Wildernesses in Washington targeted for new military jet training

The U.S. Navy has proposed the creation of new military airspaces for jet training exercises in Washington State. Unfortunately, the airspaces would overlap two Wildernesses—the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wildernesses—and threaten to destroy the solitude and silence found there. Your help is needed by February 23 to protect these great Wildernesses.

The Navy’s Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Eastern Washington Airspace Extension proposes to create two new military operations airspaces in addition to other nearby existing military airspaces—the proposed Okanogan D Military Operations (MOA) and the proposed Mazama Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA).

While the boundaries of these two new proposed airspaces would be the same (the difference in the two airspaces being the vertical height, as the ATCAA would sit atop the MOA), they would significantly overlap both the Pasayten Wilderness and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. The noise from the growler jets would startle wildlife and shatter solitude and silence in both Wildernesses.

Unfortunately, the Draft EA inadequately analyzes impacts to the Wildernesses. For example, the Draft EA dismisses noise impacts by saying flights would run Monday through Friday when most human visitors are not there. This logic suggests Wilderness designation only provides part-time protection, and it also sets up the ironic situation where those who visit during the week—oftentimes to avoid crowds or the sights and sounds of other visitors—are going to bear the brunt of impacts from overflights.

Similarly, the Draft EA dismisses noise impacts on wildlife because of “short duration and infrequency of exposure.” Yet research shows it’s the sudden and unexpected encounters that have the greatest impact on many wildlife species.

While the jet noise may not be loud enough, or of long enough duration, to cause human hearing loss on the ground, which is what the draft EA analyzed, the jet noise would still shatter solitude and silence—attributes identified by Congress to be protected in designated Wilderness. While we understand the need for Navy pilots to be adequately trained, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice our wilderness heritage to do so.

The No Action Alternative in the draft EA is preferable to both action Alternatives. Alternative 1 (the Preferred Alternative) and Alternative 2 both propose the creation of the airspaces that would overlap the Wildernesses. Alternative 2 would also consider an increase in the capacity of jet fighter training.

Please comment by February 23 to protect the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wildernesses from military jet noise!