Citing distrust of a Navy study, Camden and Currituck counties have hired an engineering company to research the potential environmental impacts of a proposed jet airfield.
Withers & Ravenel, an engineering firm based in Cary, will study the effects an outlying landing field might have on storm water runoff, soils, wetlands and wildlife, among other things. At the same time, the Navy is conducting a draft environmental impact statement, which will include similar research.
"What track record do they have to make somebody want to trust them?" said Jeff Jennings, chairman of the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
A Navy environmental study done in Washington County was widely criticized after it was released in 2003. A judge ruled the study inadequate in 2005. The Washington County site was removed as a preferred site in January. In February, the Navy proposed options in Camden County and Gates County and three others in Virginia.
In March, Currituck and Camden counties agreed to split costs to hire Poyner & Spruill, a Raleigh law firm, and French West Vaughan, a Raleigh public relations firm. Each county agreed to contribute $150,000 for early efforts. Later, the figure could rise to more than $1 million if a lawsuit is filed.
The counties agreed to hire the engineering firm this week. Pasquotank County voted Monday to contribute $25,000.
At a hearing Wednesday night in Camden County, leaders of no-OLF groups in both counties and about 70 residents challenged Navy facts distributed in recent public meetings. Comments will be sent to the Navy.
New storm water laws recently passed in North Carolina could make it more difficult and expensive to build an airfield on a remote farm, said Larry Johnson, president of Camden No-OLF.
Currituck No-OLF president Juanita Krause warned residents the Navy could hold an easement stretching for miles from its runway and could control what property owners do with their land.
In a phone interview Thursday, Navy spokesman Ted Brown and OLF project officer Cmdr. Richard Catoire responded to some of the challenges from residents, such as the criticism that noise levels averaged over 24 hours do not accurately measure the nuisance.
Brown and Catoire said military and civilian airports typically use day-night averages to measure noise levels. Actual decibel levels can be higher but are different depending on distance, wind, temperature, humidity and the individual aircraft operation.
Noise research on the
Navy's OLF Web site details why a 24-hour average more accurately measures overall nuisance better than single-event noise levels. Opponents have disagreed with the conclusions.
Another criticism is that distances from Oceana Naval Air Station to four of the five OLF sites are inaccurate in the Navy's figures. The distance to the Camden site measures 26 miles, the same distance given by the Navy. But the other four are much closer than the Navy states.
Brown and Catoire said the Navy measures "transit distances," which accounts for flights having to avoid airspace around such facilities as Norfolk International Airport. Flights from Oceana could fly more directly to the Camden site. For the environmental impact statement, the Navy plans to measure flight distances that would go around Moyock.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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OLF
VA Beach wanted the jets in their back yard, then they decided they didn't want the noise. They have not complied with correcting and/or preventing encroachment as they committed to in order to keep the jets. Those oh-so-patriotic citizens have sued the Navy to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars because of that noise. Now, you guys want to call NC citizens unpatriotic and NIMBY? We don't want the jets and we sure as hell don't want the noise and pollution you VA patriots want to export to us while keeping the millions of dollars in income you reap from them. They (VA Beach)defecated in their own nest and now want to be self-rightous about how patriotic they are. If you want to call somebody unpatriotic--go after the Virginia Beach developers, town council, and anyone who has built a home near Oceana in the last few years--they're why the Navy WANTS this OLF, not NEEDS it.
Carolyn R
It is I who agrees with Darrell.
Your are very perceptive. I like that. I wish you would look at all sides…I always say it’s my side, your side and the truth. It may be time to just look at the truth.
Well, Amy, why don't you and
Well, Amy, why don't you and all the others that like the noise of freedom get together, and, tell the Navy to keep the jets in Oceana? Oh, why didn't you tell your neighbors that sued the Navy because of the noise and damage done by the jets, not to sue and complain?
Kira
I believe Darrell agrees with you!
OLF
Amy, just answer the question posted here....clean your back yard first before you mess up your neighbors.
In Currituck and Camden counties the Navy plans to take and hold restrictive easements and prohibit incompatible development for over 26,400 acres (over 41sq. miles).
Is the same amount of land restrictive easements and incompatible developments required for Chesapeake and Virginia Beach? If not, why would the Navy infringe on the rights of people in North Carolina and not hold the same equal restrictive easements on the property of the people in Virginia Beach? Has one home in Virginia Beach or Chesapeake, VA been taken by eminent domain as required by BRAC?
This whole process is wrong. First you strip people of their possessions, so they’ll have no resources with which to fight. It’s long been known, “Without property rights, there are no other rights.” Wake up folks, this process could be coming to you next.
More of the same
It's just more of the same NIMBY mentality that the Navy has to deal with. It has to go somewhere people, and everyone is going to scream "Not in my back yard" no matter where they go. Don't fool yourselves into believing that the intrusion of the Navy is going to be welcome anywhere. I don't like the noise, but I tell you what, hearing that noise at least lets me know that they're still there training to protect and defend us should the need arise.
2 things about average noise
If you were to fire a 50 cal rifle next to your ear, the average noise level would be quite low, but you would still be deaf. Second since most of the OLF operations occur in darkness -pilots have to make 40 landing in the dark before deploying- the navy needs to use the number of hours of darkness instead of 24 hours. Otherwise the Navy is being less than honest.
Fight!!!
NC residents, push your elected officials. Make sure this fight is well funded. Beware of those who try to play down the effects of the jets and the destruction to our communities. FIGHT!
Go NC... Good For You!!
Finally people realize the truth and fight for thier rights. The Navy is infamous for lies and deceit to get what they want!!! Glad NC is standing up to them!! Now the truth will come out. Oh yeah by the way "agent Orange" never caused CANCER and "SONAR" does not harm Whales. Jet noise is pleasant to listen to and Navy aircraft never drop "pratice Bombs" on populated civilian areas!! "We the Government" support the "Navy Studies" and find all life to be safe from any of the aforementioned studies and all you stupid civilians should just shut up and take what we say to be GOSPEL!!!! NOT in OUR Backyard Says "North Carolina!!!! Good For you North Carolina!!!!
olf
In Currituck and Camden counties the Navy plans to take and hold restrictive easements and prohibit incompatible development for over 26,400 acres (over 41sq. miles).
Is the same amount of land restrictive easements and incompatible developments required for Chesapeake and Virginia Beach? If not, why would the Navy infringe on the rights of people in North Carolina and not hold the same equal restrictive easements on the property of the people in Virginia Beach? Has one home in Virginia Beach or Chesapeake, VA been taken by eminent domain as required by BRAC?
This whole process is wrong. First you strip people of their possessions, so they’ll have no resources with which to fight. It’s long been known, “Without property rights, there are no other rights.” Wake up folks, this process could be coming to you next.