This, friends, should be surprising, but it's not. This is typical of strong-arm tactics being used by the United States Navy to deprive We the People of access to information they consider "inconvenient." This came via email, so no links. Please send this to your Congressmen and representatives in the General Assembly.
US Fish and Wildlife Service placed under gag order regarding Navy’s planned OLF
Chapel Hill– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists in North Carolina have been prohibited from talking to reporters, opposing parties or the public about the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field (OLF) in northeastern North Carolina. The directive was issued last Friday by U.S. Department of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary Todd Willens and comes in advance of the Navy’s release of a court-ordered Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, expected next month.
“This newly issued gag order is an effort to keep the public from knowing the opinions of the Fish and Wildlife service professionals who are concerned about the effects a proposed landing field will have on wildlife and the refuge at the Navy’s preferred site,” said Derb Carter, attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center which represents the environmental interests in the case against the Navy’s proposed OLF. “This directive only further confirms that the decision to build the landing field is entirely political and not based on law and science.”
Willens’ directive prohibits U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) staff from responding to questions or commenting on the proposed landing field to media, non-governmental organizations and the general public. All inquiries regarding the landing field are to be referred to Jeff Fleming, of the FWS public affairs office in Atlanta. Sam Hamilton, Regional Director of FWS, delivered the directive to the staff.
In February the Navy is expected to release its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS), which was ordered by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a partnering agency with the Navy, staff members have expressed concern over the proposed landing field’s impact on the adjacent Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and on endangered red wolves and threatened bald eagles.
“Fish and Wildlife biologists who know the region best have made it clear from the outset that the landing field would seriously jeopardize the function of the refuge,” said Chris Canfield, Executive Director of Audubon North Carolina, a lead plaintiff in the case. “An order from political leaders to keep quiet doesn’t change that fact.”
Todd Willens is the former policy director of the House Resources Committee when it was chaired by Rep. Richard Pombo (CA). In this position, Willens had involvement with convicted influence peddler Jack Abramoff according to news articles cited by the Endangered Species and Wetlands Report (http://www.eswr.com/latest/#N_3_). Just before Rep. Pombo was defeated in his bid for reelection, Willens left the House Resources Committee to become Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the Department of the Interior.
Comments
Well if that doesn't get our team ACTIVATED
I don't know what could.
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
They might be gagged
but we aren't.
Nice photo
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
2 things
This comes on the same day as an article about Bush exerting greater POLITICAL authority over the studies released by government agencies.
Additionally, is this something under the authority of Brad Miller's new subcommittee?
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition
"Keep the Faith"
I just thought the same thing
I wonder if this is on Congressman Miller's radar. If it doesn't fall under his subcommittee's responsibilities, he would know who to send this to.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
see this shows
You arent as evil as I am. To do any project the Navy has to do a scientific report on the project. They have to cover all sorts of enviornmental, legal, health, safety, etc questions. If another agency has a scientific reason for questioning the accuracy of the study, and that agency is kept from releasing scientific knowledge that would change the outcome...
its a little far fetched, but i can dream right?
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition
"Keep the Faith"
It isn't a little far-fetched
That is exactly what is happening. You think they would be gagged if the news was good for the navy?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
thats actually why
i emailed my dad. I would think that knowingly changing the Environmental Impact Statement would be illegal.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition
"Keep the Faith"
Illegal? Has that stopped them before?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
After all, if the Navy/Military wanted us to have that land
THEY would have assigned it to us! Power corrupts....absolute power corrupts........
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Contemplating My Navy
I picture Navy lackeys with tundra swans strapped to their bell-bottomed
back ends; the red wolves are chasing them hard while their giggling
higher-ups hold open the cages...
It's the higher-ups
who need to face those red wolves. :)
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
***************************
Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.
Gag order
Gag order!
The entire eastern part of North Carolina has been gagged for the last five years.
Yes we can fight but who is actually listening?
The Navy chose the fifth poorest county in the state, and the fifth poorest town in the nation to place the OLF. Washington County has a very high percentage of impoverished African Americans and the Navy knew they would have no clout to protect their communities. These communities are situated under the flight path and will be tortured by 120 decibels of jet noise. They are the ones being sacrificed so the quality of life in Virginia remains intact and our North Carolina politicians can count their pieces of silver all the way to the bank. So essentially, it is the poor and unprotected who are being gagged.
