Q U I E T S K I E S
Over San Juan County
News 2017-18
The most recent news is on top.
December 21, 2018: "Wednesday night, state and local officials publicly and directly challenged Navy officials over plans to dramatically increase the number of training flights at a rural Central Whidbey airstrip by Navy warplanes known for being loud." Read this article in the Whidbey News-Times, December 21, about the December 19 meeting on the impact of Growler jet flights.
December 3, 2018: Navy bullies its way through: Stops talks. Have you called your legislators?
The health of the Pacific Northwest is in danger. The Department of Defense intends to site 44% more Growler jets at the Whidbey Island Naval Base and significantly increase training flights, affecting people and wildlife across Northwest Washington. We must act now. We must speak out. Please sign this petition.
Nov 19, 2018: It's not all about the Naval Base, it is about the Growler jets. Click here.
Nov 14, 2018: Our neighbors in Jefferson County comment on "military and community compatibility". See story.
Nov. 2, 2018: TAKE ACTION NOW
The Navy is trying to push through the Growler jet expansion without proper agreements with impacted partners.
The Department of Defense must address the impact of the proposed Growler jet expansion on the historic properties of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve in Coupeville. This is called the “Section 106 Process".
This process requires any federal agency to first REDUCE and MINIMIZE the impact of their proposal on historic structures. The Navy has failed to develop plans to do so. In an unprecedented move, last week the Navy released a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that none of the partners have agreed to. Although the Navy listed the partners, the publication was a total surprise to the partners and its contents outrageously misleading.
The Collaborating Partners - State Historic Preservation Officer, Mayor of Coupeville, Mayor of Port Townsend, Reserve Manager, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve- the Ebey’s Trust Board, the National Park Service, Island County Commissioner, and the President of Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve (COER) – have not agreed to the Navy’s “Memorandum of Agreement.”
For months, all levels of leadership in our state have asked the Navy repeatedly for a public meeting on the historic properties affected by the Section 106 Growler Expansion Plan, which is required by the federal process. Silence. No meeting has taken place nor been scheduled.
The Navy has ignored the appropriate public process by not hosting a public meeting to explain the MOA or the purpose of a Section 106. They are currently asking the public to comment on a MOA that is meaningless because has not been agreed to by any of the partners. They are sending people to a website to comment on an irrelevant document. This action does not honor public process and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Join us in asking the Navy to:
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Withdraw and apologize for their recent misleading press release that encourages citizens to comment on a document that has not been agreed upon.
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Invite the public to comment in a meaningful forum and over an appropriate period of time per Section 106 policy, on the historic properties, including those of Port Townsend.
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Delay any further mitigation meetings until a public meeting occurs in Central Whidbey.
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Develop a plan for a real and measurable reduction of noise in an agreed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for our historic properties.
CLICK HERE TO LINK TO MOA COMMENT SITE
NW Washington communities have been partners with the military in protecting our national security. The latest proposals by the DoD dramatically increase the number of Growler jets and flights – putting us all at risk. It’s time we stand up for our communities. It is time to say no new jets, no new flights. For information: sounddefensealliance.org.
November 21, 2018: Navy cranks up the Jet Noise. Seattle Times.
November 5, 2018: Across the country, folks are in the same situation we are. Here's an article about Navy jet noise in Vermont.
October 17, 2018: Plane Truths, a film about the effect of Navy Growler jets over our region, will show at the Friday Harbor Film Festival, October 26-28, 2018. If you love the Pacific Northwest, you need to see this. https://www.fhff.org/portfolio/plane-truths/
September 29, 2018: The Navy has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing EA-18G Growler operations at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Complex. It contains updated information since the release of the Draft EIS in November 2016 and identifies Alternative 2A as the preferred alternative. The full statement is available is at: http://www.whidbeyeis.com/
September 21, 2018: EVENT: Quiet Skies media event and photo shoot introducing the Sound Defense Alliance – 5 Counties speaking with one voice - dedicated to reducing Growler jet noise in our Pacific NW region. Please join us: Oct. 3, 2:30pm – rain or shine – Farmer’s Market site – Lopez Village.
September 20, 2018: NEW INVOLVEMENT BY ELECTED OFFICIALS:
In the next few weeks the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is expected to be released calling for the addition of 36 more Growler Jets and a 47 percent increase in noise. There will be no more opportunity for citizen comment on this EIS. The Sound Defense Alliance will be working with our legislators, both state and federal to mitigate Growler noise and Navy expansion from the Pacific Coast to the North Cascades. 5 Counties – One voice.
Quiet Skies has just learned (Sept. 20) that San Juan County Councilman Jamie Stephens has been contacted by Governor Inslee to talk about Growler mitigation. The Governor has been talking with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Senator Murray and will contact Senator Cantwell the week of October 2.
Governor Inslee’s involvement is a significant step toward the protection and restoration of our Quiet Skies and Quiet Seas. San Juan County has also contributed to the visibility of the Growler noise problem by creating a County website to receive noise complaints. Over 10,667 have been received to date.
