NAVY SUSPENDS OLF STUDY
January 27, 2011
On Thursday, January 27, 2011, the Navy announced that it is suspending the OLF study. The study was initiated through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2008.
According to the Navy's website, www.olfeis.com:
"The Navy is suspending release of and stopping work on the Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) until the east coast Navy Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) basing and training requirements are better defined. The East Coast Navy JSF Basing EIS will commence at a time to be determined, but no earlier than 2014. Thus, no earlier than 2014, the Navy will re-evaluate the OLF requirement and potential east coast JSF home basing locations."
It is important to note that the Navy has used the term "suspended" instead of the term "terminated". This means that, technically, the OLF study in its current form remains open if not active and the Navy can return to this study at any time.
With this idea in mind, it is important to remain vigilant in this process. The Navy has indicated that it has no plans to return to the current OLF study prior to the year 2014. While that may seem like a long time from now, it is less than 3 years. This means that the rural sites could again find ourselves the focus of an OLF in the near future.
A significant amount of media coverage was dedicated to the suspension by the Navy of the OLF study. Please feel free to browse the links below for media coverage of the latest on the OLF situation.