NEW YORK – The Board of
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Stewart
Airport, has approved a new 20-year lease with the USDA to operate its
animal import quarantine center there.
Port Authority Aviation Director Thomas Bosco told the board Thursday
that the facility, which is housed on 67 acres, has been at Stewart for
over 40 years.
“The site accommodates 18 buildings, 16 of which are specialized
for animal quarantine. The other two are used for management purposes,”
he said. “Half of the lease-hold is not suitable for development
due to wetlands and steep slopes. It is, however, ideal for setback requirements
for quarantine facilities of this type.”
The current lease, which was in place when the Port Authority took over
Stewart in late 2007, did not include rent; however, the new lease will
include $4.8 million in ground lease fees.
The Stewart facility is one of three in the country, the others being
in Miami and Los Angeles.
