G. K. Butterfield: “after I was elected to Congress more than 18 months ago, it became apparent to me that the decision of the United States…”

“after I was elected to Congress more than 18 months ago, it became apparent to me that the decision of the United States Navy to site an outlying landing field in Washington County, North Carolina, was a decision with no rational basis. As a representative of the people of Washington County, I have spent countless hours trying to convince the Navy that this decision is extremely flawed. The existing landing field at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia has become undesirable for a landing field. There are houses all around the field, and the landing field no longer simulates an aircraft carrier, not to mention the unbearable noise. And so the Navy is correct in its decision to construct an outlying landing field, but it needs to be in a different location. Our Navy pilots need and deserve a suitable landing field to practice their landings, but the decision to place this field in the middle of a wildlife refuge is ill conceived. Mr. Speaker, the citizens of Washington County have challenged the Navy in the Federal courts, and they have won. The District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit decided that environmental impact statements submitted by the Navy are flawed. They do not fully disclose the environmental or safety concerns about the 31,000 annual aircraft landings amid the 20,000 tundra swans and the 65,000 snow geese which winter nearby at the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.…”