The final nail
Submitted by James Protzman on Wed, 12/12/2007 - 8:00pm
Received by email tonight. The OLF in Washington County is now officially dead.
Washington, D.C. – In approving the annual defense authorization bill today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield said the House closed the door on the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field in Washington County.
“The House has taken the Washington County site off the table because it posed a danger to the community, pilots and aircraft,” Butterfield said. “This is a clear message that if the Navy wants to move forward with an OLF it must have the support of the community.”
The conference report on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill includes language repealing “the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.” The language goes on to say conferees “expect the Department of the Navy to request new authorization for an outlying field once a study of the impact to the environment is complete and a site is selected.”
The House approved the bill by a 370 to 49 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for an up or down vote, and, if approved, it goes to President Bush to be signed into law.
The Navy has already purchased more than 2,000 acres in Washington and Beaufort counties as part of a 30,000-acre OLF the Navy says it needs in order to train pilots to land on aircraft carriers. The proposed site lies just west of an area that was established specifically as a waterfowl sanctuary where thousands of birds winter annually. At peak, there are about 25,000 tundra swans and more than 65,000 snow geese which regularly fly out to feed in the farm fields just west of the site.
More recently, the Navy has been working with the states of North Carolina and Virginia to find an alternative site.
Last month, Butterfield wrote to Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter to express concerns about sites being considered in Gates and Camden counties. Butterfield said that while northeastern North Carolina would be asked to bear all the economic and quality-of-life burdens, Virginia Beach would enjoy all the benefits.
“The small number of new jobs associated with the OLF simply could not offset the shock to the lifestyle and viability of these communities,” Butterfield said.
The following is the language contained in the Defense Authorization from Division B; Title XXII-Navy; page 1219.
Repeal of authorization for construction of Navy outlying landing field, Washington County, North Carolina (Sec. 2207)
The House bill contained a provision (sec. 2205) that would amend section 2201(a) of the Military Construction Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136), as amended, and section 2201(a) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), as amended, to repeal the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.
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Congratulations to all the OLF grannies
and all the OLF farmers and neighbors and retirees and environmentalists and business people and elected officials who stood up for years against the arrogance of the United States Navy.
And never forget. The whole OLF mess was Liddy Dole's doing in the first place. She and her buddies in the GOP were all set to cram this down the throat of northeast North Carolina.
Thank goodness the Democrats took over Congress.
yeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
but until the Navy actually starts plowing a field someplace, this OLF fight is not over.
If people wish, please write Dole, Burr, Butterfield, Easley and thank them for their support AND ask them to request that the Navy identify their one site they wish to pursue that has local support and release all the other sites in North Carolina from this nightmare we have been enduring.
This I hope is the next step in this OLF fight. To many people in Northeast North Carolina have their lives on hold because of this OLF process. Enough is enough. Release us and let us move on with our lives!
Oct 2000 is when Adm. Natter told the people of Hampton Roads that he would provide relieve in the form of noise mitigation for Virginians at the expense of North Carolinians. Eight years is long enough.
Any site that has demonstrated they do not wish this OLF should be told that they are off the table as a viable choice for this OLF.
This fight Eastern NC is far from over
Washington County may have won their fight, but the rest of the East, especially Jones and Pender Counties are still in the mix.
And since the Onslow County Board of Commissioners have so far failed to mention the OLF, it appears to be getting closer all the time.
I certainly hope the "OLF Grannies" are willing to help me fight the Navy down here...
Thomas S. Brock
www.brocknet.net
http://blogs.brocknet.net/brocklog/
What have YOU done today to elect a Democrat?
I am willing to fight and support
Jones and Pender County in opposing this OLF. The fight for this is based on the desire of the local people and local governments.
The strongest support I can give you right now is to ensure your local communities and residents say NO and your local governments are writing a resolution that says we do not want this in our county and communities.
The county that voted recently 3 to 2 to not oppose an OLF because they wished to further study the ramifications has really hurt their fight. By voting not to oppose it, they have said we have studied this proposal and do not desire to fight it. If this is your county, you need to be talking with your commissioners and county manager to take a better stance.
Without local opposition, apathy and failure to oppose may be viewed as general acceptance.
In Gates, Camden, Washington, Beaufort and Perquimans County, the talk is we do not wish it AND there is nothing that the Navy can offer us that will sway that. Both the people and local government are of that mindset (with the possible exception of State Rep Owens). If your county is not of that mindset, you have a huge fight on your hands if the Navy targets you. Your county commissioners may be putting out a welcome mat they are not intending.
Remember, every new site was jointly reviewed by the Navy as well as North Carolina and given a thumbs up to be offered for this OLF. A preliminary review of the site indicated that it could support the Navy's desires or it would have been shot down by either side before it was unveiled.
Local opposition is paramount. Local government opposition is also paramount as they will have the ultimate responsibility of supporting this facility once established. If the local government will not oppose it, then the fight is over before it gets started. If the local people do not convince the local government to say NO, their is nothing anyone outside that county can do.
If your county says NO, then Dole, Burr, Easley and Butterfield have said they will support you and fight along side you to keep it out. The Navy is suppose to get local support from the site they choose, if I am reading all the documents coming from these people correctly.
OLF? As the Democratic Candidate for Congress in Eastern NC,
I will make sure the Navy efforts in Eastern NC to make us the footstool for Virginia Naval Bases are not swept under the carpet. I dont think the "OLF Grannies" are finished quite yet!!! At least I hope not!
Also -- Thank Congressman David Price !!
Thank Congressman David Price !!
yeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Submitted by parmea on Wed, 12/12/2007 - 8:51pm.
"If people wish, please write Dole, Burr, Butterfield, Easley and thank them for their support AND ask them to request that the Navy identify their one site they wish to pursue that has local support and release all the other sites in North Carolina from this nightmare we have been enduring."
Thank Congressman David Price !!
yes!
He was instrumental in blocking the money to start with! Which enabled everything else to happen.
Did not mean to forget him on this.