So just who proposed the new sites for the OLF?

Navy: State knew about OLF sites as far back as May

“I was hopeful that the Navy had learned from past mistakes and that this was the course the service was taking in its selection of six new North Carolina sites,” Dole’s letter reads. “Based on my office’s outreach to many elected leaders in the potentially affected communities, however, it appears that little if any effort was made to confer with local officials during the latest OLF site search. ... It seems they had no notice prior to the public announcement that their communities had been chosen as possible OLF sites.”

Dole said that “broad local support for an OLF is essential,” adding that she “will oppose the Navy’s efforts to acquire any site in North Carolina that fails to meet this standard.”

Gotta give credit were credit is due....

In response to Dole’s criticism, Cmdr. Cindy Moore, a Navy spokeswoman based in Washington, D.C., said the military had worked closely with North Carolina officials once they had identified potential new sites for the OLF.

“Upon the state of North Carolina’s announcement of the locations, about which they had provided new information, the Navy immediately began engaging North Carolina officials,” Moore said. “We will continue to work closely with state and local officials, as well as the congressional delegations from North Carolina and Virginia....”

Effron, the governor’s spokesman, acknowledged that DENR had provided information to the Navy about several areas that might be considered for an OLF.

However, DENR officials maintain that it is the Navy — not their agency — that is recommending the sites for further study.

And the Navy is saying this is transparency?

Steve Wall, a policy analyst for the agency, said in developing the list of possible sites for the Navy, DENR looked at basic data about land in northeastern and southeastern North Carolina.

“That was done on a very general level, looking at land mass, looking at GIS (geographic information systems) data, basically looking for large tracts of land where there was little population,” he said.

The agency’s goal was also to minimize impacts to communities and wildlife, Wall said.

If this is how the Navy puts sites on the list, wonder how the site selection process from the original site selection was created. Oh yeah, that one was completed and finalized just 2 months before the FEIS came out.
However, I do remember when the Navy made public the sites in Virginia they mentioned that North Carolina desired to keep their sites hidden. Not sure why. Not sure if it was because they had not finalized the sites? Who knows. It is starting to smell awfully fishy out here in NE NC.

So, how long ago has the Navy and or North Carolina been looking at other sites because the 5 originals just do not cut it? Well, looks like as early as May.

Fortunately for us in NE NC, they ticked off a few state senators out this way. This could get very interesting.

If anyone has any friends in DENR and might be able to get your hands on the "official" site selection hand over letter, would be nice. Wonder if such a document exists. It would have to say something like " These are the additional sites that North Carolina proposes to the Navy for further research as to fitness for become an OLF site."

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