Marine Helicopters Moving to Miramar

Many Southern Californians are familiar with the Defense Department decision to move more than 100 Marine helicopters to San Diego’s Miramar Naval Air Station, which is being converted to a Marine base. Hundreds of thousands of residents who live underneath the proposed flight path are concerned that large, low-flying helicopters will disrupt their neighborhoods. They have formed a citizens group that is fighting the plan. They even have an alternate proposal--backed by both California senators, members of Congress from both parties and the mayor of San Diego--to move the helicopters north to March Air Force Base in Riverside County. Riverside officials support this plan, which would involve a less-populated area where a closed military base has caused economic distress.

The Pentagon also has decided on a case involving concerned residents living near a military base overseas. Only, in this case, the Defense Department has sided with the residents. The decision involves Okinawa, Japan, where the Defense Department will move Marine helicopter operations from Futenma Air Base to a floating heliport off the island. Residents near the base, which is located in a highly populated area of Okinawa, have persistently complained about noise, pollution and safety concerns--the same concerns voiced by citizens in San Diego.

The situation in San Diego remains unresolved, as residents have threatened to sue. Whether or not they ultimately succeed, the military can at least expect delays and anger from the residents near Miramar, frustration from the residents in Riverside, and questions from all of us about why people’s concerns were heard in Okinawa, but not San Diego.

REP. BOB FILNER

D-San Diego