If The Senators From North Carolina Won’t Listen to The Governor …
March 14, 2007
Maybe they’ll listen to fellow hunters. At least that is what Governor Easily is hoping for as he has requested his fellow hunters to contact the congressional delegation from the state but especially Senator Dole and Senator Burr that seem to want to sit the fence on this one. The Governor’s letter;
“Dear Fellow Hunter: “The U.S. Navy’s proposal to build an outlying landing field in Washington and Beaufort counties near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge includes a plan that may well eliminate the waterfowl there. This world-renowned refuge for migratory birds serves as the winter home to more than 100,000 ducks, swans, snow geese, and countless other waterfowl. If you have ever been to Lake Mattamuskeet or Lake Pungo, you know the value of this resource. “During the past three years, I have had numerous meetings with the Navy at the Pentagon and here in Raleigh. I have repeatedly offered to help the Navy with more suitable locations in North Carolina but they have refused to consider any alternatives. I am more than willing to work with the Navy, but they have not responded in kind. “The Navy used its recently issued Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to continue its misguided commitment to an outlying landing field site that threatens to ruin this irreplaceable natural resource. In this report, the Navy suggests they have the ability to “manage” this fragile environmental challenge. You can visit the Navy’s website at www.efaircraft.ene.com/docs_seis.aspx. They admit they plan to control the waterfowl population by “poisoning, trapping, shooting, employing predatory birds, dogs and limiting their feeding grounds.” This is not a plan for management of a prime feeding area for the Atlantic Flyway’s waterfowl population. It is clearly a plan that could well destroy the refuge. “I have repeatedly asked our congressional delegation to help with this urgent matter. North Carolina’s U.S. Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr say they do not want to interfere with the military’s efforts to find an airfield for pilots to practice aircraft carrier landings. I ask you to contact your senators and congressional delegations. Ask them to withhold funding for this project until the Navy makes a good faith attempt to consider reasonable locations. “Like many of you, I have hunted in the fields, woods, and marshes of eastern North Carolina since I was a boy. I know first hand as a sportsman, father and state leader how important it is to be able to share outdoor experiences and make sure they are always available to future generations. I need to enlist you in the battle we are waging to protect the one of the most important waterfowl reserves in North America. “I need you to join me in calling and writing your members of Congress who control the purse strings for the Navy’s proposal to build an outlying landing field. Tell them the Navy must stop considering the site near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. We must take a stand and not let this unique refuge be destroyed. “I regret that I find myself at odds with the U.S. Navy, but I assure you I have done everything within my power to find additional, better locations for the outlying landing field. They give me no alternative.”
I would like to thank the Governor for his strong stance on this issue as well as echo his request for all of us to contact your Congressional Delegation and tell them what a really bad idea this plan is. Much of this land has been specifically set aside over the years to protect this important habitat for the wildlife that desperately needs it to exist to abandon that mission at this point in time will likely have devastating results on species across the nation and in some case across the hemisphere. I’ve written a variety of stories about this issue and many contain some valuable links to other sites that will help educate you on this issue if you’re not familiar with it. Please do your part even if you don’t live in the OLF area before this habitat is forever altered and many of these species are killed off.
Moose Droppings is a place that chronicles my journey, I’ll explore new places and ideas I’ll learn new things and I’ll teach the things I’ve learned to others. Join me on the adventure and hopefully it will help you in your outdoor endeavors.
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