Submitted by the U.S. Navy

The Navy published a notice of availability in the Federal Register on Thursday, Nov. 10 announcing the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for EA-18G Growler airfield operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Draft EIS is available for review on the project website (http://www.whidbeyeis.com). Hard copies are also available at area public libraries.

The release of the Draft EIS begins a 75-day public comment period, which will conclude January 25, 2017. This represents an extended public comment period to support public participation in this process.

The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental effects associated with the addition of up to 36 Growler aircraft and the continuation and increase of Growler airfield operations at Ault Field and Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville. The Draft EIS includes three alternatives, all of which entail an addition of either 35 or 36 additional aircraft to be based at NAS Whidbey Island. The Draft EIS also analyzes three different options for the distribution of Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) operations between Ault Field and OLF Coupeville.

Growler operations will increase under all alternatives analyzed in this Draft EIS. This increase will result in a total number of annual operations at the NAS Whidbey Island Complex that is similar to what was seen in the mid-1990s.

The Navy previously held two scoping meetings in 2013 and 2014. The DEIS addresses input from the public from these two scoping periods. Alternatives presented at scoping meetings analyzing fewer additional aircraft than 35 were not carried forward in the Draft EIS because Congress has purchased more aircraft than was reflected in those earlier alternatives.

The Navy will host five open-house meetings to provide members of the public the opportunity to ask questions of Navy representatives and submit comments on the Draft EIS analysis. Each meeting will consist of information stations staffed by Navy representatives. One of the meetings will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Lopez Center.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend one of these meetings and provide comments on the Draft EIS. Comments may be provided in person at one of the meetings (either written comments or verbal comments to a stenographer will be accepted). Comments may also be posted to the project website , or submitted in writing to:

EA-18G EIS Project Manager

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, Attn: Code EV21/SS

6506 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508

All comments must be postmarked, received online or provided in a format listed above no later than January 25, 2017.

Area libraries at which hard copies of the DEIS may be reviewed are San Juan Island Library, Lopez Island Library District and Orcas Island Public Library.