The Navy has dropped a major proposal on eastern North Carolina: a draft environmental assessment that would bring its new E-130J Phoenix II aircraft to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, complete with fresh construction and about 1,000 incoming service members and family members over the next decade.
What the draft EA proposes
The Draft EA looks at a plan to station as many as 11 Phoenix II aircraft at Cherry Point, split between an operational squadron and a training squadron. The proposal includes new flightline campus buildings, unaccompanied housing, a weapons school and a Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, along with the flight operations and aircrew training needed to keep the mission running. The Draft EA is available on the Navy.
How to read the document and weigh in
Residents can pull up a digital copy of the Draft EA through the Navy’s NEPA site and send comments either through the project website or by mail to Navy officials in Norfolk…..