Windmills and Airplanes, the Military Advances to Take Prpoerty Rights | Eastern North Carolina Now

    I wrote an article during March of this year about how the military is trying to obtain air rights over several counties in eastern North Carolina using subtle deception. The failed attempt to confiscate 33,000 acres of prime farm land for use as an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) caused the Pentegon to realize a major strategy change is required to obtain low level air rights on private land in eastern North Carolina.

    The first attempt, following the OLF debacle, was the creation of "The Market Based Conservation Easement". The first con game, in this program, is a two mile strip of land beginning at one of the Marine bases and running to Wake County and then into the Dare Bombing Range. Eighteen counties are involved. The military secured the endorsement and cooperation of the Governor, the Secretary of Agriculture, several other government agencies and several special interest service organizations. The State Soil Conservation Foundation along with county soil conservation organizations were contracted to provide management services which were to be paid with money the Defense Department pays to the Department of Agriculture. Reading the contracts was enlightening. They are enforceable by the US Navy and take rights to within 100 feet of the ground. There was not a lot in them about conservation as we normally think of wildlife and land preservation conservation.

    The goal of this project is to lock into place the value of these easements so the military can use them where ever they please within the 18 counties. The Beaufort County Commissioners decided not to participate in the Market Based Conservation Easement project.

    Another scheme is something called the "Joint Land Use Study for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base" The acronym is "JLUS Seymour Johnson". This is a joint study composed of the counties of Bertie, Dare, Hyde Tyrrell, Washington and Wayne, and the cities of Washington and Goldsboro. Notice that Goldsboro and Wayne County are not connected to the other counties. Beaufort County is supposed to be one of the JULUS counties but County Commissioners have not voted to become a member. The purpose of this committee is to do land use planning so the future of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base can be guaranteed.

    In spite of the lack of cooperation of Beaufort County the Joint Land Use Study (JULUS) is proceeding. I have serious concerns when people show up to do a study we do not want, to solve a problem that does not exist, and at no cost to any of the counties involved. Looks free doesn't it. What should we do when it looks free. You got it. Run.

    The Counties of Bertie, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrrell, Washington and Wayne along with the Cities of Washington and Goldsbor have joined. After all it is free.

    This is how JULUS will work going forward. The Defense Department will pay the State of North Carolina Department of Commerce to provide executive staff the JULUS Committee. The Staff will obtain consultants to do the Joint Land Use Study for Seymour Johnson. The study will be reviewed by the JULUS committee. After approval by the JULUS Committee each county and municipality will be expected enact ordinances restricting development in order to provide the recommended protection for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Those counties and municipalities who are members of the JULUS will be expected to comply because they helped make the decisions. The staff for JULUS is on the NC Department of commerce payroll. Who do you think is in charge?

    Put another way, the Federal government is paying for a dictated study to be managed by the State of North Carolina and approved by the local governments. The money is the control and that is the Federal Government. Looks to me like the property owner does not stand a chance. Three levels of government are cooperating. None of the three have even bothered to consider the Constitution and private property rights.

    Keep in mind the Air Force wants to fly across these Counties and municipalities down to 100 feet above the ground at speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour in large fighter aircraft. This low level of flight eliminates all construction of windmills. There is no question that the part of the Federal Government that wants windmill generation of electricity is at odds with the Federal Military. Because of this there is a huge effort to deny private property owners their rights.

    The goal of JULUS, to guarantee the future of the Seymour Johnson base, is somewhat surprising because there has been no news about closing this base. However, some civic organizations in Goldsboro along with Goldsboro Councilmen and Wayne County Commissioners are thoroughly convinced that unless they can fly over these five counties at between 100 and 500 feet above the ground at more than five hundred miles per hour the base will be closed when the next round of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closing) commission hearings begin. BRAC is an invention of the Federal Government, to take politics out of decisions about which bases are necessary for national defense. The 2005 BRAC Commission recommended another BRAC round in 2015. However, Congress has refused to fund the 2015 round. Considering the weak political leadership in Washington, there is no telling when we will get the next BRAC.

    More than 5,000 flights at less than 500 feet and more than 500 miles per hour occur in Beaufort County each year according to the Friends of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Committee. We are talking about Hornet sized air craft. There is some question about the reliability of this information because of the absence of complaints from citizens of Beaufort County or any of the other counties involved in the JULUS.

    Considering rapidly changing technology and the possibility of drone warfare, there may be less need for low flying planes in eastern North Carolina. There are few complaints about low flying military planes in eastern North Carolina. Residents accept the training flights. No question, the roar of aircraft is the sound of freedom.

    With these things in mind I have repeatedly asked "If our citizens are content with the present situation, why do we need to do these studies and enact more regulatory laws to burden us. That question has gone unanswered. The military has not been able to show the need for more regulation or the taking of these property rights.