Q U I E T S K I E S
Over San Juan County
NEWS ARCHIVE 2014-16
Note: some news articles may be no longer available.
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.
5/4/2016: Download news release from COER that rebuts Rep. Larsen's "plans" to mitigate Growler jet noise. Click here....
4/2/2016: Read Seattle Times article on expanding use by the miltary of our public lands. Read more...
3/2/2016: Read Part 4 of the series on the Navy's lack of accountability. The Pacific Northwest is the War Training Zone. Read more...
2/15/2016: Our jet noise issue is a part of a much, much larger situation. Read: "How the Navy gets its way: Part 3, It’s not accountable to anyone."
1/18/2016: Is the Navy "normalizing" the use of the Northwest as a combat zone? Are we just accepting this? Read more...
11/23/2015: Navy Expands Domestic War Games, Despite Public Concern Over Alleged Illegalities. Read more...
8/12/2015: COER Injunction denied. Read more...
7/16/2015: COER files injunction to halt jets from Outlying Field. Read more...
June 2015: Write a letter to Representative Larson asking for a NOISE STUDY.
6/26/2015: UNESCO steps in to protect Olympic National Park from Warfare Range activities. Read more...
5/19/2015: Citizens ask Island County Commissioners to halt “irreparable injury” from jets. View the video...
5/13/2015: Sign a MoveOn petition to stop targeting a UNESCO World Heritage Site for electro-magnetic warfare training. Website.
5/12/2015: Rep. Derek Kilmer asks for jet noise study over Olympic National Park. Read more...
4/28/2015: The US Navy is being taken back into federal court by citizens seeking an injunction to halt the “ongoing and irreparable injury” from the “noise assault” created by the EA-18G Growler attack jets based at Whidbey Naval Air Station. The controversial Growlers are the loudest jets ever to fly and are the source of increasing noise complaints throughout Puget Sound. Read more...
4/27/2015: View a letter sent to Navy leadership with questions about the costs of adding Growlers to the current fleet. Read more...
4/22/2015: Listen to a radio broadcast discussing the issues of Growler noise in our region. Listen...
3/10/15: Jets to lessen noise over the islands. Read more...
2/20/2015: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) begins preparation of the Resource Management Plan for the San Juan Islands National Monument. Read more...
2/2/2015: Letter sent by an environmental coalition with comments on the Navy’s Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Overseas Environmental Impact Statement. Read more...
2/18/2015: Letter sent by COER to Navy Secretary Mabus. Read more...
12/22/2014: Read the letter signed by Sen Patty Murray and Rep Rick Larsen about a "Hush House" for Ault Field. Read more...
12/4/2014: Scoping Meetings held on Lopez Island and Port Townsend, December 3 and 4, 2014. Read more....
10/23/2014: Read the letter describing the issue of low-frequency jet noise sent to San Juan County Council. Read more...
10/8/2014: Announcement to revise the scoping for the ongoing EIS. Read more...
10/7/2014: Representative Larsen visits Lopez Island on October 7 for meeting facilitated by County Councilman Jaimie for a discussion about the Growler disruptions. The presentation included a report on the complaints recorded on the County's website, which can be seen at: http://sjcgis.org/presentations/jet-noise-rep-larsen/
7/25/2014: News Release regarding expansion of Growler jets at NAS Whidbey. Read more...
7/28/2014: Letter from the San Juan County Council to Representative Rick Larsen, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Senator Patty Murray. Read more...
5/29/2014: Letter from the Department of the Navy, "Update to Navy Aviation Requirements" in our region. Read more...
July 2014: "I had the opportunity to rent a cabin on Lopez Island in early July. Read more...
7/5/2014: With signs proclaiming "Stop Growling" and "Restore Our Quiet Skies" local residents spread the word about the jet noise issues in our region, earning the Lion's Club Award for the 2014 July 4th Parade.
2014: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).After losing a lawsuit the Navy began a full EIS on deploying the Growlers at NAS Whidbey. This EIS is considering the addition of 2 more squadrons (13 EA-18Gs) to NAS Whidbey. If 13 more Growlers are added, San Juan County and our region can expect even more noise. A Draft is due in the Spring of 2016. It's important that citizens monitor and comment on the Draft EIS. See www.whidbeyeis.com. Read more about the EIS process.
2014: Comments and questions from the earlier 2013-14 Scoping period are available here.