DCM has received a Federal Consistency Determination for a proposed update to training activities and operations…

DCM has received a Federal Consistency Determination for a proposed update to training activities and operations within the MCAS Cherry Point Range Complex. The proposal would increase and add training activities, including aircraft, unmanned systems, and watercraft operations, and increase restricted water areas near BT-9 in western Pamlico Sound and BT-11 on Piney Island, including establishing a permanent 500-foot safety buffer around BT-11. The overall size of the range complex and existing special-use airspace would not change.

The State’s review will determine if the proposed project in Carteret County is consistent with the enforceable policies of North Carolina’s Coastal Management Program.

MCAS Cherry Point describes minor changes to their operations schedule, yet they are asking for major changes to the restricted areas in which they operate. Particularly troubling is the proposed permanent 500-foot safety closure that would take away miles of public trust shoreline. It is not reasonable to ask recreational and commercial fishermen to give up productive and popular areas that include, but are not limited to, all of the northern shoreline of Turnigan Bay, the entirety of Racoon Island, and numerous productive points on the western side of West Bay. There would be an obvious, negative impact on the economies of Pamlico, Craven, and Carteret counties. Of these, the small economy of Pamlico County would be most strongly impacted by these proposed actions.

Why are these closures being considered? If you look at the military objectives of MCAS Cherry Point, they intend to add 220 UAS operations to a schedule that includes 15,000 other operations per year, an increase of only 1.4%. In addition, they intend to increase the ordinance expended by 87% without adding any additional targets to the range at BT-11. So, in effect, they are going to shoot the same targets more often per operation. Adding an additional 220 target runs to their current schedule in no way warrants changing the current restricted areas. This is an unnecessary over-reach.

If MCAS Cherry Point feels that these changes are necessary, then broader questions must be answered. Has the Marine Corps done an economic impact study for what losing access to these public trust waters will do to the fishermen in the surrounding counties?

Have they done an environmental impact study on what firing increased ordinance will do to the wildlife that calls Piney Island home? That area is prime nesting habitat for many different species of shorebird, some of which have populations that are endangered. Will the increased number of sorties adversely affect their nesting habits?

Have they adequately considered what the temporary closures will do to navigating the Neuse River? The proposed connection between BT-9 and BT-11 will, at times, block access to the river. How frequently will the proposed closures occur? How long will such closures be in effect? Hours? Days?

In the MCAS proposal, rule 4.1.1 G states: Development shall not impede navigation or create undue interference with access to, or use of, public trust areas or estuarine waters. If this update is approved by DCM, the public’s access to the public trust areas and estuarine waters of the Pamlico Sound and around Piney Island will undoubtedly be unduly interfered with and severely restricted. 

by Fish Poster