Coastal Commission and SWEF

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

I continue to be amazed at the actions of the California Coastal Commission with respect to the Surface Warfare Engineering Facility. Having spent the past four years working at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, which operates the SWEF, I am familiar with operations there.

Radar testing operations have been conducted at this site for more than 30 years, even before the current building was constructed. The only documented impact anyone is aware of has been an increase in revenue for Ventura County.

The people who work there are radar experts who fully understand the risk and necessary precautions. These same people live in the community with their families, many of them in close proximity to the building.

The Navy has continually stated that the operations are safe. Although I applaud the concern for the environment, this particular dragon has been slain long enough. It is time for the Coastal Commission to find other windmills to chase.

P.K. BENFIELD

Oxnard

*

Kudos to the California Coastal Commission for requiring the Navy’s Surface Weapon Engineering Facility to do more tests. First the Navy can’t find the approval plans to put the building up, then the Navy wants to fly jets at it 100 feet off the ocean.

Let’s remember that the residential community next door was there long before SWEF. Is Silver Strand the only place in the world to put a radar test building?

Robert Lagomarsino [whose letter in support of the facility was published May 3] would scream if this monster building with all its radar went up next door to his house.

ROBERT LAUNIUS

Oxnard