DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710230020

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: OPINION 

SOURCE: BY MEYERA E. OBERNDORF 

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF OCEANA

By now, you've read the articles and statistics on the proposed relocation of the Navy's East Coast F/A-18 Hornets to Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach. I hope you understand why Oceana is a vital asset to Virginia Beach and the entire Hampton Roads region. As the Base Realignment and Closure Commission studied bases for closure in the 1990s, we battled alongside our congressional delegation to ensure that Oceana remained a part of our community. Two upcoming public input meetings will give us another opportunity to show our community's support for the base.

The subject of the meetings, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Oceana, proposes five scenarios for relocation of aircraft. Oceana receives a number of aircraft in each scenario. The F-14s currently based at Oceana will eventually be phased out of the Navy's inventory and replaced by the newer and more effective F/A-18s. By supporting the move of the F/A-18s to Oceana, we will secure our position in the future of naval aviation. Without the infusion of new aircraft, Oceana would become obsolete.

Since the noise zone and accident potential zone changes related to the proposed relocations are not significantly different under any of the scenarios, we hope to secure all of the aircraft and all of the related economic impact.

The arrival of the new aircraft will bring thousands of jobs that pay above-average wages to highly skilled pilots and technicians. The move will encourage the development of existing and new businesses which support the technical, mechanical and human service needs of the base. The addition of millions of dollars in base spending on construction of new facilities, payroll and the purchase of goods and services will result in millions of dollars in additional tax revenue. In the short term, this increase will support related transportation, education and other needs. In the long term, it will support and maintain the public services and the quality of life that we all enjoy. With the proposed increases, the annual economic impact of Oceana will approach three quarters of a billion dollars.

The proposal to consolidate these aircraft into one location makes sense on the federal level as well. By locating all the East Coast F/A-18s and their support facilities in one place, the Navy will save millions of tax dollars that can be used to fund other national-defense needs. In these days of rising taxes and attempts to balance the budget, any opportunity to conserve limited resources should be grabbed. Consolidation also enhances military readiness.

I understand the concerns many may have. I am confident that rather than eroding property values, the relocation will mean that the demand for housing will increase as new residents come into the area. The F/A-18 has the best safety record of all naval aircraft. And since the number of aircraft will return only to the level of the late 1980s, we can expect a similar level of activity to what we've experienced in the past. The men and women of our military make many sacrifices to protect the American way of life. We, too, can make a few sacrifices to contribute to the success of their mission.

Finally, on a personal level, I have had the pleasure on many occasions to participate with the men and women of Oceana in community cleanups, child-abuse-prevention programs, memorial services, visitor tours and youth programs. These professionals give their time to the community as PTA presidents, community sports-team coaches, library book shelvers, volunteer coordinators, youth mentors. They are a vital ingredient in the recipe that gives Virginia Beach its special home-cooked flavor.

I encourage participation in the public input process that will occur on Monday, Oct. 27, at the Virginia Beach Pavilion or on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Butts Road Intermediate School in Chesapeake. An informational open house will begin at 3:30 each day; a formal hearing will begin at 7:30. This is an opportunity to show support for a proposal that is good for Virginia Beach, good for the federal taxpayer and good for national defense. MEMO: Meyera E. Oberndorf is mayor of Virginia Beach.

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