Unlike Virginia and Florida they haven’t had a chance to vote for their future, or see their leadership actively try to help retain their quality of life for themselves or their children.
Right now their future is very bleak.
The Shuler People
Are only now getting up to speed on this. It's a great time to keep contacting their office to make sure it stays on the radar long enough for them to take a position.
Keep calling. Keep writing.
Scrutiny Hooligans - http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us
Ditto that
If we only contact them once or twice, they can still act like they don't know what we're talking about. McHenry's people acted comletely ignorant but then I've found out that the Congressman got a packet from the communications director of NOOLF.
And that the farmers had been in his office very recently. We just have to keep at them so they know we won't take "I've never heard of that." for an answer.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
FreedomWorks
Tell McHenry and all the other Republicans that FreedomWorks is opposed to the OLF as a property rights issue and that FreedomWorks has been very supportive of the NO-OLF people. That'll get their attention. This is a bi-partisan issue. Ask them if they need a personal call from Dick Armey to prove this point.
Send them this link:
North Carolina FreedomWorks Participates in NO-OLF SUPPORT OUR STATE RALLY
or this link:
FreedomWorks and Allies Oppose US Navy’s Proposed OLF Location in North Carolina
or just this:
Google search for OLF at FreedomWorks.org website.
I would think they know that
Considering some of those Anti-OLF meetings also had McHenry and others speak.
Well, actually, McHenry is one of those show up 2 minutes before the speech and bolt, so maybe he doesnt know what they talked about.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition
"Keep the Faith"
Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to go at this
repeatedly from all angles. You'd be amazed at how ignorant people can (pretend to) be.
If all I read about him is true, conservatives are pretty pissed at him. Maybe we/I can find some in the district who will harrass him over this and then we'll see some results.
Anybody out there know any Huffman supporters?
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
Thanks Greg
You gave me a good excuse to write a follow-up email. And this really makes me wonder why McHenry's staff know nothing.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
I'm glad you're taking on the Pit Bully DQ
he won't know what hit him! :P
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Just wait until they realize WNCNN
is on his ass. He won't know what to do . . . Then we'll get Foxx. But I'll need a new wig for Dole. I think I can do the accent but I sure can't get my hair into that plastic bowl look.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
I just want to know
who will be willing to stoop so low as to portray patty on camera. ew
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Petition
"Keep the Faith"
You'll see . . .
I actually have had at least 6 people request the gig. If they were all near each other I'd have a blast holding auditions but, alas, they're in Charlotte, Hickory, and all the way west in Asheville.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
Gag order
This was printed in the Washington Daily News 1/9/07:
Reached for a response Monday afternoon, Navy spokesman Ted Brown said it was "not appropriate" to comment on NO OLF's release. "I won't comment on that press release or any other one," he said.
The No-OLF represents millions of hard working decent Americans who have been working relentlessly to protect all that is still good in our nation and the statement above is another example of being ignored and gagged by our government.
The Navy said in court they are controlled by Congress. So who is actually placing the gag over our mouths?
People of America, wake up to this issue.
We are fighting to protect our:
Property Rights
Civil Rights
Prime farmland
Pristine environment
Environmental Justice
Unfettered wildlife
And a region of North Carolina that contains many magnificent rural communities that have been established before the birth of our nation.
This issue is a prime example of the destruction of our freedoms by our military in order to prove they have complete control over the citizens of the United States of America.
What is especially egregious is that there are rational solutions to this issue.
Re: Gag Order
Jennifer:
There is no ethical basis for the will of the Navy to be imposed on the
unwilling occupants of these pristine,ancestral farmlands. What part
of "All Men Are Created Equal" is it exactly that the Navy doesn't seem
to comprehend here? There is no master / slave relationship implied in
those words.
Groups willing (clamoring) to obtain this OLF structure (and which
represent a rational solution to this issue) are the only ones the
Navy should be negotiating with.
Is the Navy so hell-bent on getting its way that it is capable of
turning this Site into another Tiananmen Square?
Regulations and restrictions on free discussion and criticism (like
Gag Orders) are a mark of totalitarianism...