010s—and infrastructure investments to attract high-value industries.

Environmental Issues and Remediation

Sources and Types of Contamination

Contamination at the former Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick primarily arose from U.S. Navy operations between the 1940s and 2007, including aircraft maintenance, fuel storage and transfer, waste disposal in landfills and pits, underground storage tank leaks, incineration of hazardous materials, and use of firefighting foams during training and emergencies. These activities released hazardous substances into soil, groundwater, surface water, sediments, and occasionally indoor air via vapor intrusion. Specific sites, such as Landfills 1 and 3 (disposal of solvents, waste oils, pesticides, and garbage), Site 4 (acid and caustic disposal pit operational 1969–1974), Site 11 (fire training area with fuels, oils, and solvents from 1960–1990), and Site 13 (underground tanks for waste fuels, oils, and solvents), contributed to widespread plumes. Gasoline leaks from corroded piping at the Navy Exchange (NEX) Service Station (1975–1992) and pesticide storage/mixing areas further exacerbated releases. The Eastern Plume, a key feature extending about 4,000 feet along the base's eastern boundary, originated from solvent disposal and tank leaks at Sites 4, 11, and 13, affecting the used by nearby private wells (though base was not potable). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including (TCE up to 770 [ppb]), tetrachloroethylene (PCE up to 80 ppb), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), and 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE), leached from degreasing agents and cleaning solvents during aircraft and equipment maintenance. hydrocarbons, , , , and xylenes (BTEX compounds) stemmed from fuel handling, storage tanks, and spills at the old Navy Fuel Farm (decommissioned 1993) and service stations. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), notably (PFOA) and (PFOS), entered the environment via aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) discharged during fire suppression training and incidents at areas like Building 653 and crash response sites. PFOS concentrations reached 24,000 parts per trillion (ppt) in some Department of Defense-reported samples, with plumes potentially migrating off-site into municipal supplies and Harpswell Cove shellfish beds (closed to harvesting since 2016). such as , , and contaminated soil and groundwater from waste disposal and ordnance activities, with cadmium at Site 7 persisting despite remediation. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs up to 400 ppm in sediments), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides (e.g., ), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), , and from construction debris and incinerator ash affected soils and surface waters like Mere Brook and Merriconeag Stream. Indoor air near contaminated sites showed trace VOCs like and , but vapor intrusion risks were deemed minimal.
Contaminant CategoryExamplesPrimary SourcesAffected Media
VOCsTCE (up to 770 ppb), 1,1,1-TCA, PCESolvent disposal, degreasing in maintenance (Eastern Plume),
PFASPFOA, PFOS (up to 24,000 ppt)AFFF in fire training and suppression, , sediments
Petroleum HydrocarbonsBTEX, (500–8,000 ppm in )Fuel leaks, storage tanks,
Heavy Metals, , Waste disposal, ordnance, , sediments
Other OrganicsPAHs (up to 400 ppm), pesticides (), PCBs, Landfills, , pesticide areas, sediments,
InorganicsPipe disposal, construction debris
This table summarizes major categories based on investigations; levels vary by site, with some remediated via excavation (e.g., over 42,000 tons of incinerator ash removed).

