Moose Droppings

The military is looking to increase the size of the bombing range in the Pamlico Sound putting off limits some prime fishing and hunting areas raising the ire of many of the sportsmen in the state.

Joe Albea co host of Carolina Outdoor Journal as well as one of the strong advocates in the OLF fight sent out the following about this issue;

The US Military is currently working on plans to expand two of their bombing ranges (BT-9) and (BT-11) located in the Pamlico Sound. This expansion continues the trend by the military to gobble up as much (land & water) of the N.C. coastal plain as they can. They are doing this under an EA (environmental assessment) which will move the process quicker than an EIS (environmental impact study) and with less public input. All of this started in 2000 with the OLF(outlying landing field) and MOA (military operational area) expansion…… which were stopped.

This bombing range expansion needs to be stopped as well. The military currently owns thousands of acres of quality fishing and hunting areas that are closed to public access. Unknown damage to the environment is occurring due to live fire operations that are not being monitored by the state ( military will not allow access).

The Pamlico Sound is one of the largest estuarine nurseries in the United States and is important not only to fish populations in this state but the entire east coast and gulf coast. This expansion will not only adversely affect fish populations but also control your access to these areas.

Joe Albea
Greenville

The Camo Coalition has also sent out an alert about this issue;

Cherry Point Marine Air Station is trying to expand the Bombing Ranges in Pamlico Sound, which will result in further loss of high quality fishing, boating, and hunting grounds to North Carolina sportsmen as these areas are placed off-limits. The Navy has released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the new range areas. An EA is a shortcut for an full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which looks in depth into alternatives and impacts. The impact of closing these substantial new areas in the Sound will be great and can not be adequately presented in an EA. We need to have a full EIS on this important proposal from the Navy before they go any further.
Expansion of the Range at Bryant Shoals will place many thousands of additional prime fishing grounds off-limits and will force boaters to detour widely into more treacherous waters in storms. The Range at Point of Marsh in Rattan Bay will exclude fishermen from the best shoreline fishing ground in the State and will add one and one-half miles to the existing four mile circle closed to entry for any reason. No compelling military reason has been given for this expansion. The current target zones have served the military well over the years and expansion cannot be justified given the information presented.
All North Carolina Watermen, Fishermen, Boaters, and others who want to preserve this area for public use need to oppose this usurption of the public domain for unsubstantiated purposes. The Navy is not providing a place for e-mail submissions of public comments for some reason, so we will have to send a written response. We will provide a suggested response under the “Take Action” link that you can edit, print, and send by postal service to the person and address that will be given. We will send a copy of your response to your Congressional Delegation by e-mail so they will know that this incursion by the Navy will be as controversial as OLF.

Although many of us are strong supporters of the military we’d like to see a bit more information and justification for taking this area over and putting it off limits. It would appear that there was an effort on the Navy’s part to sneak this one in under the radar which only increases our suspicions in light of the shenanigans that was pulled with the OLF deal. There is no email address available to voice your concerns so you’ll either have to snail mail it or fax it;
Susan Admire
Naval Facilities Engineering Command
6506 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, Va 23508
or fax to: (757) 322-4894.

Camo Coalition has a letter already typed out that you can fill in your information and print to send off the deadline is coming up quick, 17 July 2008. Please make your voice heard on this before we lose some prime costal area.

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