sambolino44
Contributor
I recently attended a public hearing conducted by the Navy concerning the Environmental Impact Statement regarding the upcoming changes in training activities in the Northwest region. At first it seemed innocuous enough, but the more involved I got, the more disgusted I became with the whole process. Nevertheless, I urge you all to at least check out their website and decide for yourself if you want to have an input.
Northwest Training Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement website
Even though this is not the way they explain it, in my opinion it's all basically about them replacing the aging EA-6B and P-3 aircraft with newer EA-18G and P-8 models. But that's not all they want to do; they're also proposing adding an underwater minefield, additional electronic emitters, and significantly increasing the number of training operations in the area. If you ask me, they're just trying to get as much stuff in as possible as long as the door's open.
But it's not really that simple. For instance, if they add capability up here, then there'll be less fuel burned transporting people and equipment to other areas.
No matter what, though, the document itself is full of interesting information about the current state of the natural environment of the Puget sound, so it's definitely worth looking at even if you decide not to make a comment.
The reason I got a sour taste in my mouth from this experience is that, despite all the talk the Navy gives about how they want our input, they've really made it hard to actually register your comments. Everything from a website form that won't accept cut-and-pasted text, to an address format on their snail-mail address that the automated machines at the post office can't read, so they have to be hand sorted. Not to mention a 700-plus page document with the table of contents on page 53 and page numbers that make no sense at all, so even if you find the section you're looking for in the table of contents you have no idea what page to go to. In other words, section 3.5.4 begins on page 3.5.4.1, which is actually around the 365th page of the document.
Once again, though, I urge all of you to wade through this because it's full of interesting stuff that affects our waters and maybe even our diving. I never knew before reading this how many underwater explosions they do in Crescent harbor, or that sonobuoys release a chemical that turns into hydrofluoric acid on contact with water. Not to mention the depleted uranium and high-power sonar all those whale lovers love to talk about.
Please check it out and register your comments before the February 11 deadline!
Northwest Training Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement website
Even though this is not the way they explain it, in my opinion it's all basically about them replacing the aging EA-6B and P-3 aircraft with newer EA-18G and P-8 models. But that's not all they want to do; they're also proposing adding an underwater minefield, additional electronic emitters, and significantly increasing the number of training operations in the area. If you ask me, they're just trying to get as much stuff in as possible as long as the door's open.
But it's not really that simple. For instance, if they add capability up here, then there'll be less fuel burned transporting people and equipment to other areas.
No matter what, though, the document itself is full of interesting information about the current state of the natural environment of the Puget sound, so it's definitely worth looking at even if you decide not to make a comment.
The reason I got a sour taste in my mouth from this experience is that, despite all the talk the Navy gives about how they want our input, they've really made it hard to actually register your comments. Everything from a website form that won't accept cut-and-pasted text, to an address format on their snail-mail address that the automated machines at the post office can't read, so they have to be hand sorted. Not to mention a 700-plus page document with the table of contents on page 53 and page numbers that make no sense at all, so even if you find the section you're looking for in the table of contents you have no idea what page to go to. In other words, section 3.5.4 begins on page 3.5.4.1, which is actually around the 365th page of the document.
Once again, though, I urge all of you to wade through this because it's full of interesting stuff that affects our waters and maybe even our diving. I never knew before reading this how many underwater explosions they do in Crescent harbor, or that sonobuoys release a chemical that turns into hydrofluoric acid on contact with water. Not to mention the depleted uranium and high-power sonar all those whale lovers love to talk about.
Please check it out and register your comments before the February 11 deadline!
