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Our mission is to protect the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the region, including the marine, migratory and endangered species, and to preserve the historic northwest communities being threatened by military jet training flights.

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October 2012

Alerted Community About EIS

The Environmental Impact Statement for the new Growler jets indicated 'Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI.) COER

increased public awareness of this, and what it would mean to the community.

June 2013

Demanded a Proper EIS

We sent an official demand to the Navy to conduct a proper EIS with current, honest flight expectations, and actual noise

measurements instead of outdated estimates.

June 2013

Independent Noise Tests

Since the EIS hadn't bothered to include actual noise tests, we hired JGL Acoustics to find the real numbers. We

publicized the results of the "Lilly Report" - which were much higher than Navy estimates.

July 2013

Lawsuit Filed vs. Navy

We filed a lawsuit with the District Court against the Navy. Flights stopped for the rest of the year.

August 2014

Fighting the Navy's Expansion Request

Flights resumed, and the Navy made a request to drastically increase their training operations. COER responded publicly,

informing other government agencies and communities affected by the proposal.

April 2015

Injunction vs. Flights

We filed for a preliminary injunction to stop training flights until a proper EIS was completed.

November, 2016

Alerted and Supported the Community: Water Contamination

Spread the word about water contamination caused by the Navy, supported the formation of new water protection groups

2018

Helped Form Sound Defense Alliance

We joined other grass-roots groups to resist the new Growler expansion plans.

February 2019

Navy Announces Devastating New Flight Schedule

Increased to four times the rate despite strong citizen opposition.

June 2019

2020 National Defense Act to address jet noise

Rep. Larsen adds provisions to Defense Act to address jet noise. Read more...

July 2019

National Environmental Policy Act Lawsuits

COER and the Washington State AG file lawsuits against the U.S. Navy under National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA")

October 2019

COER and Washington State cases consolidated

February 2020

COER files Preliminary Injunction

COER files Preliminary Injunction seeking to roll back Growler training at the Coupeville OLF to pre-2019 levels until a final decision is made under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lawsuit against the Navy.

Campaign

Support the Lawsuit

Support The Lawsuit

COER anticipates moving forward on a NEPA challenge to the Navy’s final EIS. Since the Navy is a federal entity – we must challenge them in Federal Court, in Seattle.

The more success we have – the more costly it will be. We are raising money for not just the initial lawsuit, but to create an Appeals fund so we are able to go all the way with this battle.

Take Action

Be an Activist

Represent Local Citizens

We always need high participation in public meetings, protests, and comment submissions. Learn how to contact your Representatives and how to get their attention. Find an upcoming event or other opportunity to represent the concerns of our friends and neighbors.

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People

Volunteer with COER

Join the Team

Sometimes it seems like one person has no power to change anything. Joining a group of people with the same goals can amplify your voice and give us all the strength to affect change. But a nonprofit group cannot survive without the help of members to manage necessary tasks. Opportunities range from serving on the Board to helping with mailing campaigns, with just about everything in between. Do you have a skill or just time to offer? We would love to speak with you.

Become a Defender