September 1, 2018: In the face of extensive military expansion, our region is coming together to address the issues of military expansion that impact us. The Sound Defense Alliance works to protect our communities and natural environment from harmful and unnecessary impacts of military activity around Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. Check out this website: https://sounddefensealliance.org/
August 6, 2018: Read this Commentary: "‘Sound of War’ about to drown out Whidbey’s peace." What happens on Whidbey, happens to this whole region.
August 2, 2018: Continuing story about how the Navy jets are degrading our environment. Read: Opinion: Military Planes Are Ruining Olympic National Park and Violating the Wilderness Act.
July 31, 2018: Read: The Quietest Place in America Is Becoming a Warzone. Are we killing ourselves with noise?
July 2, 2018. Our region is under fire. It's about ALL of us. Here are the opening news releases. We will keep you informed, and we will need your help.
http://citizensofebeysreserve.com/2018/06/27/coer-responds-navy-plans-increase-growler-flights/
July 1, 2018. Preserving quiet places. Do quiet places teach us how to listen better? ( Do you think we would benefit if we listened better?) Short video:
June 9, 2018: Once again. Serenity of Olympic National Park threatened by Navy jets.
April 30, 2018: Enjoy the quiet: "BEING HEAR": 10 min https://vimeo.com/165875415
April, 2018: What kind of problems are we ignoring? Read: “What Happens to a One-Industry Town When the One Industry Is the Military?”
March 22, 2018: Lawmakers chide Navy for failing to share details of Growler mishap .
March 16, 2018: Read this article: Washington State's Deep Political and Economic Alliance With the Pentagon. Is Washington State under the thumb of the Pentagon? Is that what we want?
February, 2018: NAVY SEALS PRACTICE COMBAT IN STATE PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES:The Navy has opened for comment an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Special Operations in which Navy SEALs stage covert small team landings via mini-subs and small boats, with up to 20 personnel concealing themselves ashore for up to 72 hours, plus mock gun battles with realistic weapons shooting paintballs, called "direct actions". Although the Navy owns 46 miles of shoreline and over 151,000 acres of land in the Pacific Northwest, this combat training will occur in communities, boat marinas, 65+ state parks, public beaches, and on some private lands in Puget Sound and on the outer coast. The EA COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED Feb 21, 2018.
February 10, 2018: The Washington State Legislature is considering HB 2341 and SB 6456: "AN ACT Relating to the protection of military installations operated by the United States armed services from incompatible development." Thanks to those of you who contacted legislators in protest. Bill did not make it out of committee.
January, 2018: Jet Noise reports for 2015, 2016 and 2017 have been compiled. Noise reports are increasing each year. You can review the report here.
November, 2018: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS! For another example of the Navy acting without regard for folks on the ground... see our November Update.
The Navy is planning a supplement to Northwest Training and Testing that affects our water, air, environment and marine mammals. The deadline for comments was October 6, 2017. Background information is found HERE. Thanks to all who sent comments.
Would you like to help? Click here for a poster handy for putting on local bulletin boards.
September, 2017: THANKS TO ALL WHO SUBMITTED COMMENTS on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in Winter, 2017. The Navy has just announced an extension of the Navy Response, perhaps to Spring/Summer, 2018. See their news release HERE. If you want to review some of the concerns about the DEIS, click here.
In the meantime, please continue to report jet noise on the County website; the data is very important. AND, contact your legislators with your concerns.
9/24/17: San Juan County is not the only locale to experience the degradation and health dangers associated with Navy jet operations. Click to read these articles:
Electronic attack operations affect Olympic Peninsula
Navy Introduces Toxins to Whidbey Drinking Water
June, 2017: Navy jets ruin quiet in Olympic National Park. Read this!
3/28/17: Read Rep Derek Kilmer's letter to the Navy with questions about impact of Navy training missions on Olympic Peninsula and surrounding communities. Click here.
See Seattle Times article: "EPA faults study on expanding Growler jets at Whidbey, seeks on-the-ground noise monitoring." Click here.
Seattle Times: "Navy’s wrongheaded approach to Whidbey Island Growler jets." Click here.
Read this article on the effects of Whidbey's Jet Noise.
Look at this petition to Gov, Inslee about Growler Jet Noise.
Central Whidbey confronts Navy jet noise, water testing.
Island County Health officials ignore Growler damage to health.
Do we trust the Navy to respect our environment and our health?
Here is a reminder of what we mean about Quiet Skies.
Navy is closer to goal of a complete war training zone over the Pacific Northwest
Read letter to NOAA regarding Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap.
Read: COER rebuts Rep Larsen's "plan" to mitigate Growler noise. May 2016.
Read: The Navy lacks accountability. http://westcoastactionalliance.org/
Read: The Seattle Times investigates the miltary's use of public lands.
Jet noise is escalating, roaring through our skies days and evenings. Please submit noise reports on the County's website. This information is forwarded to legislators and the Navy. You can view the accumulated reports on the County map 2014-15.
Contact your Representatives. It seems they are "unaware" of the jet noise. We have provided sample letters.
Click "Your Neighbors Speak" to see what they are saying to our Representatives.
Learn how excessive noise affects your health.
Click here for an older News Archive
