Washington, D.C. —- Congressman G. K. Butterfield expressed deep concern about Governor Michael Easley’s approach to finding a suitable site for the proposed Outlying Landing Field.
“After months of hearings and meetings the only thing the state and OLF Study Group seem to have determined is what everyone in northeastern North Carolina already knew — there’s overwhelming opposition to the project there,” Butterfield said.
Yesterday afternoon, Easley sent Butterfield a letter about the study group’s progress. Easley recommends only that Butterfield “asks the Navy to take these views into account and develop alternative proposals.”
Butterfield said that he had expected the state to use its wide array of resources to work with the Navy to identify suitable alternatives, and to focus its attention on sites that have not garnered so much opposition. Moving forward, Butterfield said he will encourage the state to work actively and closely with the Navy “to develop alternative proposals through a clear, full, fair and objective process that is carried out in the light of day.”
Butterfield said residents in Gates and Camden counties have understandably expressed numerous concerns about the lack of a public process in identifying possible sites. He said that he will fully support the communities he represents and that he would fight vigorously if the Navy attempts to locate in a community where they are not welcome.
“Hopefully this process will yield a solution that is mutually beneficial to the Navy and the people of North Carolina,” Butterfield said.