Corps of Engineers opposing another Navy OLF plan

Military’s research into sites in Camden, Gates counties insufficient, USACE says

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has thrown another roadblock in the U.S. Navy’s plans to place an Outlying Landing Field at prospective sites at Camden and Gates counties.

The desire for an OLF to allow practice landings of Navy jets, based at Oceana Naval Air Station near Norfolk, Va.. extends back nearly 10 years.

The Navy first attempted to get permission to build an OLF in Beaufort and Washington counties and take 30,000 acres of farm land adjacent to Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Opposition from the state of North Carolina, initiated by local residents, elected representatives and environmental groups ultimately resulted in the Navy ditching that plan.

More recently, the Navy said it wanted to locate the OLF near Hales Lake in Camden County or the Sandbanks in Gates County. The Navy also lists three other potential OLF sites in southeastern Virginia.

Local residents and environmentalists also oppose those the Gates and Camden proposed sites; they believe it will destroy the region’s rural landscape, cause loss of land and harm wildlife.

The Corps sent two letters to the Navy, saying it’s concerned the military’s research is insufficient.

“The Corps remains concerned with the Navy’s approach of selecting a preferred alternative prior to taking sufficient analysis of potential impacts to jurisdictional areas,” noted the letter.

A second letter noted that the Corps had sent many notices to the Navy and, after reviewing the final OLF report and making on-site inspections of the proposed sites, said, “A review of this document revealed errors in the estimation of wetlands present at the two North Carolina sites.

Accordingly, the Navy must correct all discrepancies related to the North Carolina sites before the USACE can make a determination regarding the adequacy of the alternatives analysis for (the National Environmental Policy Act) and (Clean Water Act) purposes.”

In August, the Navy said it would delay the release of its Environmental Impact Study until spring 2010 to determine a preferred alternative site. Opponents said the delay was caused by the Corps’ concerns.