Cleanup Efforts and Regulatory Oversight

Cleanup efforts at the former Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick have been conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as a Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) site since its placement in 1987. The U.S. Department of the Navy serves as the lead potentially responsible party, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) providing federal oversight and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enforcing state requirements. A Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) established in September 1989, and amended in February 1990 following public comment, outlines responsibilities for investigation and remediation across the 3,100-acre site. Environmental investigations and remedial actions began as early as 1982, with regulatory agencies reviewing and approving work plans. Remedial activities have included soil excavation, groundwater treatment, and monitoring at multiple operable units, with some areas achieving no further action status; for instance, cleanup at certain sites concluded by mid-1995 without ongoing restrictions. The Navy maintains a base-wide Land Use Control Implementation Plan, finalized in December 2021, to restrict groundwater use and prevent exposure in contaminated zones, complemented by institutional controls on redeveloped properties. Progress is documented through CERCLA five-year reviews, with the sixth review completed in September 2024, confirming protective remedies while noting needs for continued operation and maintenance. The Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), comprising , EPA, DEP, and representatives, facilitates public input and oversight, holding regular meetings such as the January 22, 2025, session to discuss sampling results and remediation plans. Under the FFA, the funds and executes investigations and cleanups even as it leases or sells parcels for redevelopment, with agencies retaining veto authority over transfers if risks persist. Recent challenges include a major aqueous film-forming (AFFF) release on August 19, 2024, involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), prompting enhanced sampling in streams and groundwater; PFAS compounds like PFOS and PFOA were designated CERCLA hazardous substances on April 17, 2024, intensifying regulatory scrutiny. Ongoing efforts emphasize plume delineation and treatment, with EPA and DEP directing responses to mitigate off-site migration.

Recent Developments and Ongoing Challenges

In August 2024, a malfunction at the Brunswick Executive Airport—located on the former Brunswick site—resulted in the release of approximately 50,000 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) mixed with water, containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), into the stormwater system and potentially impacting nearby waterways like Mere Brook and Merriconeag Stream. The incident prompted immediate response actions by the Department of (DEP), including sampling of , fish tissue, and private wells in affected areas, with detections exceeding state and federal advisory levels. By September 2025, the U.S. Agency (EPA) issued a agreement with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA), requiring submission of a comprehensive remediation scope-of-work plan by December 31, 2025, to address the spill's impacts under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The site remains in the remedial investigation (RI) phase for PFOA and PFOS under oversight, with the continuing groundwater monitoring and treatment system evaluations, though PFAS persistence has extended timelines beyond initial projections for other contaminants. Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meetings, such as the one held on May 28, 2025, have highlighted community concerns over incomplete data on plume migration and the need for expanded testing, including at off-site locations like the Mere Creek well sampled on January 23, 2025. Ongoing challenges include the Navy's retained ultimate responsibility for PFAS remediation despite site transfer to civilian oversight, protracted cleanup durations projected to span years due to the chemicals' environmental mobility and , and elevated risks to proximal supplies, with influent levels at local facilities violating EPA maximum contaminant levels. Independent monitoring by organizations like Bigelow Laboratory since 2023 has documented persistent PFAS in Casco Bay-adjacent waters, underscoring gaps in federal-military accountability and the potential for litigation to drive further action. These factors complicate redevelopment at Brunswick Landing, where economic reuse must balance against unresolved contamination liabilities.

