In a Friday, Feb. 27 letter, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) told the U.S. Navy it won’t participate in a plan to train fighter jet pilots in detecting enemy electronic signals over the Olympic National Forest.
“The Department of Natural Resources had serious concerns regarding the proposed uses of state trust lands in this project, so we will not be participating,” senior DNR advisor Matthew Randazzo wrote in an email to the Leader on Friday.
The Navy is currently awaiting permission from the U.S. Forest Service to send utility trucks outfitted with mobile emitters of electromagnetic radiation to 12 of 15 preselected sites on the Olympic Peninsula’s west end. The other three sites are on DNR land located within Jefferson County on the peninsula’s west end.
“DNR land has been publicly discussed as a location for the Navy’s proposed electromagnetic warfare training on the Olympic Peninsula,” wrote DNR Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark in his letter to Rear Admiral Jeffrey Ruth, commander of Navy Region Northwest. “Though we have not received a formal land use or lease application for this project, we feel that we are adequately informed to decide that we would not be interested in participating in this training exercise.”
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Awesome! Yes!!
HALLELUJAH!!!
Yeah, it’s a much better idea to let our pilots get their training “on the job” with the enemy shooting at them (sarc). Dentris, Frank & Jan – got any kids in the military? Nah, didn’t think so.
I can tell you that the DNR did NOT get its advice from its own technical people as they weren’t even asked. More likely is the suggestion that it was simply an effort to appease the environmentalists.
Also, DNR had no qualms about Homeland Security putting up temporary radar emitters in Eastern Washington, a couple years ago. Where was all the hoopla over that?
Lastly, for all of you who are so “afraid” of electromagnetic radiation, what scientific evidence do any of you have about its hazardous effects upon humans, animals or plant life? I’ve worked in the field for all of my life (as well as being an amateur radio operator, or ham) and I’m totally unaware of any, otherwise, I would have changed fields (and hobbies), long ago.