FORKS — The deadline has been extended to Oct. 31 for public comment on the U.S. Navy’s environmental assessment for an electronic warfare training proposal.
The development comes as the U.S. Forest Service considers issuing a special-use permit for the Navy to use its roads during the exercises.
“We are going to extend comment through the end of October,” Greg Wahl, a Forest Service environmental coordinator, said Wednesday.
Comment on the Pacific Northwest Electronic Warfare Range project’s environmental assessment was set to end Friday, but with a community meeting on the topic coming next week, the decision was made to extend the deadline.
The meeting, organized by the Forks Chamber of Commerce, is planned for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Forks High School commons, 261 S. Spartan Ave.
Representatives of the Navy and Forest Service will answer questions from the public.
$11.5 million project
The $11.5 million warfare training project would mark the first use of electromagnetic radiation for the Navy training that pilots now simulate with internal aircraft controls.
The exercises would be conducted by training aircraft from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island that would target electromagnetic radiation from emitters affixed to up to three camper-sized vehicles deployed in Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties.
The Navy has said exposure to the electromagnetic radiation of 15 minutes or more could damage the liquid tissue of the eyes, but Navy personnel say measures taken to protect the public and animals will make it safe.
The Navy has also said the emitters would be at least 14 feet above the ground, and risk to animals or humans would only occur if they are in the direct path of the signal, above the emitter and within 100 feet.
The Navy’s environmental assessment for the project, which found no significant impact, can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Electrowarfare.
Public comments can be emailed to Wahl at gtwahl@fs.fed.us or sent to Wahl at 1835 Black Lake Blvd. S.W., Olympia, WA 98512.
