SOUTHERN BAND TUSCARORA INDIAN TRIBE

PO Box 14, Winton , NC 27986 PH # 252-358-1182

www.southern-band-tuscarora.com, email address: sbtuscoffc@coastalnet.com

Commander, Atlantic Division

Naval Facilities Engineering Command

1510 Gilbert St., Norfolk, Virginia 23511

Attn.: Code 2032, Mr. Fred Pierson

Telephone 757-322-4935, fax # 757-322-4894

Bertie County Commissioners

This letter is in regards to the proposed Superhornet landing site # 20 in Bertie County NC.

As most residents of Bertie Co. know Bertie County NC, was the heart of the Mighty Tuscarora Indian Confederacy's jurisdiction. And has the most historical information on locations of ancient villages, and has for years tried to protect the burial sites, villages sites, and locations of the Tuscarora that resided, and still reside in Bertie.

Bertie County can truthfully say they are in a league of their own. The water is pristine, the air is clean, the noise is less than any of the surrounding counties. And it's residents can enjoy the solitude of a walk in the woods, or canoe trip. The county preserves the wetlands, yet make them accessible to the public with a very minimal impact on the environment. And have been very conservative of the natural resources.

In Bertie County, the wildlife are abundant, the birds find sanctuary here, where they cannot find it in very many places left in eastern NC.

Bertie Co. consist of a diverse racial make up. The people are from the old school. They care about their neighbors. Families are top priority here. They enjoy fishing and boating on the waterways, cook outs, reunions, church bazaars.

Most of the citizens of Bertie come from long lineage's of those that have lived here since before the County was even named after Edward Bertie in 1728. The descent of Bertie as early as 1525 was home to the Tuscarora and the French Huguenots. They lived here in harmony together.

There were many villages. Sans Souci, Avoca, Tandaequmuc, Dasamonaquepuc, Mepaquepem, Moratoc, Salmon Creek, Uneory, Choweo, just to name a few villages, not to mention the first Trading Post of NC, Batt's Landing where Red/Black/White alike traded in 1620. Located under the flight pattern of the proposed superhornet site from the US Navy.

If this Superhornet site is allowed to be located in Bertie County. There are many areas in the proposed landing zone that are Native burial sites, wetlands, animal habitats-some on the endangered species list.

Ex: Salmon Creek, Cashie Creek and River, Cucha Macha Creek & swamp, Hoggard Mill Creek, even to the Chowan River will be impacted. Not to mention the pocosins.

The air quality will be greatly impacted. As it stands we already repeatedly call Mr. Pierson reporting the tomcats flying under their cap from Oceana and rattling things off our shelves and shaking our homes. Has Mr. Pierson stopped the noise from Oceana? NO. And they are nearly 100 miles from us. Imagine how much noise this site will cause right over our heads.

It is also well known jet fuel, and fumes are carcinogenic and causes cancer and leukemia.

The flood of 99 taught us of the pollution, and the toll of the flood waters and even the polluted runoff. Then we were inundated by backed up sewage, agricultural chemicals etc. Imagine that mixed with volatile jet fuel. Jet fuel can heat up to 2000 degrees, and is highly flammable, and carcinogenic.

All this considered our Tribe feels if any Bertie County or surrounding counties citizens even think of not protesting such a potential mammoth danger (this can cause all of us more devastation than 3 Floyd's). They should rethink what this would do to their homes, environment, businesses, not to mention property value. For this would surely devastate Bertie County.

We are adamantly opposed to the proposed landing site #20 or any future sites such as this. We are abhorred to even think of what the environmental impact this will have on our homeland, as well as our nature trail, and living village, in Tandequemuc village of the Southern Band Tuscarora Tribe located on Avoca Farms Rd. in Merry Hill.

Southern Band Tuscarora Indian Tribe Grand Council

Head Sachem Edward Livingston

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