Navy extends comment period for training range -- Oregon, Washington and Northern California

Navy extends comment period for training range

by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian
Tuesday February 17, 2009, 12:51 PM

The Navy is extending the public comment period on a proposal to expand its training operations off the Oregon, Washington and Northern California coasts to March 11 to allow for additional public input, according to a news release issued today by the Navy Region Northwest.

Comments were originally due Feb. 11, but critics complained they had not been given enough notice of the public hearing held in Newport in late January -- the only one in the state -- or enough time to read the 1,068 page document. Oregon's Democratic Congressional delegation had requested an extension to April 11.

The proposed expanded training would add a dummy minefield-avoidance training course, additional training flights and warfare simulations, and would increase the use of sonar, the number of missiles and gun shells fired.

The Northwest Training Range Complex extends westward in the Pacific Ocean -- up to 250 nautical miles beyond the coast of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California -- and consists of numerous training areas.

-- Lori Tobias; loritobias@news.oregonian.com