References

  1. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-2/pdfs/Appen6.pdf
  2. https://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/BRAC-Bases/Northeast/Former-Naval-Air-Station-Brunswick/
  3. https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/COMPATRECONGRU/COMPATRECONWING-11/Patrol-Squadron-VP-26/Command-History/
  4. https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/COMPATRECONGRU/Command-History/
  5. https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Patuxent-River/About/History/
  6. https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0101073
  7. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/13/maine-pfas-spill
  8. https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/bath-brunswick/10-years-after-the-navy-former-base-has-bounced-back/97-33e61f57-b13b-4cf4-b9ec-9e9f19b0d9a6
  9. https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Brunswick.htm
  10. http://www.vpassociation.org/brunswick.htm
  11. https://bnamuseum.org/about/
  12. https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/P-3C-Orion
  13. https://archives.library.umaine.edu/repositories/2/resources/3495
  14. https://bnamuseum.org/squadrons/
  15. https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/COMPATRECONGRU/COMPATRECONWING-11/Patrol-Squadron-VP-8/Command-History/
  16. https://www.p3orion.nl/squadrons.pdf
  17. https://photos.jrpruitt.com/static/PDFs/VP_Squadrons.pdf
  18. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Section_2_Background_and_Overview.pdf
  19. https://www.airnav.com/airport/KBXM
  20. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc27283/m2/1/high_res_d/BRAC-1995_01135.pdf
  21. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/brunswick.htm
  22. https://www.butlermfg.com/project/brunswick-naval-air-station-p3-orion-maintenance-hangar/
  23. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Section_4_Part_3_Existing_Conditions_Assessment.pdf
  24. https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-87-18.pdf
  25. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Final-FOST-2011-4-12-21-11.pdf
  26. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/BrunswickNavalAirStation/NavalAirStationBrunswickPHA051605.pdf
  27. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA052239.pdf
  28. https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/from-decommissioned-navy-base-to-one-of-states-biggest-economic-success-stories
  29. https://www.remi.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/488-ME-SPO-Closing-Base-at-Fort-Brunswick.pdf
  30. https://www.pressherald.com/2016/07/15/the-former-brunswick-naval-air-station/
  31. https://www.remi.com/topics-and-studies/understanding-the-impact-closing-naval-air-station-brunswick/
  32. https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/imr/bp/docs/BRAC-2005-Commission-Report.pdf
  33. https://comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2012/budget_justification/pdfs/05_BRAC/FY12_PB_BRAC_2005_Exec_Sum_2_Feb_11.pdf
  34. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BNAS_Case_Final.pdf
  35. https://media.defense.gov/2022/Apr/18/2002978620/-1/-1/0/BRACPMO_FACTSHEET_DECEMBER%2520_FINAL12_2017.PDF
  36. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Final-FOST-2013-1.pdf
  37. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MRRA_Annual_Report_2011.pdf
  38. https://brunswicklanding.us/mrra-newsletter-a-look-back-on-a-decade-of-redevelopment/
  39. https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/brunswick-landing-may-add-first-tenant-in-former-control-tower-building
  40. https://brunswicklanding.us/economic-impacts-of-redevelopment-as-of-december-2023/
  41. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SteveOpEd041613.pdf
  42. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MRRAAnnualReport2013.pdf
  43. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Annual-Report-of-MRRA-for-2023-to-Governor-Janet-Mills.pdf
  44. https://www.epa.gov/fedfac/redevelopment-federal-facilities-reuse-snapshots
  45. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-06/nasabrunswick.pdf
  46. https://media.defense.gov/2022/Apr/01/2002968316/-1/-1/0/NASBNEWSLETTER_SPRING2007.PDF
  47. https://administrative-records.navfac.navy.mil/Public_Documents/MID_ATLANTIC/BRUNSWICK_NAS/N60087_004193.pdf
  48. https://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/BRAC-Bases/Northeast/Former-Naval-Air-Station-Brunswick/Public-Notices/
  49. https://www.brunswickme.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10834
  50. https://www.maine.gov/dep/news/news.html?id=13082247
  51. https://www.maine.gov/dep/projects/bnas/index.html
  52. https://www.brunswickme.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/2539?fileID=32083
  53. https://www.maine.gov/dep/ftp/projects/bnas/DEP%2520letter%2520to%2520Navy%252020241007.pdf
  54. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/09/16/pfas-spill-catastrophe-former-navy-base-maine-stokes-concern-amid-militarys-national-cleanup.html
  55. https://www.maine.gov/dep/ftp/projects/bnas/Brunswick%2520AFFF%2520Overview_8182025.pdf
  56. https://brunswicklanding.us/press-release-epa-consent-agreement-9-11-25/
  57. https://www.wmtw.com/article/brunswick-maine-pfas-foam-release-epa-agreement/66052450
  58. https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jul/01/2003746556/-1/-1/0/NASB_28MAY2025_RAB_MTGMINS_FINALREV.PDF
  59. https://www.maine.gov/dep/news/news.html?id=13155087
  60. https://www.themainewire.com/2024/10/epa-says-navy-retains-the-ultimate-responsibility-for-addressing-pfas-foam-spill-in-brunswick/
  61. https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/pfas-contamination/brunswick-naval-air-station-pfas-lawsuit/
  62. https://www.bigelow.org/services/pfas/brunswick/index.html
  63. https://brunswicklanding.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Environmental-Update_november2024.pdf
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