Former Loring Air Force Base, Maine Loring Air Force Base, Maine, served primarily as a bomber base for most of its time as an active-duty installation. Due to its location as the point in the continental United States closest to Europe, Loring served as a strategic base during the height of the Cold War. In 1991, Loring was identified for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure decision. The base officially closed Sept. 30, 1994. Loring AFB is one of 40 former installations managed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in San Antonio, Texas. Environmental activities Loring AFB was placed on the National Priorities List in 1990, resulting in a Federal Facilities Agreement with federal and state regulators. AFCEC continues to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Department of Environmental Protection to ensure environmental cleanup activities satisfy all regulatory standards while protecting human health and the environment. AFCEC has invested $176 million on BRAC cleanup actions at the former installation. The cost to complete cleanup is another $17.2. Property transfer AFCEC achieved Whole Base Transfer in 2004. The Loring Development Authority created Loring Commerce Center, a commercial, industrial and aviation park comprised of 20 businesses employing 1,300 people. Among those businesses is Loring International Airport which serves the east coast and Canadian markets. Additional land was conveyed to build much needed housing for the local Aroostook Band of Micmacs Tribe. Path forward In 2011, AFCEC awarded a performance-based remediation contract with the goal of cleaning up the remaining sites to unrestricted use by 2020. (Current as of December 2012)