Editor,

I have attended five Navy meetings recently: three concerned the Electronic Warfare Range, two on Growler jets at Whidbey, and will address some Navy statements.

“The training is about detecting, sorting and identifying certain electronic signals amongst the deluge of existing signal clutter” — their description of the mission. What “deluge of existing signal clutter” would they expect to find in a National Heritage Wilderness location such as the Olympic National Park and Forest?

“Extremely unlikely that the training conducted in the Pacific Northwest will adversely affect people, animals or the environment.” Note “unlikely.” Unfortunately, the Environmental Assessment had numerous omissions as well as old research.

The most recent peer-reviewed research shows a serious disruption in the navigational compasses for the migratory birds of the Pacific Coast Flyway.

Well-documented articles on the issue can be found on Truthout.org

“The number, duration and frequency of aircraft flights in the operating area are only projected to increase by 10 percent, which equates to an average increase of one flight per day.”

This conveniently omits the real numbers: 260 days per year, 2,900 training missions lasting between eight and 16 hours per day, at 15 locations.

For each exercise, three jets — each capable of producing 150 decibels in noise. Each jet produces over 12 metric tons of CO2 per hour and burns over 1,300 gallons of toxic jet fuel, creating a significant impact on air quality as well as adding to critical climate change warming.

“These are not low-altitude flights.” Obviously, this depends on your definition of “low.” In the various Navy meetings, the project manager has said the usual height is 6,000 feet above sea level … except where there are mountains (and there are mountains — the Olympics), and then they can go as low as 1,200 feet.

“Most (flights) go unnoticed as our crews train in these areas today.” There are many residents of the area who refute this statement. Many of them were in comments to the Navy that were note recorded by the Navy but are in private videos posted on Vimeo.

“No expected change in aircraft noise.”

Numerous references exist that say this is a much noisier jet than the Prowler it replaces. See the Boeing website for specifications of them.

“So vital services will not be interrupted.”

Also numerous references exist that indicate they are at risk. The area’s 911 central area is on Octopus Mountain, where one of these emitters is scheduled to be located.

I’m deeply disappointed that your paper would choose to print the Navy’s press release as sent to you with no critical commentary. It speaks volumes to your credibility as a news source that you would choose to do this. I am not a usual reader of your paper, nor am I likely to be. But those people who do read your newspaper regularly deserve better.

A lot better.

Linda Sutton

Port Townsend