HomeMy WebLinkAboutADDITIONAL Business: DEIS NWTT Activities
October 12, 2026
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest
Attention: NWTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
3730 Adams Avenue, Building 11
Silverdale, WA 98315-5700
Subject: Public Comment Letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Activities
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the U.S. Navy’s Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) activities. As a representative
of Jefferson County, Washington, I appreciate the Navy's ongoing commitment to national defense and write to share constructive feedback and specific recommendations regarding the proposed
Alternative 1, particularly as it relates to Dabob Bay and surrounding Salish Sea waters.
While recognizing the importance of military readiness, please balance that with the ecological and economic importance of Dabob Bay—a hydrodynamically unique fjord that supports vital
shellfish production, salmon nursery habitat, and local conservation investments. Because Dabob Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water, sound and chemical inputs do not dissipate as rapidly
as in open ocean waters. I request that the Final EIS incorporate localized modeling and tailored safeguards for this sensitive marine environment.
Acoustic Stress and Marine Mammal Protections
To minimize potential acoustic impacts and behavioral disruption to marine mammal populations (including harbor porpoises, seals, sea lions, and killer whales) in Hood Canal and Dabob
Bay, consider updating acoustic propagation models to account for local fjord bathymetry. Enhanced visual and acoustic monitoring protocols, along with voluntary or mandatory speed
guidelines (e.g., 10 knots) during non-emergency transits, would significantly reduce the risks of ship strikes and sound reverberation in these restricted channels.
Munitions Expended (Table 3.0-9) and Water Quality Considerations
Regarding proposed materials in Table 3.0-9, questions have arisen regarding the adjustments made between the 2020 SEIS/OEIS and Preferred Alternative 1, specifically how they will impact
the quantity of chemical residues and heavy metals in nearshore and benthic sediments. Given Jefferson County's vital shellfish aquaculture and commercial fisheries, establishing collaborative
baseline and operational monitoring with state, local, and tribal partners would ensure public confidence, safeguard marine food webs, and protect economic stability. (continued
on second page)
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Recommendations for the Final EIS
We respectfully ask the Navy to consider the following collaborative measures in the Final EIS:
Refine training parameters within nearshore waters to minimize high-intensity explosive operations.
Establish designated seasonal or geographic buffers in Dabob Bay for active sonar and explosive testing.
Implement vessel transit speed reductions in Hood Canal to safeguard marine mammals.
Partner with local and tribal environmental managers to conduct joint water quality and bioaccumulation monitoring.
We cannot overstate the potential value of collaborating with residents and leaders of the region to ensure both military readiness and the long-term health of Puget Sound's ecosystems
and local coastal economies.
Sincerely,
__________________________ _______________________ _______________________
Heather Dudley-Nollette, Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour, Dist. 2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3- Chair