HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-09-2003-8lORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 9, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. '~'
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Governor Easley in Opposing an Outlying Landing Field
at Any Site that is Unacce ptable to the State of North Carolina
DEPARTMENT: BOCC PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Opposing OLF Donna Baker , ext 2130
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution supporting Governor Easley in opposing an Outlying
Landing Field (OLF) at any site that is unacceptable to the State of North Carolina,
BACKGROUND: As presented to the Board by Doris Morris at the December 1, 2003 regular
meeting, the Navy plans to construct a practice airfield for F-18 jets in Washington County,
North Carolina. The pilots will fly from NAS Oceana, Va and Cherry Point to simulate landing
on aircraft carriers. The approximately 50 square mile proposed site is adjacent to the Pacosin
Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, home to large migratory birds. The high concentration of swan
and geese create a hazardous environment far both pilots and aircraft. North Carolinians
Opposed to the Outlying Landing Field are looking to area governmental bodies to join in the
opposition to the OLF.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the resolution and
authorize the Chair to sign,
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING GOVERNOR EASLEY IN OPPOSING AN
OUTLYING LANDING FIELD AT ANY SITE THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO
THE STATE AND CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, the Navy has selected an Outlying Landing Field (OL,F) site known as the
Washington/Beaufort County site; and
WHEREAS, the Navy's strategy to take in excess of 10,000 acres, equaling approximately 50
square miles, of prime farmland surrounding the OLF site, in both counties, by fee-simple
transactions or condemnation, will affect an estimated one hundred seventy-one persons and
seventy-four households, many who are fourth to seventh generation landowners; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order 12898 requires each federal agency to make achieving
enviromnental,justicepam of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate,
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies
and activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Deparhnent of Commerce has determined Washington County to
be a Tier I county, having 20.7 percent of the total population living in poverty and 303 percent of
persons under 18 years of age living in poverty, as indicated in the U.S, Census Bureau 1995
County Estimate of Poverty, and approximately 50 percent of Washington County residents are
minority; and
WHEREAS, the economic impacts of an OLF violate the spirit and letter of Executive Order
12898; and
WHEREAS, the OLF site is located adjacent to an international treasure of wildlife ]mown as the
Pocosin Lalces National Wildlife Refuge, home to more than 100,000 migratory birds, including
snow geese, tundra swan and Canada geese, for six months of every year; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that it "strongly recommended against
building an OLF close to a National Wildlife Refuge"; and.
WHEREAS, a scientist who worked for the Navy's own contractor that conducted the bird study
has come forward in strong opposition to this site as being one of the most dangerous locations in
the country for Bird Aircraft Strike Hazards; and
WHEREAS, Commissioners of both Beaufort and Washington counties have gone on record in
opposition to the proposed OLF site; and
WHEREAS, Governor Easley opposes this OLF site and any other OLF site which would have
such severe negative impacts and which would be unacceptable to the State of North Carolina;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTS GOVERNOR EASLEY IN OPPOSITION TO AN
OUTLYING LANDING FIELD AT THIS AND ANY SITE TFIAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND CALLS UPON MEMBERS OF OUR STATE'S
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO JOIN THE GOVERNOR, LOCAL ELECTED
OFFICIALS, AND CITIZENS IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY
OF LIFE THREATENED BY THE QUESTIONABLE PROJECT.
This 9th day of December ?003.
Barry .Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Donna Baker, Cleric to the Board