Louis Hansen
The Virginian-Pilot
©
WASHINGTON
Congress should block any Navy effort to relocate an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Fla., until the service provides lawmakers a "comprehensive report" justifying the move, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb asserted Thursday.
In a 26-page staff report, the Virginia legislator said the service "has made no compelling argument to justify" the shift, which he said could cost close to $1 billion.
With shortages in its accounts for new ships, airplanes and other equipment, the Navy's proposal "is a luxury it simply cannot afford," Webb said.
The Webb report is mostly a re statement of arguments he and recently retired Sen. John Warner made against the Mayport move when Navy officials announced it as their preferred plan for East Coast carrier home-porting in November.
Navy leaders say locating all five Atlantic Fleet carriers in Norfolk is potentially dangerous and that a terrorist attack or natural disaster could close the Norfolk Naval Station.
Webb's report asserts that "there is no indication the Navy conducted a formal intelligence-based... analysis" of whether dispersing the carriers would make them safer.
Webb's report comes as the Navy prepares for Saturday's commissioning in Norfolk of the carrier George H.W. Bush.
Virginia lawmakers have suggested the Navy is rushing a decision to homeport the carrier in Mayport as a gesture to the Bush family. President George W. Bush's brother Jeb is a former Florida governor.
Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter is expected to issue a final decision on the homeporting plan before he leaves office later this month.
In reports released this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service found few problems with the Navy's plan.
NOAA's review concluded that placing a nuclear-powered carrier at May-port would be unlikely to harm a number of marine species native to the waters around northern Florida. There may be a greater threat to sea turtles, NOAA regional administrator Roy Crabtree wrote, but it should not jeopardize the population.
The Fish and Wildlife Service considered the effects of dredging on beach life and manatees around the naval station, said agency spokesman Chuck Underwood. At its suggestion, the Navy agreed not to dump dredge spoils on the beach and to dredge only during daylight hours, he said.
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
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If Florida will treat the sailors and the families of sailors better than Virginia does, move the carrier. We lived in Norfolk in the early 90's while I was trying to get a college education. After living in Virgina for over a year and after buying a house there, the colleges still refused to give me, the navy spouse, in-state resident status because I did not make enough money. Yet, when we moved to Mississippi, I was immediately given in-state status because of the respect Mississippi has for the military. I do not think our sailors or their families should be stationed where they are not wanted, respected, or appreciated. Give the money to Florida, or better yet, just build a base on Mississippi's coast.