To the Editor:

Last week the Virginians Against the Outlying Landing Field Committee held public meetings in Sussex, Southampton and Surry counties for the purpose of updating residents on the Navy’s OLF project.

Your Board of Supervisors members, committee chairman Tony Clark, consultant attorney Barry Steinberg and I are working long hours to protect your quality of life in Southside Virginia. However, everyone’s support is necessary and vitally important to win this fight.

As you are aware, the Navy has selected three sites in Virginia for the OLF. All three are located in Southside Virginia.

The Dory Site is located in Southampton County. The Mason Site is located in Sussex County and the Cabin Point Site is located in Surry County. By no means am I against the Navy and the training of its pilots. However, I am against the Navy building a landing field in communities that do not want one without seeking other alternatives prior to making final decisions. Additionally, I do not support the loss of family farms, the reduction of county revenue, the adverse environmental conditions and the disturbance of peace and tranquility of our rural communities.

We have been working on this issue for the past 13 months. Mid-summer, the Navy will hold public hearings to address concerns and questions gathered from the scoping meeting held last summer. The final decision will be made by Congress in Washington, D.C., and the future governor of Virginia. Please help us in our fight.

Washington County, N.C., did it. We can, too! Contact your state legislators in Richmond, congressmen and senators in Washington, D.C., and gubernatorial candidates to voice your concerns. Together, we can make a difference.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler

House of Delegates 75th District