News 2019

The most recent news is on top.

December 12, 2019. You have seen the news. Jet noise monitoring is included in federal legislation. What does it mean? Get the story in our Monthly Update, and contact your legislators.

November 27, 2019: Article from the Islands' Sounder describes new issues related to the Growler jets that fly over us with excessive noise. Islanders Talk about Growlers.

October 25, 2019: Two articles about the Growler jet excessive noise problem: Noise over Olympic National Park. And Noise pollution hurts wildlife, but states have trouble turning down the volume. Read about noise effects in Washington. Please Save the Date: Nov 14...see below!

October 18, 2019: Save the Date: Thursday, November 14, 6-8pm at the Emmanuel Parish Hall, Orcas Island. Rhea Miller and Larry Morrell of the Sound Defense Alliance (SDA) will present the latest accomplishments and concerns of the Growler EA-18G jet over flights on San Juan County and the region. There will be a presentation, a Q & A time, and a call to action exercise with attendees. Refreshments will be served. An RSVP is helpful but not required at:

https://secure.everyaction.com/j9BpqZo5G0aO7NFbH_P-Gw2

October 10, 2019. We know that our San Juan County skies are not quiet due to Growler Jets and that is why we ask you to report jet noise that annoys you. Now, take a look at the Growler Tracker of the National Parks Conservation Association. See if their noise reporting tool works for you when visiting Olympic National Park. Our shared purpose is to collect data that documents the disruption.

September 19, 2019: We have two new items for you. ‘We Are Collateral Damage’: More, Louder Jets Roil Military Communities. Read this article that describes communities in the West fighting the noise and pollution of Navy jet aircraft. And learn about another lawsuit against the Navy filed by residents of Whidbey Island.

September 8, 2019: The Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under pressure from state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, will review the effects on the marbled murrelet of an increasing number of EA18-G Growler training flights out of Air Station Whidbey Island. See Seattle Times article.

August 19, 2019: Our Monthly Update describes a Call to Action to protest the late night Growler training schedule.

August 17, 2019: San Juan County supports a jet noise reporting web site. Some modifications are being made to this website. Please follow our progress here. Please note that the reporting website address is changing. Currently it is: gis.sanjuanco.com/aircraft-noise-reporting

July 15, 2019: Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announces a lawsuit against the U.S. Navy over the proposed expansion of Growler jet activities on Whidbey Island. Watch this VIDEO and read the NEWS RELEASE. Read our comprehensive UPDATE.

June 29, 2019: Announcing legislators' actions to amend legislation to include implement real-time noise monitoring. Please continue to contact legislators regarding need to monitor and mitigate excessive jet noise.

Listen to Larry Morrell, Exec Dir of the Sound Defense Alliance describe the issues around the Growler jet fleet located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Produced June 9, 2019.

June 24, 2019: Funny thing...we are not alone. No, it's not funny. It's serious. Growler jets spread the war zone to the Methow Valley. Are our legislators listening? https://methowvalleynews.com/2019/06/19/methow-valley-quiet-shattered-again-by-navy-jets/?fbclid=IwAR1yYkY7iofxzGriIrVlGKOKN5a5Ucp6SpjuajouAfd-dy73ARc-rbT5xaI

June 13, 2019: Educate yourself on the flaws in the Navy's own analysis of noise and marine mammal impacts in the Northwest Training and Testing Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. We offer two documents from Save the Olympic Peninsula, and Marine Mammals Commission, and Noise over Olympic National Park. If the Navy can't get the science right, how can we trust them? Contact your legislators.

Listen to Larry Morrell, Exec Dir of the Sound Defense Alliance describe the issues around the Growler jet fleet located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Produced June 9, 2019 on KLOI radio, 102.9, Lopez Island.

May 14, 2019: The issue of Navy jets over the San Juan Islands is critical, but the impact is larger than that. Our region is suffering. We have two recent articles about NOISE! The roar of growlers endangers the quiet of our Olympic National Park. And, the effect of noise on humans and the environment.

