Editor,
The Navy is in violation of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act with the construction of its “supposedly planned” wall of jersey barriers tied together with heavy steel cable.
One federal agency cannot disregard the policies of another federal agency – not even Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
If the wall really was planned for a long time as part of maintenance, then there would have been time to follow these federal policies.
I urge property owners and taxpayers of Whidbey Island to request that the Navy comply with federal law regarding its communication with another federal entity and remove the cement block eyesore from the southern scenic entrance into the Reserve and Central Whidbey.
Send an email to michael.nortier@navy.mil, commander NAS Whidbey, and request removal of the cement wall.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment.
The Navy is not above the law.
Maryon Attwood
Coupeville