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Island County Board of Commissioners

P.O. Box 5000
Coupeville, Washington 98239-5000

Phone:
From Camano:
From S. Whidbey:

Fax

(360) 679-7354
(360) 629-4522
(360) 321-5111
(360) 679-7381
www.islandcounty.net

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Donald R. Schregardus
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Environment
1000 Navy Pentagon
Room 4A674
Washington DC 20350

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Dear Mr. Schregardus,

Island County is a mostly rural county made up entirely of islands. We are a popular tourist destination and
are proud to have an expanding small farm industry. Many come to experience our open spaces, rural
character and beautiful shoreline views. It is often noted that Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NAS-WJ)
located adjacent to the urban area of Oak Harbor is a significant presence in our county. As federal decisions
are made which expand or contract the activity at NAS-WI it impacts our island communities dramatically.
For this reason it Is important to recognize the need to strengthen diversified industries to help stabilize our
local economy and job market.
The Out-lying Field (OLF) of NAS-WI is located In Central Whidbey, (within District 1 of Island County) just
outside the Town of Coupeville. We are two locally elected officials for this area. Tourism and agriculture are
industries particularly important in the Central Whidbey area around the OLF. This historic farming
community enjoys the distinction of being recognized by the National Park Service as Ebey's Historic Reserve.
Much of the farmland has been preserved through the sale of development rights. This limits choices for land
use available to the owners. The small, niche farmers here work closely with the soil and the community, and
much of the field work is done by hand. Also over the past 20 years home based businesses have located in
this area.
The transition from Prowlers to Growler flights at OLF has had a significant impact to these local businesses.
The Growler platform creates a reverberating sensation that is very different from the previous planes. The
vibrations and noise are particularly intense when directly overhead and at low altitudes. This style of plane
turns with a wider radius and so the flight pattern is over neighborhoods previously Jess affected. These
planes are more reliable than the Prowlers so more planes fly continuously in a full rotation, also adding to
the noise and vibrations experienced by the homes and businesses in the flight path. The economic impacts
of 6120 annual Growler flights at OLF must be measured and understood at current conditions before
additional flights are authorized at that location. It is important that data be collected to document the
impacts of current Growler activity to the agricultural, recreational, and historic resources In the area State
Parks and Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve, which is an area of environmental, cultural, and
historical significance and an important wildlife and migratory bird habitat.
It is understood that the deployment of troops to respond to threats overseas are the primary factor in the
number of "touch and go" training exercises at OLF. The safety of the pilots during training is vital, and so is
the safety and health of community members living near the OLF. The potential negative health effects of low
level EA-18 Growler aircraft during "touch and go" operations (rather than in higher altitude flight) must be
established to protect public health in our community. Real time acoustic measurements more accurately

reflect the safety hazards inherent to the OLF training activity for humans without adequate hearing
protection. Such a review should include potential sleep disruption, hearing damage, blood pressure and
cardiac problems; The Navy should examine any added susceptibility for the medically fragile, senior citizens
and chii'dr.en, as well as any potential harm to natural resources of water, air, soil and wildlife.
The Navy is obliged to provide our island communities a full disclosure of the impacts of increased flight
activity, sonar testing and electro-magnetic training in our region to best inform any operational decisions
concerning balancing the uses of the two Whidbey fields and surrounding areas.
The transition from Prowlers to Growlers at OLF has already created significant impacts to the local
community. Mitigation is needed now:

Modifications to the aircraft should be developed to reduce the increased reverberation and
noise created by the Growlers.

Exclude weekly OLF use, when possible, from Friday-Sunday to allow local residents,
farmers and visitors three days per week to schedule outdoor and indoor activities with
more certainty. Emergency issues of national defense threats would supersede this policy.

Flight schedules at OLF should return to the historic patterns used with the Prowlers. The
number of planes in a pattern should be limited to prevent "push out" over areas outside of
the normal range. Also FCLP pattern~ should alternate to provide relief to neighborhoods on
contiguous days of training.

Develop written training information for continuity during squadron transition with changes
of command. This would minimize the fluctuations in conditions for the community with
each transition to new leadership.

Use collected data to inform possible revisions to land use zoning, building code
requirements and disclosure rules to reflect the new, higher levels of noise and
reverberation; provide resources to retrofit existing structures or purchase of
property/ compensation for residents impacted significantly by Growler flight operations.

Proper training is crucial for Navy pilots to appropriately prepare for deployment to aircraft carrier duty.
Proper protection for the local community is equally fundamental. We welcome any opportunity to work with
local, state and federal officials to mitigate current conditions to address the training requirements of the
Navy while appropriately protecting the local community.

Helen Price Johnson

Island County Commissioner, District 1
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Nanc Conard
Mayor, Town of Coupeville