Editor,
Although the Navy had 3 years to draft an EIS for the transition from Prowlers to Growlers, they chose to deliver their package — covered in coal dust — right before the holidays and asked for comments by Jan. 25.
Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve, or COER, tried to stop the Navy from replacing 57 Prowlers with 57 Growlers, but while the EIS has been pending – the Navy has brought over 80 Growlers here. And now they want 35 or 36 more. Two days after the longest, heaviest draft Environmental Impact statements that may ever have been written was delivered — two volumes and 1,400 pages — the Navy sent letters to landowners, including the Town of Coupeville, that their water might be contaminated.
Today, we know that the worst is true – water is contaminated with a bad-acting fire-retardant chemical. In Coupeville’s coffee shops and restaurants now, contaminated water is served and instead of wrapping gifts and enjoying family and friends, people here read the Navy’ s plans by day and by night — to bring more jets, more noise and contamination here.
While others gather for the holidays and hang stockings by their chimneys with care – we worry about the prospect of 35,000 Growler flights — almost 30,000 more than they do right now — at the Outlying Field over the heads of all of us remaining down here.
Coupeville, Ebey’s Reserve, the San Juans, Port Townsend, our forests and farms must be on Santa’s list this year! The miracle of this season is the return of the light — your light — your passion — your caring. Help Santa deliver a message this year by filling his bag with letters from you. From each of you! Reject the Navy’s Draft EIS. Move the trainings elsewhere to Navy lands where they will do harm. We want peace, clean water and the right to live in our homes.
Send your letter/comments to Navy’s draft EIS comment page. Copy and paste into your browser: http://whidbeyeis.com/Comment.aspx. Fill out the form (name, etc.). Under Agency/Organization put, “Abused Citizen of the USA”. Write one comment or more. Hit Submit. Happy Holidays!
Maryon Attwood
Coupeville
