Editor,
Many previous letters to the editor have addressed the following from a narrow point of view, but…
It’s not about the percentage of people who believe that Growler noise levels are detrimental to health.
It’s not about Navy pilots deserving the best training possible. Of course they deserve adequate training for pilot safety and for the security of our country.
It’s not about the economy. There is no doubt that jobs would be lost in time if Whidbey Island Naval Air Station presence decreased. Some of the 1,200 civil service jobs would be at risk. Some active-duty jobs would simply be relocated. Change would occur slowly over the years, with Whidbey Island Naval Air Station never closing. Tourism-related jobs would likely increase over time.
The San Francisco Bay Area economy did fine after the Navy’s Moffett Field gradually closed.
It’s not about Navy Exchange and health benefits to Navy retirees should the Navy Growler training relocate elsewhere.
It’s not about where you live and how severely you are affected by the jet noise.
It’s not about moving away if you don’t like the noise. We protect the right of each individual in a democracy.
It’s not about the benefits of a strong defense. In this volatile world, there is no doubt we need one.
It’s not about a Growler Fourth of July flyover to display the impressive might of our Navy.
It’s not about who was here first: the private landowner, the Navy, the English or Native Americans.
It’s not about the sound of freedom, so wonderful to some. The sound of war is equally horrible to others.
It’s not about general health worsening with greater property, as Commissioner Jill Johnson emphatically stated during an Oak Harbor library meeting.
We now have the Affordable Care Act for all.
It’s not about cost/benefit of “hush houses,” or flying over water, or flying at FAA required altitude — or even higher yet — or installing chevrons to decrease Growler noise. Everything should be done to comply with acceptable single event noise level requirements. Flying at double the altitude decreases the noise on the ground by 75 percent.
It’s not about fuel dumps dissipating in the atmosphere. That is still pollution. Jet fuel is a carcinogen.
It’s not about patriotism of a few sacrificing for the greater good of all. There are healthy alternatives the Navy should consider. Upholding the values of our democracy is certainly patriotic.
It is about scientifically proven sound levels and pollution and documented impartial evidence that sound levels on the ground of private property exceed the government’s own standards for health.
The impact of sound upon health is a function of sound intensity and duration. DNL — day/night average — and SEL — sound exposure level — average sound intensity to a comparable 24 hour or one second time period respectively. But do these supplemental noise metrics that the Navy uses, that are computer model generated, truly represent real world risk to health? Current science and third-party sound data indicate not.
There is no doubt that collateral damage is occurring; that “do no harm” is happening to American citizens.
The Navy may prefer to hide behind “day/night” averages or being the most powerful organization in the world, but that does not overcome what is right and wrong.
Everything should be done to comply with acceptable single event noise levels that damage hearing, and to comply with longer-term noise levels that cause other health and psychological damage.
It is about the Navy being as considerate as possible of the ever increasing population of neighbors surrounding.
It is about fuel dumps and cancer causing pollution, and about the Navy’s lack of any timely notification when fuel dumping has to occur for the pilot safety.
It is about a lack of leadership in our government. Right and wrong do matter in a democracy. Money shouldn’t determine everything.
It is about our government obeying its own rules.
Tim Verschuyl
Oak Harbor
