Hendersonians protest the OLF


No OLF
Sign protesting the Navy’s proposed Outlying Landing Field in front of a Henderson residence

According to Henderson resident Tom Badger, it’s “a stupid thing to do”.

The Navy is proposing placing the Outlying Landing Field in Washington County. Information on the proposal may be found here.

Badger told Home in Henderson that the Navy tried something similar once in the South Pacific and ended up marking their airplanes with the outlines of the albatross they killed, much like keeping score with icons of Japanese Zeros or Luftwaffe fighters.

The Henderson resident, who identified himself as part of a group he called “taxpayers”, said he thought it was just the wrong thing to do.

One of the major objections that has been raised to the Navy’s plans by environmentalists and hunting groups alike is the Navy’s plan to poison the thousands of ducks and geese that migrate to the region every year. Although the Navy claims that it can change the migratory patterns of the birds by telling area farmers what to plant, Badger does not believe that the migratory patterns that the birds have established over thousands of years can be changed.

Badger also believes that the red wolf and other endanged species will be poisoned as well.

“They haven’t thought this thing through,” Badger said.

Badger attended a public hearing held by the Navy in Plymouth, North Carolina. He reported that none of the families who own farms in the region want to sell to the Navy. He concludes that the Navy will have to condemn the land and take what it wants by eminent domain.

The concerned taxpayer also noted that neighboring Carteret County wants the airstrip, whereas county officials in Washington County are afraid the Navy’s land acquisition will erode an already depleted tax base.

Carteret County is approximately thirty seconds distant at the speed at which an F-18 travels.

Badger indicated that many people with farms in the region have had the land in their family for eight to ten generations. At the public hearing, one landowner brought his original land grant dated from 1740.

The area is known for a belt of particularly rich black soil that has a much higher crop yield than surrounding farmland. Plans are underway for the construction of an ethanol plant, and area farmers have been looking forward to higher prices for corn to be converted to bio-fuel.

Badger, who has been following the issue closely, reported that North Carolina Govenor Mike Easley opposes the OLF, as well as gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith. The opposition of Congressman G.K. Butterfield is a matter of record. Badger reported to Home in Henderson that he had recently received a copy of a letter from U.S. Senator Richard Burr asking the Navy to reconsider its position on the OLF.

“The Navy and birds don’t mix,” Badger said.

The next public hearing on the issue will be held in Charlotte on Tuesday, April 17.

Readers may visit www.noolf.com for more information on the anti-OLF movement in North Carolina.