Guest Opinion: Community Jet Noise Meeting an Opportunity to Discuss Concerns, Solutions

— by U.S. Congressional Representative Rick Larsen, WA-02 —

On Tuesday, October 7th Commissioner Jamie Stephens held a meeting on Lopez Island to address community concerns about jet noise from flights out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI). I attended that meeting at his request. Orcas Island County Council member Rick Hughes attended as well. While there, I listened and responded to many concerns people raised about jet noise impacts on their health and quality of life. It was a productive discussion, and I was pleased to extend the meeting an hour longer than its scheduled end time so that I could answer as many questions as possible.

During this meeting, in addition to listening to the concerns of the Lopez community, I laid out my ideas about how to reduce the impact of jet noise on Lopez going forward. This plan includes finding funding for an acoustic hangar to reduce noise impact on Lopez Island, research into technology to reduce engine noise, software that might safely reduce the required number of training flights, and asking the Navy to do monitoring on the San Juans as part of an environmental impact study for the EA-18G Growler. Not all of these are immediate solutions, and this list is not the complete list of follow up items, but they are all worth exploring as part of a broad strategy.

I was disappointed to read a recent opinion piece in Orcas Issues that mischaracterized the productivity of this meeting and accused me of being ‘not well informed.’ Though meeting attendees and I did not find common ground on every issue, the discussion was honest and respectful. I felt it was a productive meeting, and I am thankful to Councilmember Stephens for inviting me.

I have always been clear in my support for NASWI’s role as one of the country’s premier Navy installations and the Growlers being stationed at the base, and I am committed to finding solutions that reduce the impact of noise on local communities. I understand that may not be enough for some, but I believe it’s more than was characterized by the earlier writer. Thank you to Orcas Issues for providing me this forum to correct the record.