Navy to hold hearing tonight on training operations

The Navy has scheduled two meetings this week to get public input on proposed action involving current and future air and sea training off the North Carolina coast.

A draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement has been released by the Navy for its Cherry Point range complex, which is a combination of sea and airspace where military training is conducted. The Cherry Point complex covers areas from Camp Lejeune north to the Albemarle Sound and extends out into the ocean about 100 nautical miles.

The area being studied has supported training operations for nearly 60 years and continues to be a vital area for providing realistic training opportunities, said Navy spokesman Lt. Commander Phil Rosi of U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, VA.

"It's an absolutely essential part of our training and preparing for deployments," he said.

In general, what the Navy is proposing to do is maintain current training and testing operations, with sufficient operations to support a surge capability in compliance with the Fleet Response Plan. It is proposing flexibility to respond to real-world situations with increased training operations to accommodate mission expansion, emerging force structure changes and new range capabilities.

The Navy also proposes to eliminate high explosive bombing exercises and implement enhanced mine warfare training capability within the range complex.

"As we're getting ready to meet the threats out there, it's important that we have the realistic training that is essential to ongoing operations," Rosi said.

And while area residents may not notice a change, he said the Navy wants the public to be aware of what is going on.

"They should be aware of what's going on out there even if they are not aware of it on a day-to-day basis," he said. "We want them to know what is going on and know the process we go through so they can be informed citizens."

The first meeting is scheduled for today at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. An open house informational session is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. with a formal presentation and comment period scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m.

The second meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the Coastline Inn and Convention Center in Wilmington, with the same times as the Beaufort meeting.