HUMBOLDT GREENS URGE OPPOSITION TO MASSIVE EXPANSION OF NAVAL TRAINING COMPLEX

Stealth bomber leads multi-carrier strike group in formation.

The Humboldt County Green Party is urging residents of the western coast of the United States to oppose the expansion of a massive Naval training complex to cover more than 126,000 square nautical miles along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. The complex will be used to conduct training, research, testing, and evaluation of military hardware, personnel, tactics, munitions, explosives, and electronic combat systems.

David Cobb, a Green Party leader and past presidential candidate, said, “It's an outrage that they'd be using live ammunition off our coast. We are all well aware of the problems that sonar causes for whales and other sea life, and I don't think I need to explain our concern over the possibility of dumping depleted uranium in our coastal waters. It's insanity.”

Fortunately, the public has an opportunity to comment, until April 13, at http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx on the official website for the Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC) environmental impact statement.

Humboldt County Green Party County Council Chair Dana Silvernale said, “We hope the people will speak up, loudly, and let the Navy know that this is our front yard. It is not a war zone, real or simulated. The Navy's plan is unsafe and irresponsible. Our fisheries are down. The Coho salmon are endangered. We cannot afford any more assaults on our environment.”

Green Party representative Shaye Harty said, “They actually have a video right on the front page of their official website, extolling the incomparable beauty and diversity of our geography and wildlife in this part of the world. Why do they wish to blow it up?”

Hightlights from the Fort Bragg Advocate report on plans for the NWTRC:

A 728-page environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared by the Navy describes a dizzying array of hi-tech gizmos, including unmanned aerial systems, new surface to air missiles, and sonobuoys. The Navy would deploy 9,651 of the sonar-emitting sonobouys each year under their preferred plan.

Also to be tried out under the Navy's preferred alternative would be unmanned or "drone" aircraft, development of a training minefield fixed to the ocean bottom, development of a portable undersea tracking range, and development of new air and surface target services.

Military magazines have reported on stealth submarines and drone submarines that can hide in shallow water and listen in on cell phone calls.

"In nearshore habitats, underwater explosions take place in designated training areas both near the water's surface and near the bottom," the EIS states.

TAKE ACTION!

Call and email:
Congressman Mike Thompson
Senator Barbara Boxer
Humboldt County Supervisors

Write letters to the editor.

Voice your dissent on the North West Training Range Complex comment page:
http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Environmental Impact Statement for the North West Training Range Complex:
http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/default.aspx
Comment forms for the North West Training Range Complex:
http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx
Indybay.org: Response from NRDC:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/24/18581843.phphttp://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/24/18581843.php
Public response in Washington:
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2186&TM=66263.9
Mendocino Country Independent:
http://www.mendocinocountry.com