Biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are questioning the Navy’s decision to locate a practice landing field near a national bird refuge in Washington County.

Biologists with the agency’s ecological services division in Raleigh are preparing a written response to the Navy’s final environmental impact statement regarding the location of 10 F/A 18 Super Hornet squadrons in North Carolina and Virginia.

The statement includes a recommendation that an outlying landing field designed to help pilots practice aircraft carrier landings be located near Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
“It is our mission to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitat for the continuing benefit of the American people,” agency spokeswoman Patty Matteson said.
“Though the thousands of tundra swan, snow geese and Canada geese that migrate to Pocosin Lakes are not endangered species, we believe that the placement of the OLF so close to the refuge is not in the best interest of the wildlife.”

The Navy released the final environmental impact statement in July, and the public has until Aug. 18 to file written responses. The information will be presented to acting Secretary of the Navy Honorable Hansford T. Johnson, who will make a final decision.
Washington County residents, angered by the decision, have asked for a 60-day extension to file comments. The request has not been granted.

Navy Atlantic Fleet Command Admiral Robert J. Natter said the Washington County location is best because it doesn’t damage wetlands and is equidistant between Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, the squadrons’ proposed locations.
“The Washington County site is very rural, with no municipal lighting that would interfere with nighttime practice sessions,” Natter said.

Opponents say the landing field will disrupt the migratory activities of waterfowl at the refuge and possible endanger pilots by increasing the risk of bird-jet strikes.
Natter said the Navy has plans for reducing the bird strike risk. He also points out that the Navy has air stations located near other national wildlife refuges.

Matteson said biologists are checking Natter’s assertion. “The two refuge’s they have identified, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Fentress air field in Virginia and Patuxent River Research Center in Maryland, have much smaller bird populations and small size birds,” she said.

“During peak migration periods, about 100,000 tundra swans and varying geese species occupy Pocosin Lakes,” she said.

“We’ve looked at a lot of the concerns about the proposal for the OLF in Washington County, but from (the) practical sense from having other wildlife refuges near other naval air facilities we believe it is a situation that can be managed,” Lt. Scott Mcllnay, Atlantic Fleet Command spokesman, said.
While the wildlife services finalizes its statement, Washington County residents continue public protests.
A tractor rally is planned for noon Saturday in the town of Roper. The event, which will feature an exhibit called “Our Lost Farmers,” will include speakers from the food-processing industry, farm equipment suppliers and agri-business representatives.

Ginger Livingston can be contacting at glivingston@coxnews.com