Take Action to Protect Olympic National Park From Aircraft Noise

August 21, 2021

Marmot Pass in The Olympics Take Action to Protect Olympic National Park From Aircraft Noise   The National Park Service is required to protect the natural sounds of Olympic National Park from commercial air tours. Back in 2000, Congress directed the NPS and Federal Aviation Administration to develop plans to protect our national parks from commercial air tour noise.  But after twenty years no plans had been completed, so a federal court has now ordered the two agencies to do plans at 24 parks with air tours, including ONP. To be clear, these plans will only control commercial air tours directly over these parks (5,000 feet above the ground and within ½ mile of the park boundary), and not apply to airlines, military or private planes.  It's meant to regulate those who market up-close views of the parks from the air.  But those noisy low level flights can interrupt wildlife and those who seek a park experience free from unnecessary motor noise overhead.  These air tour operations are not park concessions and not serving park visitors or providing any revenue to our parks. Unfortunately, the draft plan for ONP fails to protect the tranquility of this UNESCO designated treasure.  Please click on the button below, it will send you to a website where you can comment.  Do this by August 28 and be sure to make the following points: 1) Why are there no alternatives to existing air tour levels? Why isn't a "no air tour" alternative being considered?  Commercial air tours are currently banned at Crater Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park and a ban should be considered here as well.  2)  Why is there no mention of protecting the natural sound levels that these plans are meant to protect?      3)  Why are low level air tours even proposed when they could impair park values and resources according to the plans themselves? 4)  Remind the FAA and the NPS that "95% of Olympic National Park is designated wilderness and that its unique qualities have earned it a  UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve designation.  And, the Park serves as habitat for numerous federally-listed threatened and endangered species like the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet that are likely to be disrupted by aircraft noise.   Comment Here by August 28 The NPS is also holding a virtual meeting on the draft plan.  Unfortunately, it takes place only a few days before comments are due and public comments are not being taken at that time.  To register for the virtual meeting click below:   Virtual Public Meeting Our State Parks Are For Public Recreation, Not Military Training This summer, many of you have enjoyed bird watching, hiking, kayaking, picnicking, camping, or simply soaking up nature in one or more Washington state parks. But let's not forget that these wonderful parks are at risk of becoming covert warfare training grounds for the U.S. military, placing our public parks and the environment at risk while shifting the financial liability for this training onto Washington State taxpayers.   In order to halt this incongruous use of our state parks, Not In Our Parks (NiOP)—supported by volunteers like you—is taking steps to overturn the Washington State Parks Commission decision to allow covert military warfare training in up to 28 state parks.   Preventing military training in state parks depends on the widespread support and actions of people, like yourself, to make it clear to government officials that we do not want our state parks to be military training grounds.   Click on the button below to find out how you can  help overturn this misguided decision.   Not In Our Parks