Quiet Skies joins five-county Growler alliance

Submitted by Quiet Skies over San Juan County

Quiet Skies over San Juan County is now part of the five-county Sound Defense Alliance dedicated to reducing Growler jet noise in the Pacific Northwest region. Quiet Skies is joining with groups representing over 25,000 residents opposing Navy expansion in Clallam, Jefferson, Island and Skagit counties.

The creation of a regional organization has been in progress for over a year. In the next few weeks, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is expected to be released calling for the addition of 36 more Growler Jets and a 47 percent increase in noise. There will be no more opportunity for citizen comment on this EIS. This new Sound Defense Alliance will be working with legislators – both state and federal – to mitigate Growler noise and Navy expansion from the Pacific Coast to the North Cascades. Five counties – one voice.

The Sound Defense Alliance will be officially announced on Wednesday, Oct. 3, in each of the five counties. There will be a short media event and photo shoot on Lopez Island on Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. – rain or shine — at the Farmers Market Site across from Vita’s in Lopez Village.

Quiet Skies learned on Sept. 20 that San Juan County Councilman Jamie Stephens has been contacted by Gov. Jay Inslee to talk about Growler mitigation. The governor has been talking with an Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Senator Murray and will contact Senator Cantwell the week of Oct. 2.

Inslee’s involvement is a significant step toward the protection and restoration of our Quiet Skies and Quiet Seas. San Juan County has also contributed to the visibility of the Growler noise problem by creating a county website to receive noise complaints. More than 10,667 enteries have been received to date. For more information, visit www.quietskies.info, http://sounddefensealliance.org/, sjcgis.org/aircraft-noise-reporting/.