Meeting Minutes - March 2009

We had a mellow March meeting with lots of news and ideas to dicuss. Our next meeting will be held on April 1 at the current location provided by Arnold at 1210 East Front Street, Port Angeles, WA If you would like to view the meeting minutes from the March 2009 Olympic Peninsula Chapter meeting click here

Navy Keyport Range Expansion Comments Due March 11, 2009

The Navy is proposing to expand it's Pacific Northwest Training Range Complex to include the Olympic Coast Marine Sanctuary and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal and Puget Sound.

Activities proposed for the range include the use of sonar, bombs, new weapons systems, an undersea minefield, manned and un-manned vehicles, multi-million dollar aircraft, guided missle submarines, explosive ordnance disposal and more.

If implemented, the Navy's plans will intensify the level of noise, violent explosions and hazardous materials released into the marine environment. Pollutants that will be expended in the proposed excercises include a long list of heavy metals and chemicals such as depleted uranium, lead, mercury and perchlorate. The Navy also wants to increase its use of active sonar, which has been implicated in marine mammal injuries and deaths.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this proposal was released by the Navy in December, 2008. The public comment period ends March 11, 2009.

Here are links to the Navy's documents, EIS, and comment form:

http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Documents.aspx

http:// www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/

http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx

Please take the time to voice your opinion on the Navy's proposed expansion into our coastal waters.

Thanks to OPC Volunteers-Twin Rivers Cleanup

OPC Surfrider wants to thank the following chapter members for donating their time and labor to clean up the beach at Twin Rivers this weekend:

Sarah and Eric Waterkotte
Darryl Wood
Arnold Schouten
Kendra Parks

Altogether they collected 15+ bags of garbage, glass, plastic and aluminum that will now not end up in the surf zone.

We owe a huge debt of appreciation for these volunteers for improving our local surf environment. Thank you.

Dave Parks
Chair
Olympic Peninsula Chapter

Twin Rivers Beach Cleanup-Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 10:00 am

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be having a beach cleanup at Twin Rivers on Saturday, February 21, 2009, at 10:00 am.

We will meet at the parking lot between East and West Twin Rivers at 10:00 am and walk the beach and parking area picking up trash.

We will then move up to the adjacent La Farge property and have an orientation on our monitoring points and inspection route. We will also cover the data reporting forms.

Please dress appropriately (rain gear, mud boots, gloves) and bring lunch and water.

It should be good time!

Hope to see you there. If you have any questions please give Dave Parks a call at 360-480-7312.

Westport Jetty Renewal Project

The Army Corps of Engineers has published a report on the basics of the Westport Jetty Project. Click here to see the Army Corps' presentation on the Westport Jetty Project.