This will likely radically alter the accessibility of the Hook. The dive community should be particularly alarmed at this. The Navy plans to eliminate the ability to use Ediz Hook rock pile for diving (see Plan B, search the EIS for the word ‘diving’. This has been historically used for training of new divers. The Navy plan relies on some vaguely worded plan that Port Angeles will eventually create a dive park 2 miles east of the facility. Not sure if the dive community is onboard with this or not, or if it’s even a realistic plan. Just another example of the nibbling away of our uses of the area as the Navy mounts an all out campaign to turn the Olympic Peninsula into a training facility for land, sea and air operations on a much larger scale than ever before. By following the link below you can see and read the huge amount of EIS paperwork they are currently filing to expand use of the Peninsula.
The Navy has issued a draft environmental assessment for a proposed pier on Ediz Hook to moor vessels that escort submarines from Hood Canal to the Pacific Ocean. The assessment, a 224-page document, is available online at http://go.usa.gov/tAr4. A printed copy can be reviewed at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. The Navy will host a public meeting on the pier proposal from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., where officials will present information, answer questions and accept written comments. James Casey reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound |
