The US Navy is planning to ruin the place I call home. Why? The Navy brass decided to spend a bunch of the money Trump is throwing at them to increase size of their EA-18G squadrons from five planes to seven. So they have informed the residents of central Whidbey Island that they would be increasing the the number of their practice landings four-fold at their outlying field. (Coupeville OLF).
These flights that come shrieking over my neighborhood at noise levels up to an intolerable 130 decibels. High noise levels raise stress levels involentarly. You can't talk on the phone. Teachers have to interrupt their classroom instruction every time a EA-18G flies over. If you unfortunate enough to be outdoors you wish you were inside. That will decimate our local tourist dependent economy. We live in a very special place, and the unique juxtaposition of sea and Islands that is the driver of our local economy.
A four-fold increase in treetop altitude EA-18G Growler (Howler) flights over my neighborhood which is in the most heavily impacted zone, will significantly lower our property values, and transform central Whidbey into little more than a military sacrifice zone.
I and many of my neighbors have lived there for decades and have become accustomed to a certain level of jet noise, but a four-fold increase is waay beyond the pale.
By Hal Bernton
The Navy has terminated talks with state and local groups about easing the impacts of expanding EA-18G Growler jet training over a central Whidbey Island historic district.
A Navy statement Friday cited a “fundamental difference of opinion” on what should be done to reduce the noise and other adverse effects of the training flights.
The breakdown of talks is the latest sign of a bitter divide between the Navy and many residents of the rural central part of the island who fiercely oppose plans to quadruple, in the years ahead, the number of Growler flights over the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve.
State officials also took issue with the Navy. They joined with local groups in declining to sign a proposed memorandum of agreement.
“It is most unfortunate that the efforts of our Department, the Ebey’s Historical Reserve Trust Board and the local community … were summarily rejected,” wrote Allyson Brooks, the state’s historic-preservation officer.
The Navy, under the National Historic Preservation Act, had to consult with the state and local groups over how more Growler flights would affect the district that encompasses the 17,000-acre Ebey’s Landing area. But it was not required to reach an agreement.
With the talks now over, the Navy will be able to finalize the decision to make the big increase in the low-flying training flights as crews conduct touch-and-go exercises at the Outlying Field Coupeville.
So in other words a big eff you from the Navy to the locals, we’s going to do whatever the hell we want to do with your damn island! I attended a public Meeting about this at the Coupeville High School and I’d never seen a crowd that big in two and a half decades in Coupeville. People here are very unhappy at the grim prospect we’re facing.
By Jessie Stensland
WHIDBEY ISLAND — Nearly 500 people crowded into Central Whidbey’s historic Crockett Barn and spilled out into the surrounding grass during a rally against military jet noise last week.
Sound Defense Alliance held three simultaneous events in protest of the Navy’s plans to bring 36 more EA-18G Growlers to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and to increase the amount of practice at the Outlying Field Coupeville by as much as 370 percent.
500 people in a town of only 1,800 is a HUGE turnout.
And there is a much more suitable alternative. There is a airfield at the Yakima Firing Center 150 air miles SE from the Coupeville OLF where these flights would only bother the rattlesnakes. And the DOD already owns the whole area.
We have also had our drinking water polluted by our bad neighbors, the Navy.
I always thought the Navy's mission was to protect American citizens, not harm us.
Stand Up To The Department of Defense Have your voice heard!
UPDATE:
The latest from our captive congressman Rick Larsen (D-Navy)
Larsen: Defense Bill Funds Five Growlers, Underscores Importance of PNW to National Defense
WASHINGTON—Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for and the House of Representatives passed the final version of the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. The bill includes several provisions that support Navy bases in Northwest Washington, strengthening national security and improving the local economy. One measure in the bill allows the Navy to buy an additional five EA-18G Growlers, aircraft that are critical to the country’s electronic warfare strategy. This brings the total number of Growlers that Congress will purchase from 135 to 140.
“Congress’ decision to buy five more Growlers indicates the planes’ importance to our national defense in this age of new technology, and continues to underscore the national commitment to maintaining Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as one of our country’s preeminent Navy bases.
“I want to be clear this does not mean NASWI will automatically house five more Growlers. The number of Growlers at NASWI will be determined by the ongoing Environmental Impact Study(EIS), which has provided multiple opportunities for public input,” Larsen said.
Currently, there are 82 Growlers actively flying out of NASWI and 12 used as backup in case an active plane is damaged. The EIS will determine the number of planes to be flown out of the base, which could be as high as 118 aircraft. This scenario could happen even if Congress had not funded any new Growlers this year.
After the EIS determines the number of active planes at NASWI, the remaining aircraft that Congress has purchased will continue to be split between a Navy base in Japan, testing facilities, and spares at NASWI to replace lost or damaged aircraft, or those undergoing extended maintenance.e lost or damaged aircraft, or those undergoing extended maintenance.
The EIS is open for public comment until January 9, and people are encouraged to submit comments here: https://www.whidbeyeis.com/Comment.aspx.
The bill now moves onto the Senate for a vote.