Helicopter Activity Increase Now in Hands of California Coastal Commission

A 30 percent increase in helicopter activity at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach by 2016 is now in the hands of the California Coastal Commission.

Federal Consistency Supervisor Mark Delaplaine with the California Coastal Commission's staff said he is receiving public input from the Navy and the cities of Imperial Beach and Coronado. Further public comments can be directed to his office, he said.

“After reviewing all of the evidence, this matter could be brought before the Coastal Commission and the matter would be reopened for public comment,” said Delaplaine. “If this action is not taken, it will be automatically approved on May 28.”

Ultimately, the commission can request the Navy do more evaluative testing, and it is not yet known when the matter would appear in front of the commission if staff decides to take that route, he said.

Comments can be mailed to:

Mr. Mark Delaplaine
California Coastal Commission
Federal Consistency Supervisor
45 Fremont Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94105-2219

The Navy submitted a Negative Determination statement to the Commission on March 3 concerning the increase in helicopter activity at the Outlying Landing Field formerly known as Ream Field. 

A Negative Determination is “an explanation of why a federal agency has concluded that an activity does not affect the coastal zone.”

In the report, the Navy indicates there is no additional effect on public access and recreation, noise levels, coastal marine sources, aesthetics, emissions or environmentally sensitive habitat areas and states the community's co-existence with the Navy since 1911 has acclimated the community to the current level of helicopter noise.

Seaside Point subdivision resident Robert Taylor disagrees, living within 1,000 feet from the fence for more than three decades. After reviewing Navy reports and doing research on sound, he said health complications, competition with the noise level and disruption of daily life are his major concerns. “My windows rattle and they are trying to tell me that the noise level is no higher than 65 decibels,” he said.

“It is loud, it's unpleasant and it's undesired,” Taylor said. "Nothing can compete with the noise when my house is open. We need to stick a thorn in their side and let them know that we are fed up with it. Let the Commander come stay at my house for a few days.”

City Manager Gary Brown said and two letters, the city continues to support continued investigation of the direct impact to Imperial Beach.

The city's basic argument against an increase of traffic is if the Navy performed an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the true impact on nearby residents, schools and wildlife would be shown in the results. Brown submitted a draft of a third letter to the Navy and one to the Coastal Commission.

"A letter has been drafted to the Coastal Commission urging them not to agree with the negative determination," Brown said.

Councilman Ed Spriggs said this cannot be swept under the rug, and the right thing is to measure the true impact on the community and the environment. He said the air traffic is already a documented high impact.

“It is unbelievable that they did not do an EIS to determine the impact,” said Spriggs. “The Navy has brushed it aside by saying the area has adapted to it over many years, but that doesn't reduce the fact it is a high impact and very disruptive.

“It would be a totally different environment here if we lived without the Ream Field base. If you look at it like that, you can see the level of impact we are tolerating. We are not objecting to that. If they are talking about a 30 percent increase in an already high level of impact, that has to require that you look at the whole thing, from the bottom up,” he said.

“At what point does it really start having manifestations, unintentional or unanticipated? How much can a community take?” he said.

A lack of support for helicopter increase is not reflective of the city's love for the Navy or that he doesn't support the Navy's co-existence in Imperial Beach, he said.

“It is that this is already a high impact, and if they go to a higher level without looking at the total range of that impact, it is really critical that it is mitigated.”

People in the community who are staunch supporters of the military and the people concerned with the flight increase have never said anything against the Navy's contribution to the community and national defense, said Councilman Jim King.

“The issue is the impact is not addressed,” King said. “Like any other agency, the federal government has an obligation to the citizens of this country and its communities to evaluate their impacts and come up with mitigation. I think that is all we are asking for. I would like to see a full EIS.”

Mayor Jim Janney called the area formerly known as Ream Field is the second busiest airport this side of Chicago. He fully supported sending a letter to the Navy and continuing talks with them.

“It is true they don't land 747s, but helicopters are aircraft. So I think we need to push that we already have a huge impact and you are adding 30 percent to it,” said Janney.

Brown said the Coastal Commission could make a determination at a staff level or decide to take it all the way to commissioners to decide.

“This is what we are recommending, that staff not agree with the negative determination and take it up to the Coastal Commission,” he said.

After several discussions with the Navy, Janney said at the City Council's meeting on April 20 that the decision is not in the hands of the local Navy, but expressed doubts about whether a letter to the commission would make a difference.

“The Navy is willing to meet with people from Seaside Point and are looking at doing more testing on the noise level of the area, at Oneonta Elementary School and the estuary,” Janney said. “We are very concerned. These are official meetings where we talk about it and see if we can make better conditions here.”

Added Councilman Brian Bilbray, “I echo your frustrations with the Coastal Commission.

“For example with the Seacoast Inn, we are hauling sand out of the city instead of dumping it on our own beach because of the extra cost and time it would have taken to get the permits from the commission,” he said. “But I do believe that we need to explore every avenue, get all of our eggs in a basket if we are going to try and take the Navy on.”

Spriggs said the Coastal Commission has heard the Navy side and the city would be shooting itself in the foot by not responding to the Coastal Commission and getting Congressional officials involved. Council member Lorie Bragg agreed it would behoove the city to let the Coastal Commission know the city is not in agreement with the Navy's findings.

“To remain silent is not fulfilling all of our due diligence,” Bragg said. “In this instance, I think we need to plead our case with them.”

City Council decided to support sending letters to the Navy and the California Coastal Commission.