Kilmer, Larsen Urge Biden Administration to Support Growler Noise Mitigation Efforts
Washington, DC – On Thursday, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a letter to President Joe Biden to encourage his Administration to support noise mitigation efforts for the Navy’s EA-18G Growler, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget request. This critical funding would provide technology to quiet the engines and support the installation of sound suppression measures in homes and businesses in impacted communities.
The members wrote, “We understand and support the EA-18G and the important role it plays in our nation’s national security strategy. However, there are legitimate concerns about the impact of the additional EA-18G aircraft in the Pacific Northwest. The Navy has been a long-standing partner in this region and as a responsible partner, it is important that they continue to listen to the concerns of surrounding communities.”
“Members of the Washington delegation have made it a priority to find new solutions to reduce the noise impacts of Growler jets in our region and have passed legislation to help address the concerns of our constituents,” they continued. “[…] We will continue to work with the Navy, other federal agencies, and the local community to identify opportunities to address these concerns and ensure that the Navy works to be a responsible partner. We want to ensure the women and men who serve receive the critical training they need, while working to mitigate the impact of base operations on surrounding communities. As you craft your budget for FY2022, we ask that you keep in mind these efforts and help us find solutions for our constituents.”
The full letter can be found here and below.
March 11, 2021
The Honorable Joe Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
As you consider your budget submission for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, we would like to bring your attention a situation unique to the Pacific Northwest. As you may know, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) is home to the EA-18G Growlers. While the Navy has been in this region for almost 80 years, the recent increase in the number of these aircraft has been a serious concern to the communities that surround this installation. In your FY 2022 budget request, we ask that you support the Navy’s EA-18G Growler noise mitigation efforts by providing funding for technology to quiet the engines and support the installation of sound suppression measures in homes and businesses in impacted communities.
We understand and support the EA-18G and the important role it plays in our nation’s national security strategy. However, there are legitimate concerns about the impact of the additional EA-18G aircraft in the Pacific Northwest. The Navy has been a long-standing partner in this region and as a responsible partner, it is important that they continue to listen to the concerns of surrounding communities.
Members of the Washington delegation have made it a priority to find new solutions to reduce the noise impacts of Growler jets in our region and have passed legislation to help address the concerns of our constituents. In the FY 2020 Defense Appropriations bill, we included language requiring monitoring and measurement of jet noise by the Navy. This data will provide our constituents with a more accurate understanding of the noise impacts. The FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), required a real-time jet noise monitoring study which is due to be completed this December. Both pieces of legislation also included language and funding for the Navy to develop new technologies to reduce EA-18G jet engine noise. The FY2021 Defense Appropriations bill, included a hard-won $50 million for a new program to help communities make infrastructure improvements to mitigate excessive noise impacts caused by military aviation.
We will continue to work with the Navy, other federal agencies, and the local community to identify opportunities to address these concerns and ensure that the Navy works to be a responsible partner. We want to ensure the women and men who serve receive the critical training they need, while working to mitigate the impact of base operations on surrounding communities. As you craft your budget for FY2022, we ask that you keep in mind these efforts and help us find solutions for our constituents.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer Rick Larsen
Member of Congress Member of Congress
###