Navy Radar Test Facility Expansion

Re “Coastal Panel Rejects Expansion of Navy’s Warfare Test Center,” April 15.

I am writing in support of the Surface Warfare Engineering Facility of the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Port Hueneme.

As a lifelong resident of Ventura County, a Navy veteran, a 19-year member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a 13-year member of the California state Senate, I am well aware of the vital contributions Point Mugu Naval Air Station, its air and sea ranges and the Port Hueneme naval base make to our national defense and to the economy of the Ventura County region.

SWEF is a vital part of our defense. It supports the safety, reliability and capability of ship-based weapon systems. It saves money by conducting simulated tests instead of using actual assets. It is safe.

In my opinion the Navy has, in good faith, more than cooperated in this matter. It has complied with all recommendations from the informal mediation team to enhance the safety at SWEF.

Further delays mean wasted taxpayer dollars, already in short supply for defense, and can adversely impact the ability of the Navy to carry out its mission: the national defense.

More importantly, further delay could put our young servicemen and servicewomen, who are already being called on to do more with fewer resources, in harm’s way.

I would urge the SWEF be approved as per the Navy’s request.

ROBERT LAGOMARSINO

Solimar Beach

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As a concerned citizen with some technical background in shipboard combat systems, I protest the additional requirements being placed on the U.S. Navy by the California Coastal Commission.

From reports in the local media and from my experience as a former employee at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, I know that the Navy has been more than cooperative and fair regarding this issue.

This latest demand by the Coastal Commission has gone beyond reason into the realm of vendetta, political correctness, being swayed by the most recent vocal minority, environmental activism, who knows?

It is time to hold the coastal commission accountable for its actions and the additional demands on the Navy regarding SWEF. These demands are at the expense of the citizens of California and the USA and are a delaying factor in the implementation of necessary upgrades to the facility and operations at SWEF. This delay will impact directly and indirectly the supplementing of the local economy due to lost dollars in wages and purchasing of materials and services. It also thwarts hidden savings to the U.S. taxpayer in the form of more efficient, effective and safe development and testing of new combat systems for the Navy.

How safe is safe? Enough.

ROLF RAILEY

Camarillo

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The California Coastal Commission continues to spend taxpayers’ money to place more and more demands on the Navy, in regards to the Surface Weapons Engineering Facility in Port Hueneme. A panel of independent scientists reported that the SWEF poses no threat to the coastal community, however, the coastal commission wants another study done, at additional costs to the taxpayer.

The Navy had met all the legal environmental mandates for the operation of the facility. What motive does the coastal commission have for continuing to cause the Navy more time and money keeping this thing going?

I am a longtime resident of Ventura County, having lived both in Oxnard (near the beach) and now in Camarillo. To my knowledge the Navy has always been a good and responsible neighbor.

JACKIE ARCHIBALD

Camarillo