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The U.S. Navy plans to place a jet landing field directly next to the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern North Carolina. After losing two court battles that clearly showed the flaws in the plan, and after repeated offers from leaders in North Carolina to find a suitable alternative, the Navy persists in this misguided and dangerous proposal.

All along opponents of the landing field Site C (Washington and Beaufort counties) have argued that extreme measures would be necessary to manage birds in and around the refuge in order to have any hope of pilot safety. A new study by the Navy confirms those fears. As much as 20,000 acres of cropland that swans and geese routinely feed in will be changed to grass or inedible crops. In addition, the Navy will have to employ harassment techniques, including shooting and poisoning birds that persist in the area. 

Nothing could be more contrary to the mission of the federal refuge right next door, which for 40 years has been trying to attract and support hundreds of thousands of winter waterfowl and millions of other birds, not to mention the bears and red wolves that make it so special. Nothing could be more objectionable considering that moving the landing field would avoid this conflict altogether. The Navy has had more than ample opportunity to get the answer right and failed. 

The time to act is now, before the Navy becomes even more deeply entrenched in its bad decision. Submit your comments to the Navy by using the form below. Please take a moment to add your own thoughts and feelings to increase the impact of your letter. 

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