Plans by the U.S. Navy to
end the moratorium on the use of the Outlying Field (OLF) at Coupeville
for aircraft carrier landing practice, motivated Citizens of Ebey’s
Reserve (COER) to establish a new complaint hotline. The number for the
24-hour toll-free complaint hotline is 1-800-830-4078.
The
Growler Jets and the OLF's usage of that field have been the subject of
litigation and the source of complaints about noise, health impacts and
property damage. The runway, located adjacent to Ebey’s National Reserve
near Coupeville, has been closed since May and training conducted
elsewhere.
"When the planes resume flying over our homes,
schools, and hospital, we’ll be ready to take complaint calls", said
Michael Monson, chair of COER.
Callers can talk to real people starting on Thursday, January 9 and not a recorded voice.
Organizers expect complaints from Whidbey Island and other areas.
"The
Navy has a recorded complaint line, COER’s HOT LINE is necessary
because many people do not trust the Navy to keep track of complaints or
to treat them seriously," said Monson.
"COER will keep track of
the complaints it receives and forward them to the Navy," said COER's
member Cate Andrews. "We want people to know we are there for them and
we want to make sure the Navy pays attention to their problems."
COER
plans to analyze the complaints and use them to support the closure of
the OLF and move the EA-18 Growlers to a more suitable location.
"Aircraft
noise, in particular low - altitude over-flights, is a public health
issue that must be addressed to reduce the negative health outcomes of
community members. COER looks forward to assisting people who are being
harmed by unsafe noise levels in the coming weeks, by listening and
recording their comments," said Monson. ‘Requests for anonymity will be
respected,’ he added.
COER, a citizen group of over 3,000
supporters along with growing list of organizations such as the Sierra
Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, seeks the closure
of the OLF Coupeville and alternatives to, and the relocation of, Navy
EA-18G Growler training flights currently being conducted at the Navy’s
Outlying Field on Whidbey Island.
Source: http://www.sanjuanislander.com
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