The former Castle Air Force Base, located in Atwater, California, is currently known as Castle Commerce Center. Castle was one of 40 former Air Force installations selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program; the base closed September 30, 1995. Since closure, the Air Force Real Property Agency has had tremendous success with environmental remediation and property transfer at Castle. The cleanup is nearly finished. The Air Force has transferred all 2,777 acres to public ownership, where assets such as runways and other infrastructure can be optimized to strengthen the local economy with jobs and commerce.
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The former Castle Air Force Base, like numerous military installations across the country, was contaminated by fuels, oils, solvents, cleaners and paints used to operate and maintain aircraft for national defense. Federal laws such as CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act) require the Air Force, overseen by state and federal regulators, to clean up this soil and groundwater pollution, a task which is almost finished.
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In 1981, the Castle Air Museum Foundation was created in order to collect and restore historic military aircraft for public viewing. Thirty years later, the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California offers a striking display of planes rescued from "decades of neglect and the salvage torch," according to the museum's brochure.
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The airfield which would become Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California, was opened on September 29, 1941 as the Army Air Corps Basic Flying School. Its mission was as a pilot and aircrew training facility operated by the United States Army Air Force. In 1943 it was renamed Merced Army Airfield and kept that name until it was taken over by the Strategic Air Command (SAC).
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 Air Force dismantles groundwater treatment plant at Castle The Air Force Real Property Agency marked a major achievement in the groundwater cleanup program at the former Castle Air Force Base this month by dismantling a groundwater treatment plant that is no longer needed.

 Video - Groundwater Treatment Plant works itself out of a job at the former CASTLE AFB, CA. The Air Force Real Property Agency reached a major achievement in the groundwater cleanup program at Castle by dismantling a groundwater treatment plant that is no longer needed. Built in 1994, the plant, located on the southeast side, treated the highest levels of groundwater contamination. Late June, construction crews took down the plant as contaminant levels had been reduced significantly. The last remaining concentrations are now treated by two other treatment plants operating on the former base.

Air Force, community reps plant trees across America In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, Air Force Real Property Agency officials enlisted the participation of people in 40 communities to plant a tree at one of 40 former and active Air Force bases, from Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii to the former Loring AFB in Maine, as well as the Pentagon.

Green Businesses Sprouting at Closed Former California Air Force Bases It may be counterintuitive to think of EPA Superfund sites as hotbeds of green technology. But as the Air Force Real Property Agency -- responsible for buying, selling and managing Air Force property worldwide -- continues cleaning, restoring and transferring property to the community, the former bases are attracting more clean, green businesses by the day.

Last updated: April, 2012