Actions by the Interior Department to gag US Fish & Wildlife Biologists just prior to the anticipated release of the court ordered Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement about the Outlying landing field (OLF) can only be viewed as actions to protect the Navy and avoid further embarrassing the government. It would appear that the Navy continues to plan to take privately owned land by eminent domain and to further risk endangered species and important wintering grounds for thousands of waterfowl. This is land that the US Fish & Wildlife has worked for years to protect and preserve to restore black bear populations, reintroduce the red wolf, and of course the millions of birds that winter here. In addition much of this area is important in efforts to save and restore river herring.
The US Fish & Wildlife has been opposed to this plan but as we get nearer to these announcements, other potential areas outside of the state of North Carolina have been removed from consideration, the biologists have been gagged.
As reported earlier large flocks of birds and Navy jets don’t mix, if you don’t care about the impact this will have on the environment what about the pilots who will be risking their lives every time a flock of tundra swan fly up or a flock of snow geese. The plan makes no sense and the potential for loss of life should open the eyes of the Navy even if the US Fish & Wildlife have to stand by dumbstruck.
Other Posts About the OLF I’ve written
Red Wolf Throws a Wrench into Navy Plans
Navy and Marines Compromise with Environmental Groups
