Public Access to Midway Threatened

Due to a lack of funding, the future of public visitation to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is in jeopardy.

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, a three-square-mile sub-tropical atoll located 1,200 miles northwest of Hawaii, serves as a breeding ground for more than 2 million seabirds, endangered Hawaiian monk seals and threatened green sea turtles. With unique history, stunning scenery, and excellent habitat, Midway is one of the most diverse and spectacular refuges in the country. In 1997, the U.S. Navy transferred the island to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Because of the island's remote location, it serves as a crucial trans-Pacific emergency landing site for both commercial and military aircraft. Consequently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that the runway be maintained at the same level as major U.S. airports such as Chicago Midway, LAX and JFK. Not surprisingly, the cost of such upkeep is considerable and, despite use by diverse agencies and private entities, the onus has largely fallen on FWS for operational funding.

In one notable exception, the Boeing Corporation, which relies on the island for its twin-engine 777, successfully lobbied Congress for $3 million in the FY2003 Transportation appropriations bill and secured an authorization for repairs in the FAA reauthorization bill. Unfortunately, the '03 funding runs out at the end of September, and the committee has shown strong reluctance to refund for FY04.

In late July four members of the Friends of Midway Atoll NWR visited Washington to meet with Department of Interior officials, Boeing, and House and Senate staff to discuss strategies for avoiding closure. Despite their efforts, the outlook remains uncertain.

If similar funding isn't allotted for FY2004 and following years, Midway's airstrip will fail to meet the strict FAA standards and commercial planes will not be allowed to land on the island. In addition to limiting the public's ability to experience this ecological treasure, this restriction could also result in the refuge's inability to implement important conservation goals.

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