The Navy has announced it plans within the next year to do scheduled low flight patterns to demonstrate noise levels associated with an OLF.  Click on the Virginian Pilot article under “Links” for the full story

Lately, the Navy has performed a number of flyovers in our communities.  They are often very low to the ground and extremely loud.  If you would like to call the Navy and complain, please call the Oceana complaint line at 757-433-2162.

On April 22nd, the Prince George County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a resolution opposing the construction of a proposed outlying landing field.

There is a meeting of citizens concerned about the OLF in Surry on April 29.  The meeting is scheduled for 7pm at the Surry Recreation Center.  Please plan on attending and supporting this effort.

 This meeting is on the same night as the Prince George scoping meeting.  The scoping meeting is from 4pm to 9pm, so there is plenty of time to attend both!

Below are the scheduled dates and locations for the Navy scoping meetings in Virginia:

1. Prince George County, Virginia. J.E.J Moore Middle School, 11455 Prince George Drive, Disputanta, VA 23842 on April 29, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
2. Sussex County, Virginia. Sussex Central High School, 21394 Sussex Drive, Sussex, VA 23884 on April 30, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
3. Southampton County, Virginia. Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton Parkway, Courtland, VA 23837 on May 1, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.;
4. Surry County, Virginia. Surry Central High School, 1675 Hollybush Road, Dendron, VA 23839 on May 7, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Virginia Delegate Robert G. “Bob” Marshall”  (R-13), who is campaigning to replace the retiring John Warner in the U.S. Senate. announced his opposition to a Navy outlying landing field being constructed in either Surry, Sussex or Southampton Counties.  Click on the article in “Links”  to read the Tidewater News article.

On Monday, April 14 the Franklin City Council unanimously resolved to oppose the construction of an OLF in the region.  Click on the link in “links” to read the Tidewater News article.

Click on the Navy’s official OLF website under “links” for scoping meeting dates, times and locations.

On Tuesday, April 8 the U.S. Navy announced its complete schedule for community scoping meetings: April 29 Prince George, April 30th Sussex County, May 1 Southampton County and May 7 Surry County.  Check back soon for additional details and new information.

Local residents turned out in large numbers for the first public meeting held by Virgians Against the Outlying Landing Field.  An crowd estimated around 700 rallied at Southampton High School on April 2nd to hear their elected officials and legal representation voice their oppositon to the proposed outlying landing field sites.  In an unprecedented show of bi-partisan support, all six state and federal officials elected to represent the potentially impacted communities in Surry, Sussex and Southampton Counties voiced their opposition to an OLF in their districts, either in person or through statements delivered by representatives.

Virginia Delegates Roslyn Tyler and Bill Barlow, as well as Virginia Senator Louise Lucas, personally commented on their opposition to an OLF in the districts they represent.  Senator Fred Quayle, whose appearance was hindered by a recent  injury, sent a written statement reflecting his opposition to a landing field that would adversly impact his constituents.

Jason Gray and Rick Franklin, field representatives for Congressman Randy Forbes, were on hand to reitterate Mr. Forbes’ position on the issue.  The Congressman has maintained that, in his capacity as a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Readiness Subcommitte, he would not vote to fund an OLF in his congressional district.

 Scott George, representative for Congressman Bobby Scott, read a statement on behalf of the Congressman supporting any resolution by the Surry County government opposing an OLF.

Also on hand was attorney Barry Steinberg, managing partner of the Washington DC based law firm Kutak Rock.  Steinberg was retained by a coalition comprised of Southampton, Surry, Greensville and Sussex Counties.  Mr. Steinberg, an expert in military environmental law and a 26 year veteran of the U.S. Army, described the legally required environmental impact study that the U.S. Navy will conduct pertaining to the proposed sites.  He also spoke extensively on the role citizens can play in keeping an OLF from being placed in their community.

A common topic among many speakers was the role the Governor’s office has played in the selection of the proposed practice sites and, specifically, his previous assurances that a community opposed to hosting an OLF would not have one forced upon them.

Senator Fred Quayle and Congressman Forbes have stated publilcy that Governor Kaine should stand by his promises made to the localities, which on this issue he has thus far failed to live up to.