HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Support to NWTT EIS/OEIS Project Manager - 101226 of Cojssr • Board of County Commissioners
�0�4,�sN co c) 1820 Jefferson Street
0 a PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
o Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
S1/ING't
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,
we 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.We 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)
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
(continued from first page)
Recommendations for the Final EIS
We respectfully ask the Navy to consider the following collaborative measures in the Final EIS:
1. Refine training parameters within nearshore waters to minimize high-intensity explosive operations.
2. Establish designated seasonal or geographic buffers in Dabob Bay for active sonar and explosive
testing.
3. Implement vessel transit speed reductions in Hood Canal to safeguard marine mammals.
4. 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,
Heathe ley-Nollette, Dist. 1 e Eisenhour, Dist. 2 Greg Bro erton, Dist. 3-Chair