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08/16/2005

By SUE LINDSEY  / Associated Press

Virginia officials scurried to respond to remarks by the chairman the federal base closing commission calling for steps to block and scale back development around Oceana Naval Air Station.

The emergency meeting Tuesday was to be followed by a news conference with state officials and congressional representatives.

In an interview Monday with The Virginian-Pilot, Anthony J. Principi said if Oceana is to remain open, the state and city need to take steps to stop neighborhood encroachment. Principi was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

The chairman of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission acknowledged in the interview that some progress had been made in addressing development near the base, but said "complicated issues" remain regarding land already zoned for development.

"I hope there's a way that some of these issues can be resolved without the need to move out of Oceana," Principi told the Norfolk newspaper.

Oceana is Virginia Beach's largest employer, with a military and civilian staff of nearly 17,000. It is home to about 140 F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets and about 50 F-14 Tomcats.

The base, which trains aircraft carrier pilots, was a late addition to the military bases BRAC is considering for closure. It was not on the Defense Department's list of recommendations, but was added after commission researchers said neighborhood development was encroaching on pilots' ability to practice taking off and landing at all hours.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chief of naval operations, told the BRAC panel earlier this month that the Navy had considered other options and found Oceana to be the best location for its East Coast fighter plane hub.

Even so, the BRAC Commission has scheduled a hearing Saturday to consider reopening Cecil Field in Florida to replace Oceana. The base near Jacksonville was closed in 1999.

North Carolina and Texas also have submitted proposals to replace the Virginia Beach base.

The commission begins voting Aug. 24 on its recommendations to President Bush.