South Carolina Station Also To Remain Open Another Year

The U.S. Coast Guard helicopter station in Newport, OR will remain open following a hearing in a lawsuit brought by Newport Fishermen's Wives. A Coast Guard station in Charleston, SC is also off the chopping block, at least for another year.

The Coast Guard had sought to close both stations as a cost-saving measure. But the proposed move brought strong opposition from the maritime communities on both coasts, as well as the Oregon and South Carolina legislative delegations.

The Oregonian reports that the lawmakers had inserted language in the omnibus budget legislation recently passed by the Congress to block the Coast Guard's plans to close the two stations.

The minutes from the hearing on the suit brought by the fishermen's wives indicated that the station will remain open through 2015. "The Coast Guard will not cease operations at the Newport Air Facility on December 15, 2014, as previously scheduled," the document read. "The Coast Guard will continue to operate an MH-65 helicopter out of the Newport Air Facility under the same conditions as it is currently operating."

The Associated Press reports that the language in the omnibus bill prevents the Coast Guard from closing any air station that was active as of November 30 through at least January 1, 2016. Beyond that date, the service has not said whether the two stations will remain open.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.uscg.mil