JBLM needs to be a better neighbor

I have read with concern the articles published in the Olympian recently about noise created by training at JBLM.

Although many residents are already bothered by military aircraft flying over quiet residential neighborhoods, often late into the night, JBLM wants to transfer much more of its noisy training operations to Southwest Washington and several wilderness areas. This would include helicopter training 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except for a few federal holidays! This would also include the test of a rocket system which could create a sonic boom and would be conducted close to the Nisqually Reservation.

It would be much louder than the current howitzer testing, already disturbing.

The military is rushing through the period where people can respond to both proposals, thus subverting the democratic process. JBLM’s plan for the helicopter training was announced on July 29 in The Olympian. When I went to their website to respond the deadline was July 30! This is absurd.

However, people can still respond to the proposed rocket system testing by August 25 and I hope many will do this. There will also be a public hearing on the helicopter training in early September. The base’s rationale is to save money. However, there are other issues at stake-- public health, environmental degradation of pristine areas, peace and quiet of our neighborhoods. We’re paying a heavy price for JBLM already in the enormous traffic buildups on I-5. JBLM needs to be a better neighbor.

Olympia

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "JBLM needs to be a better neighbor."