November 05, 2015

Navy and National Park Service Demonstrate Coordination in Monitoring Jet Noise Over Olympic Peninsula

Washington, D.C. – The Navy and the National Park Service (NPS) are coordinating efforts to monitor jet noise over Olympic National Park. This follows a call from Representative Derek Kilmer for a closer look at noise from Navy training missions. Kilmer’s push began with a letter to the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise (FICAN) asking them to review noise samples and data from the NPS and the Navy.

FICAN responded to Kilmer’s request by encouraging the Navy and NPS to work together to review currently available data. Going forward, the Navy and NPS have agreed to cooperate in collecting further data to better examine how the missions of the Navy and Olympic National Park can co-exist into the future. In addition to encouraging further collaboration, FICAN’s analysis indicated that this particular airspace experiences a wide variety of flight activity from predominately commercial and non-Navy military aircraft.

This increased collaboration will come as the Navy has proposed expanded training missions over the Olympic Peninsula. The Navy is interested in using existing military operating areas on the Olympic Peninsula to conduct training and testing for Navy personnel primarily stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. 

“I want to make sure we get this right,” said Kilmer. “That’s why I’m glad the Park Service – the staff who are charged with protecting the visitor experience at Olympic National Park  – and the Navy will work together to monitor noise issues and evaluate any increase in noise from Navy training activities. We all want our service members to be properly trained. By taking an approach grounded in science, we can ensure that happens in a way in which the soundscape and environment of our iconic park are respected.”

Kilmer sent his original letter to the head of FICAN, Dr. Kevin Shepherd, and the Secretaries of Defense and Interior. The committee examines and reports on the impact that projects in the public and private sector could have on air traffic. It is made up of every federal agency that studies or plays a role in aviation policy. In the letter Kilmer highlighted the impact the Navy’s proposal may have on the national park.

Last February after residents voiced concerns about the Navy’s public outreach on this proposal Kilmer asked the Defense Department to incorporate greater public input into military project planning. Kilmer urged that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) comment periods for Defense projects that do not receive any input from local residents within 30 days be extended to give more time to collect feedback. 

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