Navy Practice Landing in Washington and Beaufort Counties

Environment



_ Citing environmental and economic concerns, House Speaker Joe Hackney joined with Gov. Easley and Senate leader Marc Basnight this week to oppose the construction of a practice landing field the Navy wants to build in Washington and Beaufort counties. The field, called an outlying landing field, or OLF, would cover 30,000 acres near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge where more than 100,000 snow geese and tundra swans spend the winter. The land is also home to two endangered species: red wolves and bald eagles. The Navy’s plan would also hurt the economy of the area by preventing farming of soybeans, corn and wheat on 25,000 acres surrounding the core of the landing field.