On Tuesday, March 19 & 20, 2012, the U.S. Navy will hold an “Open House Information Sessions” from 5-8 P.M. about its plans to expand weapons testing along the Oregon coast and over the state's entire air space. There are strong reasons we should bother to attend the Navy's public relations event:
 
*  To show the Navy that Oregon's coast is inhabited by real people who care what becomes of our ocean, our coastline, our livelihoods, and our personal safety and privacy.
 
*  To demand why the Navy's February 27, 2012, Federal Register notice calls the March 20 event a “scoping meeting” to identify community concerns and accept “all comments, provided orally or in writing,” but both the Navy's ad and its postcard announcement call it only an “open house session,” specifically refusing to accept oral comments.
 
*  To demand that the Navy hold a valid scoping meeting to ensure meaningful public involvement in decisions affecting commercial, ecological and quality-of-life concerns, such as impacts of explosions, sonar, electromagnetic weapons, chemical pollution, and increased naval traffic on fishing, recreation, wildlife and tourism, as well as the use of air space over our entire state to test drone aircraft, atmospheric aerosols, and unidentified weapons systems.
 
*  To demand that the Navy hold valid scoping meetings not just in Newport and Tillmook but also in all Oregon coast communities as well as in the state capitol, in order to involve the public affected by its plans.
 
 
Oregon Meeting Times, Dates & Locations
 
1)    Tillamook, OR:  Monday, March 19, 2012, 5:00 p.m. ­ 8:00 p.m.
Tillamook County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 4603 E. 3rd Street, Tillamook, OR
 
2)     Newport, OR:  Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 5:00 p.m. ­ 8:00 p.m.
Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR


For More Information

U.S. Navy Website   https://nwtteis.com/Home.aspx

U.S. Federal Register Notice
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/27/2012-4458/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statementoverseas-environmental-impact-statement#p-42
 
 
Carol Van Strum 

cvs@casco.net