RRBA Reiterates Position on Navy OLF Landing Field Issue

PRESIDENT’S CORNER by Harold Carawan --- April 2007

The RRBA has much concern with the Navy’s desire to build a practice airstrip in Washington and Beaufort Counties of eastern North Carolina. This is evolving into a web of political and environmental perplexity.

Democrat NC Governor, Mike Easley, and Lt. Governor, Beverly Perdue, support the OLF (Outlying Landing Field) being built at Cherry Point, North Carolina Marine Base. One wing of super hornet jets is based at Cherry Point.

U.S. Representative, G. K. Butterfield, Democrat, who represents eastern NC District #1, has spoken against the preferred Navy site.

U.S. Senator, Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr, NC, Republicans, are on the “fence” and have not taken a position, despite years of study and lingering safety and environmental concerns. Senator Dole, (R) sits on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, as does U.S. Senator John Warner (R) VA who is Chairman of the committee. (See Post Note Below)

On January 31, 2007 a directive was issued by the U.S. Dept of Interior, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Todd Willens, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists in NC prohibiting them from talking to reporters or parties about the proposed OLF. Northeastern N.C. Fish and Wildlife biologists who know the region best have made it clear from the outset that the landing field would seriously jeopardize the function of the wildlife refuge. Chris Canfield, Executive Director of Audubon N.C., a lead plaintiff in the case, states “an order from political leaders to keep quiet doesn’t change the fact that the OLF should not be built in eastern N.C.”

This newly issued gag order is an effort to keep the public from knowing the opinions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service professionals who are concerned about the effects a proposed landing field will have on wildlife and the refuge at the Navy’s preferred site, said Derb Carter, attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. Mr. Carter represents the environmental interests in the case against the Navy’s proposed OLF. This directive only further confirms that the decision to build the landing field is entirely political and not based on law and science.

Environmentalists say the Navy has ignored the dangers of putting jet aircraft in airspace near a wildlife refuge, home to tens of thousands of migratory birds including snow geese, tundra swans, Canadian geese, and ducks within the flight space. The proposal is to remove crops that attract birds and to use recordings of bird distress calls as well as teams of specially trained dogs to scare away birds. A major migratory bird area would be ruined.

The city of Virginia Beach has created a climate of expansion that makes Fentons Field ineffective for aircraft carrier plane practice landings. Shifting the training from Virginia Beach area would make the ocean front area quieter (such flights generate numerous noise complaints). The noise and disturbance not wanted in Virginia Beach would be imposed on the residents and wildlife refuge in Washington and Beaufort Counties and the North Carolina coastal area.

Since Virginia Beach is experiencing growing pains and cramping of the Oceana - Naval Air Station’s operation, perhaps it’s time the Navy should consider relocating. There are areas in Virginia that would welcome the job opportunities and economic renewal that a full military base could bring. Possibly Pittsylvania County or other Southside Virginia areas could benefit from this opportunity.