MOYOCK
A jet practice airfield proposed for Camden County should be dismissed as too intrusive - as it was in a 2003 study commissioned by the Navy, a residents group says.
In a letter sent this week to U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., the group asked elected officials to enact legislation that would strike the Hales Lake site in Camden County from consideration for an outlying landing field.
Maps from the 2003 study show the Hales Lake site with elongated noise zones that extend over Moyock in Currituck County and Elizabeth City in Pasquotank County. The study recommended "no further action" on the Hales Lake site, because of its potential effects on the growing population nearby.
When Hales Lake was put on a list of five sites in January, the noise zones were smaller and did not overlap Elizabeth City or Moyock. The opposition group questions the change that appears to make the site more acceptable.
"We're focusing on the one thing," said Juanita Krause, a founding member of the group, which is calling itself Hales-No OLF - Currituck and Camden Citizens Against the OLF. "What changed the contours? Where's that study?"
Camden and Gates counties in North Carolina and Surry, Sussex and Southampton counties in Virginia were selected in January as proposed sites where Navy jets c ould practice carrier landings. The Sandbanks site in Gates County and sites in Southampton and Surry counties were also among those studied in 2003 and recommended for no further action.
B ased in part on the 2003 study, a site in Washington County was named the preferred site. But years of opposition from residents, environmental groups and government persuaded the Navy to find another site.
With the help of state officials in North Carolina and Virginia, the Navy named the most recent five sites and began a new environmental impact study with plans to name another preferred site as early as next year.
Original OLF sites were surrounded by 50,000 acres of high noise and accident zones. That was reduced in the 2003 study to 38,000 acres. In recent public meetings, the Navy has displayed the sites on maps as ovals covering about 30,000 acres.
Average high-noise contours were diminished after the number of jets per squadron was cut to 12 from 14, said Navy spokesman Ted Brown. Fewer jets needing practice at an OLF lessens the average noise e ffects, he said.
Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach is projected to get eight new squadrons of F/A-18 Super Hornets and a practice squadron. Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station is set to get two new squadrons.
As the environmental study progresses, ovals marking the five sites will evolve into more realistic, elongated shapes like those in the 2003 study, Brown said. But the elongated sites will remain about 30,000 acres, he said.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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It has be almost 10 years since the realignment of the F-18 Super Hornets. Cecil Field used $133 million of our tax dollars for improvements to Cecil Field to re-align the jets back to Florida as BRAC 2005 recommended.
How much of our tax money has been spent on 10 years of studies for a new OLF's?
Fort Pickett is here,50,000 acres. OR send all the jets to Cherry Point. I am sure they would welcome the economic benefit and protect the Navy from the encroachment VB has failed to do.
I say stop the madness and put the money back into the Navy's families.
Oh by the way, I say drill for oil off the coast and give our Navy the best training available. Just give me my rights my forefathers fought for.
Let's see
Let's see how things go. First, all the eco-freaks went nuts and prevented the US from drilling for oil to support our own economy. Now we are going down hill fast without the ability to drill and recover our own oil....
Now, no one wants our military to do what they need to do and stay proficient. Gee, give us another fifteen years and see where our military is then.
Can't people look to the future and see what their current actions are going to cause???
Fight!
The Navy has been doing what I call mini fly overs here in Currituck. I called the Navy and complained and they claimed it wasn't their jets. They said all the services use the ranges and practice areas off of the coast. I pointed out to the person who answered that the jets were flying much lower and were F-18's. He debated w/ me as to whether they were Navy and asked what their markings were. Later, I noticed marked Navy F-18's not only flying low, but flying up to the coast near Penny's Hill and Carova and literally turning around and doing circles. I think they are pushing the envelope to gauge reactions. Why would he lie and debate such an obvious sighting?
The Navy is sneaky and underhanded in their dealings w/ the citizens. Do not trust them of their information. I assur you it will not matter if there are 6, 12, or 14 in the squadron, as VB citizens who are affected will tell you, this will destroy your quality of life.
Fight!
OLF
WOW, thats the best scientific data the Navy can come up with to tell thousands of people why they are planning to destroy their community:
The response
The Navy said the average noise contours were diminished because the number of jets per squadron was cut to 12 from 14.
Thats about 15%. 50,000 acres x 15% equals 42,500 acres, and they have come up with 30,000 acres. WHERE IS THE STUDY?
The Navy needs to do a better job than that! Shame on them.
The next question: Why is congress not asking for more detailed information? THEY SHOULD DEMAND THESE STUDIES BE PERFORMED AND GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC.
where is the Study for NEED?
Where is the Study for NO ACTION?
WHERE ARE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?