The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina provides important habitat for over 200 species of birds, over 40 species of mammals and over 40 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, bald eagle and red wolf. However, the 100,000 geese, birds and ducks inhabiting this long besieged refuge may be forced to endure unfriendly neighbors in their airspace: jets taking off and landing at a rate of approximately one jet every 15 minutes.

In September 2003, the Navy proposed building an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) 3.5 miles from the Pocosin Lakes Refuge. Recognizing the numerous problems inherent in the proposed site, U.S. Air Force Retired Colonel Jeffery J. Short, an expert on the Air Force Bird Avoidance Model, dubbed the Refuge “the worst place” to build the airfield. Given the bird population at the Pocosin Lakes Refuge, as well at the sheer size of the waterfowl, a collision is potentially fatal for both the Navy pilots and the birds. The Air Force Bird Avoidance Model classifies the bird collision hazard at the proposed Washington County site as “severe.” Recognizing the potential for fatal collisions, the Navy has admitted that it would use both lethal and non-lethal methods to control the bird population in the area, thereby diminishing the efforts of the Refuge to ensure a safe haven for its wildlife.

In April 2004, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle ordered the Navy to stop work on the planned OLF by issuing a preliminary injunction prohibiting any further direct or indirect action associated with the project. In September 2005, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the existing injunction against the Navy, thereby preventing them from building or taking steps to build the landing field. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the Navy violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not evaluating the true threat its proposed Outlying Landing Field posed to a federally protected area and ordered the Navy to take a hard look at the environmental effects of the proposed OLF. While the Navy is now allowed to creep forward on their OLF initiative, under the injunction, all of their actions must be environmentally benign, such as purchasing land and conducting site surveys.

Unfortunately, the Navy still refuses to recognize that there are suitable alternative sites for the OLF. The Navy must select an environmentally preferable site for its proposed landing field and special use airspace. It would be thoughtless and reckless of the Navy to build an Outlying Landing Field in such an environmentally sensitive and valuable area as Washington County, North Carolina.