NEWS - Economic Development

Navy/Marine Corps to Study Potential Timber Land Acquisition in McIntosh County

By Lou Phelps, SBJ Staff

The Department of the Navy begins it process this week of looking at a possible acquisition of 40,000 additional acres in the Coastal Georgia area to expand its Townsend Bombing Range for use with guided missile testing.

The acquisition will be necessary if Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort is chosen as the site for housing and training jet squadrons for the new F35 striker jet to be used by most branches of the military. (See related story.)

The Navy is looking at timber land, some hunt club land and other agricultural land in the Townsend area in McIntosh County.

The Navy will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will analyze five alternatives for possible land acquisition that would modernize the Townsend Bombing Range, or decide on a “no-action”alternative.

“It is imperative that Marines receive the most realistic training before deploying to combat.  The modernization of our range in Townsend would allow Marines to train as they fight, with precision-guided munitions,” said Col. John R. Snider, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. “We are committed to working with the local community as partners and look forward to receiving public comments on our proposed alternatives and the issues to be studied.”

The Marine Corps’ Coastal Georgia range at Townsend is operated by the Georgia Air National Guard. The Navy has published its Notice of Intent to prepare the environmental study, including a description of the alternatives to be studied and has announcing a schedule of public scoping meetings.

The first step in undertaking an environmental assessment will be the public scoping meetings and public comment period. The public scoping meetings are scheduled as follows:

- Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., City of Ludowici Meeting Room, City Hall, 469 North Macon Street, Ludowici, GA 31316

- Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Haynes Auditorium – Ida Hilton Public Library, 1105 Northway, Darien, GA 31305

The 30-day public scoping comment period will end on September 7. All public comments will be reviewed in determining the alternatives and issues to be studied and released in the final report.

Additional information is available from Gunnery Sgt. Chad McMeen, MCAS Beaufort Public Affairs Officer, at (843) 228-7201 or cell (843) 321-6659 with any additional questions.