June 23, 2008

 

Re:  Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in Currituck/Camden, NC and Northeastern NC

 

Dear North Carolina Congressional Delegation,

We personally believe that the future viability of Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is questionable.  It is time for our Congressional Delegation to work with the Navy and the citizens of North Carolina to find a future long-term solution to the OLF crisis that is fair and equitable to both North Carolina and Virginia. 

We believe that the Navy should revisit the homebasing alternatives found in the Navy’s September 2003 Record of Decision, particularly homebasing alternative 5A (ALT 5A – six (6) fleet squadrons and the FRS at Cherry Point and four (4) fleet squadrons at Oceana).  No OLF would be required in northeastern North Carolina for Oceana under this alternative.  An additional OLF would be required at Cherry Point under ALT 5A.  However, the Open Grounds site in Carteret County has always been the preferred site for an OLF in NC and, based on proximity, could be utilized to support Cherry Point-based squadrons.  Constructing an additional runway for the U.S. Marine Corps at Cherry Point would be another answer to an OLF and could be more cost-effective than the construction of a new OLF.

The selection of ALT 5A provides a number of benefits for all parties: 

• Encroachment at Oceana and Fentress would become less of an issue for those facilities due to fewer jets being based there – perhaps preserving the future viability of Oceana. 
• Correspondingly, lawsuits over jet noise at Oceana would cease to exist saving additional taxpayer dollars.
• No OLF would be required to be located in northeastern North Carolina.  This would satisfy the equitability issues surrounding the siting of an OLF in one area in order to mitigate noise concerns in another. 
• The state of North Carolina would benefit economically from the homebasing of six (6) squadrons at Cherry Point versus the current two (2) squadrons under the existing homebasing alternative.

We believe this would be a fair and equitable solution for all parties involved.

If, however, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not want to work with a fair and equitable solution then we suggest that the Navy revisit establishing an OLF at Fort Pickett which already has facilities in place.  The Fort Pickett solution has been proposed by Virginia Senator John Warner.

Locating an OLF in an area where population already exists and that has experienced double digit population growth over the last decade is not the long term solution, especially when considering that the even louder Joint Strike Fighters (F-35) are soon to come on line.

We would like to help the Navy find a solution that works for everyone. We understand the importance of this issue and are willing to stand with the Navy.  However, the inequities of the current process are crushing to our rural communities and the process has been distinctly discriminatory towards the people of northeastern North Carolina. 

Over 15 counties in northeastern North Carolina have passed resolutions opposing an Outlying Landing Field in their communities.  This represents a population of over 350,000 people. 

We implore you, as a member of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation, to stand with the citizens of northeastern North Carolina in finding a fair and equitable solution to the OLF situation for all parties involved.

 

Sincerely,