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| General James L. Jones Commandant of the Marine Corps Hdq. Marine Corp-2 Navy Annex(CMC) Washington, DC 20380-1775 Dear Sir: After a presentation to some USMC Officers about the terrible safety record of the AV-8B Harrier, one crashed 4 days later. You will find enclosed a copy of the press release. General Jones had a discussion about the committee at his recent visit to Camp LeJeune. The Bogue Field Committee has sent questions to the Commanding Generals of MCAS Cherry Point asking for the Risk Assessment measuring the risks of a slow and low flight pattern over populated areas with the military�s most dangerous aircraft versus the mission of The USMC. We have publicly stated that the USMC is flying in violation of safety guidelines set out in DoN guidelines. The USMC boasts that their noise is the Sound of Freedom and then proceeds to trounce 1st Amendment rights to Free Speech by strong arming Time Warner to remove an ad from Television airwaves. That�s not the Sound of Freedom, that�s the Sound of Oppression. .Rather than slinking behind closed doors, why doesn�t the Marine Corps appear in the light of day and answer the safety questions about the AV-8B Harrier and the unnecessary flying aver a populated resort community. The fact is that the USMC for the first time has released a proposed flight pattern showing crash zones over the town of Emerald Isle, Bogue and other populated parts of Carteret County. The USMC did not tell the truth in the 1988 AICUZ and did not identify Accident Potential Zones for Bogue Field or make any noise or safety recommendations to County or Town Officials. and Emerald Isle. The Navy/Marine Corps is presently looking for a new site for carrier landing practice for 160 F-18 Super Hornets (3-4 X louder than the F-18 Hornet). Cherry Point and Bogue Field are being considered. The USMC asked for a JLUS. No mention of the Super Hornet was ever made. The EIS was started over 1 year ago and yet no one knows about it and the USMC keeps the secret. The Project Manager said he first heard about the Super. Hornets on May 3, 2001. This is misleading at best and deceptive at worst. Because of the non-disclosure the JLUS Scope of Work does not address the siting of the Super Hornet or ever mention the Super Hornet. Taxpayer funds in excess of $120,000 are being spent to study how to limit development in an area that is already built out. Someone needs to address the tactics of the Marine Corps Officers at MCAS Cherry Point and investigate why Safety of US Citizens is not only ignored but Responsible Dissent is oppressed. Perhaps there is some Officer and a Gentleman willing to respond openly and frankly. Bogue Field Committee, Inc. |
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| May 7, 2001 |
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