March 29, 2019:

Quiet Skies introduces the Sound Defense Alliance (SDA)
to the Lopez community on Monday, April 8 at 7 pm, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts
Two SDA members, Larry Morrell and Maryon Atwood, will speak on the expansion of the Growler jet operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI). This decision by the Department of Defense (DoD), made public in early March, has alarmed residents of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Whidbey, Anacortes, and San Juan Islands. SDA, formed in 2018, has grown to more than 20 member and affiliate groups throughout the region and includes 25,000 individuals. SDA aims to protect communities and the environment from the harmful and unnecessary impacts of military activity around Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula.
Quiet Skies, a group of local citizens opposed to the addition of Growler jets to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, is an SDA member.

March 13, 2019: Navy issues Record of Decision. Will deliver MORE Growler flights. MORE NOISE. MORE IMPACT on the environment. Join us on Monday, April 8, 7pm, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, to learn more.

March 12, 2019: In light of the upcoming presentation (described above) on April 8 on Lopez, take note of this article in the Seattle Times on the Navy's rejection of monitoring of Growler Jet activity on Whidbey Island.

Read it. What happens on Whidbey happens to all of us. Join us on April 8.

February 9, 2019: Local resident points out that the government in Japan takes notice of jet noise impact and acts to minimize it, unlike our local Navy, which actively increases it. Read it.

January 25, 2019: National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) produced this video describing the effect of the Growler jets on the Olympic Peninsula. Those of us in the San Juan Islands experience these noise effects also. View this video.

January 14, 2019: The government shutdown has delayed the release of the Navy EIS regarding Growler expansion at NAS Whidbey Island. We still expect it to be released with absolutely no mitigation or any admission of extreme noise, disruption, and damage to Washington State citizens. See Update.

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.

February 9, 2019: Local resident points out that the government in Japan takes notice of jet noise impact and acts to minimize it, unlike our local Navy, which actively increases it. Read it.

Q U I E T S K I E S

Over San Juan County

March 13, 2019: Navy issues Record of Decision. Will deliver MORE Growler flights. MORE NOISE. MORE IMPACT on the environment. Join us on Monday, April 8, 7pm, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, to learn more.

March 12, 2019: In light of the upcoming presentation (described above) on April 8 on Lopez, take note of this article in the Seattle Times on the Navy's rejection of monitoring of Growler Jet activity on Whidbey Island.

Read it. What happens on Whidbey happens to all of us. Join us on April 8.

February 9, 2019: Local resident points out that the government in Japan takes notice of jet noise impact and acts to minimize it, unlike our local Navy, which actively increases it. Read it.

January 25, 2019: National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) produced this video describing the effect of the Growler jets on the Olympic Peninsula. Those of us in the San Juan Islands experience these noise effects also. View this video.

January 14, 2019: The government shutdown has delayed the release of the Navy EIS regarding Growler expansion at NAS Whidbey Island. We still expect it to be released with absolutely no mitigation or any admission of extreme noise, disruption, and damage to Washington State citizens. See Update.

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March 13, 2019: Navy issues Record of Decision. Will deliver MORE Growler flights. MORE NOISE. MORE IMPACT on the environment. Join us on Monday, April 8, 7pm, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, to learn more.

​

March 12, 2019: In light of the upcoming presentation (described above) on April 8 on Lopez, take note of this article in the Seattle Times on the Navy's rejection of monitoring of Growler Jet activity on Whidbey Island.

Read it. What happens on Whidbey happens to all of us. Join us on April 8.

February 9, 2019: Local resident points out that the government in Japan takes notice of jet noise impact and acts to minimize it, unlike our local Navy, which actively increases it. Read it.

​

January 25, 2019: National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) produced this video describing the effect of the Growler jets on the Olympic Peninsula. Those of us in the San Juan Islands experience these noise effects also. View this video.

January 14, 2019: The government shutdown has delayed the release of the Navy EIS regarding Growler expansion at NAS Whidbey Island. We still expect it to be released with absolutely no mitigation or any admission of extreme noise, disruption, and damage to Washington State citizens. See Update.

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