The integrity and character of our national historic district neighborhoods are under siege by military activity that was not properly vetted as required by federal law under the National Historic Preservation Act.  F18 and Harrier fighter jets began basing out of ILM last year following the awarding of a Dept of Defense hot fueling contract to Modern Aviation, a fixed base operator (FBO) and contractor at ILM, making ILM a de facto military base for these fighter jets.

The harms and adverse impacts of this Dept of Defense undertaking are significant.  Given the proximity of ILM to the Wilmington historic districts the severity of the impacts these military flight operations create should have triggered a section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act 36 CFR 800. Wilmington's historic districts fall within what the military defines as incompatible use zones surrounding airfields for noise and accident potential zones (APZs). By their own definition, our historic neighborhoods are exposed to dangerous accident potential and noise levels that pose significant health and safety hazards not compatible with residential or school use. These deafening, low flying military fighter jets disrupt the integrity and character of our neighborhoods with visual, audible and atmospheric effects creating a militarized atmosphere. Children cry, dogs bark and cower, everything stops as these jets roar overhead at 100+ decibels and altitudes barely over the treetops. Our entire historic district from the river to 23rd St now lies under the APZ zone in the flight path of a de facto military base that doesn't have military airfield protocols and did not undergo the 106 review process. We are asking the ACHP to investigate and our local elected officials to support this investigation into the Dept of Defense's failure to meet their obligation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to protect our historic neighborhoods.