Congressman Asks Navy to Drop Possible N.C. Landing Field Site

RALEIGH, N.C. — A congressman has asked the Navy to drop a North Carolina site from consideration for a proposed military landing field because of local opposition.

Rep. Walter Jones' office said Wednesday that the congressman sent a letter to Navy Secretary Donald Winter asking that the Hale's Lake site in Camden and Currituck counties be dropped.

Jones, a Republican, said local residents opposed the landing field and that locating it there would take valuable farmland out of production. Jones urged the Navy to locate a field at or near property of a Marine Corps air station at Havelock.

The Navy is seeking a site for the field after opposition forced it to give up a site near Plymouth. It is preparing environmental assessments on five possible sites in North Carolina and Virginia.

It plans to hold a number of public meetings for comments and concerns. They include:

Currituck County, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Currituck County Center, 120 Community Way, Barco, N.C. 27917, on April 28, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Prince George County, Va., J.E.J Moore Middle School, 11455 Prince George Drive, Disputanta, Va. 23842, on April 29, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sussex County, Va., Sussex Central High School, 21394 Sussex Drive, Sussex, Va. 23884, on April 30, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Southampton County, Va., Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton Parkway, Courtland, Va. 23837, on May 1, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Gates County, Gates County High School, 088 U.S. Highway 158 West, Gatesville, N.C. 27938, on May 2, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Camden County, Camden County High School, 103 U.S. Highway 158 West, Camden, N.C, 27921, on May 5, 2008, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.