Editor,

Signing dueling petitions is fine, but not nearly as effective as submitting individual comments to the Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement to increase Growlers at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

The comment period was extended to Friday, Feb. 24, because of a special request from all three of our U.S. representatives, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Congressman Rick Larsen. It’s easy to comment. Log onto whidbeyeis.com and follow the instructions.

The EIS, at 1,500 pages, points out many weaknesses at our base. Some people are generally unhappy because the proposed action may quadruple noise in Coupeville, while it only doubles in Oak Harbor. But there are many other, more serious concerns.

In Appendix H, the EIS suggests the Coupeville OLF runway is 2,600 feet short of current Navy regulations for FCLP safety and operations. The EIS claims that for $26 million the runway can be brought up to the 8,000-foot standard. Submit a comment to the EIS recommending the OLF be brought to current safety standards.

In Section 4.3, Public Health and Safety, the EIS states 15,000-foot Clear and Accident Potential Zones, exempted in the 2005 AICUZ study, will now have to be implemented at OLF Coupeville because operations exceed 5,000 per year. Submit a comment asking that APZs be accurately finalized, along with a request for federal funding to move any residences, churches, youth facilities, landfills, hospitals, restaurants, schools, etc., which such down zoning may recommend!

Or read the EIS Executive Summary and find something else to comment about which you either support or dislike. The Navy is asking for comments, our legislators have made it easier for us, so go ahead and sign that petition. But don’t stop there, and don’t wait — the last day to participate is Feb. 24.

As some folks say, democracy is not a spectator sport!

Fran Einterz

Oak Harbor