Bill would require N.C. permission for Navy field

Posted to: Military North Carolina
Login or register to post comments

The Associated Press
© March 19, 2009

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.

A North Carolina legislator has filed a bill that would require the Navy to get state permission before it could construct a practice landing field in two northeastern counties.

The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported today that Rep. Bill Owens of Pasquotank County filed the bill this week to amend an existing state law. The change would require the Navy to get permission before it could buy land for an outlying landing field in Gates or Camden counties.

The Navy wants the field, either in North Carolina or southeastern Virginia, so carrier jets can practice landings and takeoffs before they deploy.

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

A review of the Navy's now defunct and useless old FEIS

Submitted by NCguy on Sun, 03/22/2009 at 10:20 am.

process states that the MJB is the prefered location to perform FCLPs. In the evolution of the airfield, if the primary runway cannot do the mission, then build a parallel runway, if it grows again, build the OLF. Yes, this is paraphrased, You need to read the FEIS, pg 2-1 through 2-8 and pg 2-34 - 2- 36. This will give you the spirit of what is needed.
I know you do not like to read official documents, so some of those pages have been typed at this site, read the last handful of entries by allsite. http://www.tidewaternews.com/news/2009/feb/21/remain-open-minded-about-olf/ The sources are there. This document while it might be historical in nature now, was not historical when Oceana was evolving in the 50's to Apr 2008. As late as 2003 the MJB was responsible for the bulk of FCLPs. As late as 2005, the Navy viewed parallel runways, with FCLPs in mind, as a critical criteria for airfields. Only because the Navy wants to trash the capabilities of Oceana, is performing FCLPs on a parallel runway now incompatible.

No OLF

Submitted by mellowyellow on Sun, 03/22/2009 at 8:56 am.

Va. Beach has been telling the Navy how to operate at Oceana for years. BRAC told the Navy, Va. and Va. Beach to acquire the land surrounding Oceana, or close it. The Navy should use the existing capacity at Ocean and Fentress, and acquire the land surrounding them. When this is done, no new
OLF is needed, anywhere.

Thanks for more erroneous

Submitted by richardm96179 on Sun, 03/22/2009 at 2:10 am.

Thanks for more erroneous input:

"The link states that Fentress was established in the very early 50's and Oceana was not made a MJB until 1957. There is no way encroachment could have driven the need for Fentress"

The base was active long before it was a MJB. Under you line of thought the Navy could rename it the Major Rubber Ducky Facility and it would change the facts of the issue.

Thanks for the contribution. Perhaps you should read the links that are provided below and it could help to get you back on track?

the hampton roads links

Submitted by Carolyn R on Sat, 03/21/2009 at 11:29 pm.

I read them. I fully believe that VA Beach has treated NAS Oceana horribly. I also believe VA Beach should be made to accomodate the USN. I know it won't happen though. I believe BRAC tried to force VA Beach to cooperate and are unable to do so because of a lack of will on politicians who will not enforce it.

I also took from one of the links an understanding that backs up Admiral Anderson's claim that he needs an OLF regardless of Oceana's encroachment. The link states that Fentress was established in the very early 50's and Oceana was not made a MJB until 1957. There is no way encroachment could have driven the need for Fentress. It also seems that in establishing a MJB, the expectation is not to have all jet landing practices occur at the MJB.

I do wish the VA Beach politicians valued the USN for the value that they provide the entire country. Selfish people value the developers' dollars over the people who are responsible for our freedom.

Salvo Jimmy, you are correct

Submitted by mariew62207 on Sat, 03/21/2009 at 4:13 pm.

Salvo Jimmy, you are correct in that the State of Virginia put up the sites for an OLF. This was done under then Gov Warner, then, under Gov Kaine. Neither Gov told the County Administrations or the public about it. Sussex Administration and the residents learned about it about 1 week before the county meeting with Gov Kaine's aide and the Navy. Gov Kaine's aide told the residents that the OLF would NOT be forced on the community that did not want it. It is on tape.

Re State Involvement ???

Submitted by Salvo Jimmy on Sat, 03/21/2009 at 1:11 pm.

I seem to recall that when the Navy's original "preferred" site in NC was shot down, that it was NC that proposed the present sites in NC that are now being studied. Likewise I think it was VA that proposed the sites in VA that are also now being looked at.

Could be wrong but that is what I recall. So I don't think the states have actually been left out or are exactly "clean" on the location issue.

Its about the noise

Submitted by johnjames on Sat, 03/21/2009 at 5:58 am.

Read the first two pages ....

http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/planning/Document/JLUS_Ch4.pdf

An OLF has never been about national security. Its always been about the NOISE>

NC was never included in Virginia Beach Land Use Planning

Submitted by johnjames on Sat, 03/21/2009 at 5:54 am.

Read the first paragraph. NC was not included the Land Use planning for Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Except to export the noise.

http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/planning/Document/JLUS_ExSum.pdf

Virginia Beach should be ashamed. It has been 10 years of hell here in NC. The Navy has been trying to shove this down the throats of the NC people for what? Not national security.