Navy's Outlying Landing Field (NC)

Timeline

June, 2000 - Navy published Notice of Intent to bring Super Hornets to the East Coast. No Outlying Landing Field is mentioned.
October, 2000 - Navy states that a new OLF will be considered to mitigate noise complaints from residents in Chesapeake and Hampton, VA living near existing OLF at Fentress Field.
August, 2002 - Navy releases draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which lists Washington county as one of two preferred OLF sites. The environmental expert hired to prepare and draft the sections related to wildlife admitted to having never read the reports he cited and visiting the site only once, after the draft EIS was complete and when the birds were in the Arctic Circle.
September, 2002 - Navy changes requirement that OLF must be within 50 miles of base but refuses to re-examine sites in Virginia submitted because they are more than 50 miles from Oceana.January, 2003 - Navy makes first visit to proposed site to evaluate birds.
July, 2003 - Final EIS released.
September, 2003 - Navy announces decision to locate Outlying Landing Field on 30,000 acres in Washington and Beaufort counties, North Carolina.
January, 2004 - SELC, on behalf of National Audubon Society, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and Defenders of Wildlife, and Kennedy Covington, on behalf of Washington and Beaufort counties, file suit in federal district court against the Navy.
February, 2004 - Plaintiffs ask for preliminary injunction to halt all Navy action at the site of the proposed OLF until the merits of the case are heard.
April, 2004 - Judge Terrence Boyle grants preliminary injunction, ruling the conservation groups and the counties have a strong chance of prevailing in the case.
October, 2004 - Boyle rejects the Navy's request to stay the preliminary injunction.
November, 2004- Navy files motion to stay preliminary injunction with 4th Circuit of U.S. Court of Appeals.
January, 2005 - 4th Circuit of U.S. Court of Appeals grants the Navy's motion to stay the preliminary injunction pending oral arguments on the merits of the request. Navy immediately condemns land for proposed OLF. Oral arguments on preliminary injunction scheduled for February 1, 2005.
January 19, 2005 - Plaintiffs and Navy make final oral arguments on issue of permanent injunction in U.S. District Court in front of Judge Terrence Boyle.
February 1, 2005 - Plaintiffs and Navy make oral arguments to 4th Circuit court of Appeals on issue of preliminary injunction.
February 19, 2005 - US district Court Judge Terrance Boyle grants permanent injunction against the OLF saying the Navy failed to make an objective determination of the impact on the surrounding environment of an OLF and that it took the "uninformed action" that the National Environmental POlicy Act specifically prohibits. Requires Navy to cease all planning, development, or construction of an OLF in Washington and Beaufort counties without first complying with NEPA. Navy soon files appeal with 4th Circuit.
May 19, 2005 - Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denies Navy's request for stay of the permanent injunction but grants an expedited hearing schedule.
June 25, 2005 - Navy announces plans to study alternate site for an OLF, seemingly complying with the very order it is appealing in the 4th Circuit.
July 20, 2005 - Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments regarding the appeal of the permanent injunction issues by the US District Court.
September 7, 2005 - Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's order that the Navy conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
February 2007 - The Navy issues a Draft SEIS, again identifying the site in Washington County as its preferred alternative. The US Fish and Wildlife Service disagrees with the Navy's conclusions of only "moderate" impacts on waterfowl, "minor" impacts on the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and no adverse effects on endangered red wolves. Governor Mike Easley requests that Congress withhold funding for the OLF until the Navy considers reasonable alternatives.