PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The U.S. Forest Service is working up responses to the thousands of comments it received about its plans for allowing the Navy to expand its electronic warfare training over the Olympic Peninsula.
The Peninsula Daily News reports that most of the 3,400 comments the Forest Service received opposed the plan, over the potential for more jet noise as well as concerns that electromagnetic radiation could harm people, plants and animals. The Forest Service is drafting about 100 generalized responses that will be sent to those who submitted comments.
The Navy is planning for an $11.5 million expansion of its electronic-warfare range activities, including the deployment of three camper-sized electromagnetic transmitters on logging roads in Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties. The transmitters would engage in exercises with radar-jamming jet pilots from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The Navy has said the project will not have a significant impact on noise, public health or plants and animals.
