N.C. governor: Pay attention to OLF opposition

N.C. governor: Pay attention to OLF opposition
By Estes Thompson - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 14, 2007 21:42:04 EST

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Navy should pay attention to residents and officials in eastern North Carolina who don’t want a jet practice landing field in their communities and come up with a new list of alternate sites for the unpopular project, Gov. Mike Easley said Wednesday.

But North Carolina’s U.S. senators said a joint effort by a state study group and the Navy to identify an acceptable site from the existing list of possible locations should continue, and they pressed the Navy for “a timely resolution” to the drawn-out debate.

Military officials said they have no set date to announce a short list of preferred sites from the nearly two dozen now under consideration for the so-called outlying landing field, or OLF.

“The Navy certainly is committed to working with state and local authorities in reviewing the alternate solutions,” Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Cindy Moore said. “Once the thorough examination of the alternatives of complete, the Navy would make an announcement.”

The Navy wants to build a practice strip for F/A-18 Super Hornet pilots stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock so they can practice night landings on aircraft carriers.

The Navy initially wanted to put the strip on a site in Washington and Beaufort counties, the preferred location on a list of five candidates, but was blocked by concerns about its proximity to a national wildlife preserve. It is now considering an additional six sites in North Carolina and 10 in Virginia.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_navyolf_071114/



uhc comment: Previous thread on the issue --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=5842

“It is time for Elizabeth Dole to learn that she represents the people of North Carolina including those counties,” he said. “The U.S. Navy is funded by the U.S. Senate therefore it responds and reports to the Senate. I hope Sen. Dole will accept her responsibility and speak for her people.”