Webb blasts Mayport decision in report

[unhappycamper]

Mayport, Fla.
Sen. Webb: Scrap plans for nuclear carrier there


Webb blasts Mayport decision in report
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 8, 2009 20:36:14 EST

Sen. Jim Webb says the Navy should scrap its plans to homeport a nuclear carrier in Mayport, Fla., and instead send more surface ships to the base.

Webb’s statement came as his office released a 24-page “critical assessment” Jan. 8 in which he called the Navy’s environmental impact statement released Nov. 21 a “flawed” report. Webb, D-Va., said the Navy’s justification for the move is based on obsolete strategic arguments and that the service rushed the decision strictly for political reasons.

Webb’s report did not outline any specific alternatives to the Navy’s plan for Mayport.

Instead, he called on the Navy to investigate and propose less expensive options to add new ships to the base, which lost the conventional powered carrier John F. Kennedy in 2007 and will continue to lose ships starting in 2010 when the bases population of frigates begins to be decommissioned.

“The Navy’s need to retain Mayport as an operational base for surface ships is not in question,” he said in a press release that accompanied the report.


Rest of article and Webb's report at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/navy_mayport_010809/%2e