— by Lin McNulty —
Does it do any good to growl about the noise from the Growlers at Whidbey Naval Air Station?
I hear it regularly, this thunderous roar that comes directly up East Sound from Whidbey Island. Residents on Lopez and Deer Harbor have reported that their windows rattle.
With the extension to January 31 for the Public Comment Period, how many of us have called or emailed, or written to express our feelings about this invasion? I haven’t, even though I hear it daily. The reason? I’m not at all convinced it would do any good.
In speaking with Bryan Thomas, Communications Director for Rep. Rick Larsen, I posed the question about the effectiveness of public comment actually causing the Navy to move the Growlers somewhere else. His response? “Guess we’ll have to find out.”
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being administered by the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. I have made numerous attempts to contact them, to find out what the tipping point in the number or intensity of public comments might be. So far, this has only resulted in a week of phone tag. Meanwhile, the deadline of January 31 is quickly approaching.
Although Mike Welding at the Whidbey Public Affairs Office has been extremely cooperative and friendly, he can only refer me on to Fleet Forces Command when it comes to questions about the (un)expected (in)effectiveness of the Public Comment Period.
To submit comments by mail write to EA-18G EIS Project Manager (Code EV21/SS), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, 6506 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23508. Comments for the EIS also can be submitted online.
There also is a comment line at 360-257-6665 and an email address, and questions can be directed to the NAS Whidbey Island Public Affairs Office at 360-257-2286.
Our best bet at this point is to flood them with comments in hopes we shall be heard above the constant roar. I will if you will.
The growling has me growling every time I hear it. I work with audio for a living, and I chose to live here on Orcas for the relative silence and serenity. To me, assaulting the countryside and marine life with ABSURD levels of white noise on a regular basis is an affront to this natural treasure we call home every bit as much as a billboard, strip mall, logged forest, oil spill, or abandon trash pile. I briefly considered putting in my .00002 cents on the website, but then rational sense kicked in. Call me paranoid, but I think the only thing complaining would accomplish is to get ourselves on yet another government watch list for “un-American” activity. Growl.
Peace and quiet, it’s the reason people move to the San Juan Islands. It is what we resigned from or jobs for, invested in property and a business, and the reason we have made plans to spend our last years in the serenity of these islands. I had no idea, at first, where that incredible growler sound was coming from as I walked the beautiful trail at Mt. Lake on Orcas Island. I had no idea that that was just a hint of what is planned for “our neighborhood.” If the Navy has other options in locating the “Growler Program” I beg they be considered.
Susan Silvernail
“…..causing the Navy to move the Growlers somewhere else.” Where should they move them? How much would such an unnecessary move cost the taxpayers? How effect does that have on the people where they get moved to?
Anyone here concerned about the civil service employees that will loose their jobs or about the local businesses that are supported by the personal who work for the program?
There is an elitist attitude held by many on this island that we are a privilaged community to be held above the rest. A view that we are better and different from the rest of the citizens state and nation. That this is a community of wonderful and like minded people who are separate from those on the “main land.”
Who you trying to kid?
We also expected peace and quiet when we moved here. If we want quiet, perhaps we need to make some noise.
One question; who was here first, the Navy, or you people (nimby) that are complaining about the noise of our military training for our nations defense? Oh, wouldn’t want to disturb your tranquility while on a walk though, would we? Get a grip people, that’s the sound of freedom (and the price we pay for it).
I love the quiet but I have listened to planes from Whidbey for over 42 years. It isn’t a secret base and has been here a lot longer than 42 years so very few can complain that they moved in and ruined the “neighborhood.” My parents moved even closer to the base in 1990 and you can see the base across the water from their house. In those 42 years of my experience here there has been times of more activity and less activity. The times of less activity usually cooresponded with wars, so the fact that we are seeing more activity means less chances those sailors are risking their lives somewhere else. I would always rather see and hear our men and women in uniform training here at home than watching them on the news. If that is not enough we get a huge number of NAS families coming into our store and pumping money into the local economy.
Making a public comment may or may not make a difference. Not commenting most certainly will have no effect whatsoever. Your choice.
“Does It Do Any Good to Growl?” Oh, I thought we were going to discuss the military doing any good. Hello, NSA?
Didn’t we read that the Growlers spent a few months training at a base near San Diego?? Doesn’t that mean there’s more than one base suiting the training purpose? Maybe the Navy could look into having them train there rather than on Whidbey.
This sound you hear is the sound of those protecting you. Take a moment and understand that they are protecting you and me.
The navy base was here long before many moved here.
I was born and raised here. I have listened to people complain about the different sounds in the sky for years.
We live next to a navy base yes your going to hear those sounds.
Those who complain about the eastsound airport also need to understand that it is in the middle of the island. So yes your going to hear the sound, no matter where you live.
If you don’t like it sound proof or move. I am not sure there is a place that exists today where total quiet may be attained. Instead of growling or getting pissed every time you hear the sounds in the sky, how about pray for the individual flying within a large machine that has dedicated their life to protecting your right to be free. Please remember this is someone’s son, daughter, sister, brother, husband, or wife flying to make sure they are prepared for the Bad things we don’t want to have happen.
In my teens I lived in a beautiful spot on Whidbey Island. I listened to breakers crashing on the beach below our home. I also listened frequently to the sound of the jets roaring overhead. I felt safe and not alone. To me it was indeed, “The Sound of Freedom.” That was over fifty years ago and the feeling has not changed.