FOLEY, Ala. — The U.S. Navy has created an information Web site concerning the proposed expansion of its outlying airfields in Baldwin County.

The Web site address is www.navyolfextensions.com.

The proposed expansion comes as a result of Naval Air Station Whiting Field transitioning from the current T-34 aircraft trainer to the new T-6 aircraft. The proposal by the Navy resulted in hundreds turning out for a meeting in Summerdale earlier this year concerning expansion proposals for four outlying landing fields in Baldwin County.

Feelings concerning the airfield expansion idea are generally mixed and include those with a military background, who support the expansion idea, and those property owners who have concerns about everything from increased noise to loss of homes and property.

The Navy said information will be posted on the Web site as additional information becomes available.

Among the links on the Web site are one for comments and frequently asked questions. There is also a link to the National Environmental Policy Act and to Real Estate Regulations.

“The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) being prepared for this Navy action will also be posted on the website for (citizen) review when it is finished,” the Navy said.

The Draft EA is expected to be completed in early May, according to the Navy.

Ray Holley of Josephine is one resident who said he is “still undecided” on the airfield expansion issue, although he admits he has concerns about possible negative impact on communities such as his.

“While I am all in favor of supporting our troops, I’m concerned about how this type of operation could potentially depreciate property values, create widespread safety hazards and noise pollution from low-flying planes and undermine efforts - such as the Barber Marina near the Wolf NOLF (Navy Outlying Field) - to boost the local economy through tourism,” Holley said this week.

According to Holley, the area’s “three main economic staples are recreation, real estate and restaurants.

“Real estate and restaurants are in the proverbial toilet right now, but recreation is still alive and doing fairly well. Will these expansions adversely affect our ability to draw in tourists and keep them coming back year after year?”

With the current economy already “precipitating a nosedive in property values,” Holley is wondering if residents’ assets are about to “take another hit” in the affected areas what with more planes “roaring” overhead.