Site Alternatives

The State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia identified six and seven additional site locations, respectively, for the Navy to consider as potential alternatives for the construction and operation of an Outlying Landing Field (OLF). The Navy conducted a screening study that evaluated each of these 13 sites, along with the five sites examined in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Introduction of the F/A-18 E/F (Super Hornet) Aircraft to the East Coast of the United States (Construction and Operation of an Outlying Landing Field). These 18 sites were evaluated on updated operational requirements (transit distance), potential impacts to key natural resources (National Wildlife Refuges, Important Bird Areas, Wetlands, and Threatened and Endangered Species), and potential impacts on residents/landowners. Based on the results of this preliminary screening study, the Navy identified five sites for further analysis in an EIS. These five sites best meet the Navy’s operational requirements and appear to result in the least amount of key natural resources and population/landowner impacts.

The five site location alternatives identified to date are: (1) Cabin Point ; (2) Dory; (3) Mason; (4) Sandbanks; and (5) Hale’s Lake. Brief descriptions of these five sites are provided below with site maps.

 The maps below have been updated.

The oval represented on the OLF Site maps was prepared using the most recent noise data and models an approximate 60 dB DNL noise contour. The oval may change as modeling data is further refined. Site specific projected noise contours will be presented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

A frequently asked question at public outreach events has to do with the shifting of site locations. To provide the public the most current data on proposed sites, the Navy posted initial core and buffer locations of the sites provided by Virginia on the Virginia Office of Commonwealth Preparedness website in July 07. Shortly thereafter, as a result of updates to our data, the Navy adjusted the core area for the Dory site to the north in an effort to reduce potential environmental impacts at the site. No other sites have been adjusted, and that was the only adjustment to the Dory site.

	Cabin Point The core area of the Cabin Point Site is located in Surry County, Virginia, with the site boundary extending to the northwest into Prince George County and to the southwest into Sussex County. The town of Waverly is located approximately 7 miles south of the core area, and the city of Petersburg is located approximately 18 miles to the west. The James River is located 9 miles northeast of the proposed site.
	Dory The core area of the Dory Site is located in Southampton County, Virginia, with the boundary extending to the northwest into Sussex County. This site is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the town of Wakefield and 15 miles northwest of the town of Franklin. Adjacent to the north of the site boundary is the 2,695-acre Piney Grove Preserve, which is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy for the protection of the northernmost population of the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis).
	Mason The core area of the Mason Site is located in Sussex County, Virginia, with the boundary extending to the southeast to Southampton County. This site is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the city of Emporia. Interstate 95 is located 5 miles west of the site boundary.
	Hale’s Lake The core area of the Hale’s Lake Site is located in Camden County, North Carolina, with the site boundary extending to the north to Currituck County. Elizabeth City is located approximately 10 miles south of the midpoint of the site. Blackwater USA, a private military training company, owns property adjacent to and within the proposed OLF site boundary.
	Sandbanks The core area of the Sandbanks Site is located in Gates County, North Carolina, with the site boundary extending to the west into Hertford County. The town of Winton is located approximately 7 miles south of the core area, and the town of Murfreesboro is located approximately 12 miles to the west. The Chowan River is adjacent to the western boundary of the proposed site, and a portion of the site overlays the Chowan Swamp State Game Land.