Members of the Coupeville Town Council said they could not provide comment on a portion of the Navy’s Environmental Impact Statement without further clarification.

The council met during a workshop last week to discuss how to prepare a response but found themselves stumped by what exactly the Navy was requesting.

Mayor Molly Hughes received a letter requesting comment on how the Navy defines the area of effect in regard to jet noise on historic structures near Outlying Field and Ault Field.

The request was not for comments regarding jet noise as a whole, but for comment on a very specific part of the EIS, Hughes said.

Provided with the letter were maps showing the current area of effect using old noise contours. The letter said new contours are being developed.

Hughes said she was confused why the council was being asked to respond to old data.

“These contours are old, based on Prowlers, not Growlers,” she said.

Other council members were confused by what exactly the letter was requesting.

“They want to know if we agree with how they are defining it (the area of effect),” Hughes said.

Councilwoman Jackie Henderson asked if the town could request someone from the Navy to come and explain the request in further detail.

“I’m very confused,” Henderson said. “I’m not comfortable commenting on something I don’t understand. We want that and we aren’t going to respond until we get that.”

Council members agreed they want to know how noise decibels are determined and would like to wait and see what the new area of impact is.

“If this is based on the old data, the turn radius is much wider now,” said Councilwoman Pat Powell. “They’re asking us to comment on info that’s not current.”

Hughes agreed.

“I don’t think we want to spend a lot of time on something that’s going to change,” Hughes said.

Council members agreed that the mayor should draft a letter saying the town couldn’t comment until it received more information and is requesting a Navy representative meet with them.