News from the Protect Olympic Peninsula people:
The US Forest Service is asking for public input regarding the management of Olympic National Forest. They want to know:
What does the public want the Forest Service to consider as they develop their forest management plan? How does the public want to be engaged with the science that will inform their revisions? How should the pubic be engaged during this revision process?
Consider including some of the “POTENT POINTS” below in your comments. Comments need to be mailed and postmarked by Friday, May 8th. Send to:
Attention: Listening Session Comments
Olympic National Forest
1835 Black Lake Blvd SW
Olympia, WA 98512
POTENT POINTS
1.The public wants the management of our National Forests to be based on solid science, not politics. Comprehensive, unbiased, current scientific data should be the foundation for all management decisions. This data, in an easily understandable format, should be accessible to the public.
2.The Navy’s application for a permit to use the Olympic National Forest for an Electronic Warfare Range must be denied until unbiased, solid scientific data can support their claim that the Range will have “No Significant Impact”.
NOISE: No sound studies have been done of actual noise levels of trios of Growler jets practicing for 8-12 hours a day directly above Endangered Species Habitat.
The stress of these extreme levels of noise could push these species to extinction.
ECONOMICS: Socio-economic repercussions of the Navy’s plans on local communities have not been analyzed. The warjets aim to practice directly over Olympic National Park, the region’s main tourist attraction. Jet noise and fear of Electromagnetic Radiation will erode tourism drastically. A quiet atmosphere —free from the clamor of man-made noise — is central to “the wilderness experience” that is desired by the majority of visitors to this region. Managers of Olympic National Forest need to recognize that the economic stability of the small communities on the Peninsula has shifted from timber harvesting and forest products to outdoor recreation and tourism. Visitation to Olympic National Park grew over 10% last year, flushing the local economies with millions of tourist dollars. See:
http://www.wta.org/signpost/new-study-the-economic-benefits-of-our-adventures-outdoors
INCREASED FIRE RISK: The risk of fires ignited by jet crashes, transmitter vehicle sparks, operators’ cigarettes, and misdirected electromagnetic beams hitting dry vegetation must be thoroughly analyzed. With drought conditions increasing every year, crashes occuring in remote, roadless areas could create runaway fires. Growlers fuel tanks would explode, dumping thousands of gallons of highly toxic fuel into a pristine ecosystem. The probabilities and the consequences of these inevitable events should be rigorously and scientifically evaluated BEFORE any permit is granted to the Navy for their Warfare Range. The enormous cost of these fires to the Forest Service, the communities here, and the wildlife must be evaluated.
RADIATION HARM: Subjecting sensitive species such as butterflies, bees, amphibians, birds and insects, as well as children and pregnant women, to this powerful and potentially harmful technology without adequate scientific studies is unacceptable. The public wants to see comprehensive, current, peer-reviewed scientific data that shows that the Growlers’ Electromagnetic Radiation is harmless to humans and wildlife BEFORE a permit is granted. See:
3.STRENGTHEN THE NW FOREST PLAN. We must NOT revert to a “forest-by-forest” management plan. Strong protection is needed for our ancient groves, endangered species, and watersheds.
- Revamp the Forest Service’s flawed public comment process. Thousands of citizens voiced objections to the Electronic Warfare Range. Many expressed sentiments that cannot be “quantified”—such as valuing the peace and silence they experience in the wilderness. They were informed that such objections would carry no weight in the Forest Service’s decision because their comments were not considered “substantive”.
This disregard of citizen’s input makes the Forest Services’ mission statement of “serving the people” and “encouraging public participation” a farce. We want our voices to be heard, and we want our opinions to carry weight.
Important: Keep a copy of your letter.
After sending a hard copy to the Forest Service (postmarked by May 8th) email a copy of your letter to Representative Derek Kilmer, Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Govenor Inslee.
To know more about the grassroots efforts to stop the Navy’s takeover of the Olympic Peninsula, see: