CRITICAL ACTION ALERT: A big thank you to all who sent messages to Christy Goldfuss. Because of your letters, the White House’s Council for Environmental Quality is now VERY aware of the crisis unfolding on Olympic Peninsula. I am delighted to learn that the Forest Service has delayed their decision yet again...to “this spring”, giving us an additional “window of opportunity” to launch another critical letter-writing campaign. The timing is ripe: This year America celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Park System. Will 2016 also go down in history as the year we “handed over” one of its most popular National Parks to the military? As Director of the National Park Service, Jon Jarvis has the responsibility to protect America’s “Crown Jewels”. About our National Parks, he has stated: “You know, these are our cathedrals.” Yes --- these gorgeous, irreplaceable Parks are sacred lands. We must not allow them to be violated by violent "war practice". They were set aside to be protected forever from such desecration. Because personal letters carry MUCH more weight than petitions, I am asking each one of you to take a few minutes and contact Director Jarvis. Your message can be short, but we need thousands! Be clear in your request: NO Electronic Warfare Range on Olympic Peninsula! With Olympic National Park as its heart, its a TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE place to practice dangerous --- and deafening --- warfare exercises. Be sure to cc your emails to the decision-makers below. When it was discovered by the public that their current training range in Mountain Home, Idaho is only a 20-minute commute for the pilots, Navy representatives dropped their explanations of "saving money on gas" and "keeping their pilots closer to home".  They quickly changed their public statements, claiming that the Olympic Peninsula’s “special terrain” was needed. Yet their own Commander --- who is in charge of training the pilots --- disagrees: http://vimeo.com/118631144 When asked what would they do if the Forest Service permit was NOT granted?   Navy officials shrug their shoulders and reply that they would just "train elsewhere" and use simulators! http://vimeo.com/119469494 It is quite clear that the Navy can easily continue practicing at their Idaho range, on desolate lands that have already been degraded by the military. The Department of Defense owns millions of acres of such barren lands, many of which are under-utilized. Please share this critical ACTION ALERT with anyone and everyone who cares about the fate of our National Parks. If this Navy plan is approved, it will set a dangerous precedent: None of our National Parks will be safe from being turned into military “training ranges”. IMPORTANT: Be sure to cc your message to the critical decision-makers below. These individuals need to see that the people’s outcry is NOT diminishing! Email for Jon Jarvis, Director of America's National Park System: jon_jarvis@nps.gov cc: secretary_jewell@ios.doi.gov (Sally Jewell, Sec of Interior) chair@ceq.eop.gov (Christy Goldfuss, CEQ) leslie.jones@osec.usda.gov (UnderSecretary Bonnie's staff) ttidwell@fs.fed.us (USFS Chief, Tom Tidwell) Also, its very important for President Obama to hear from all of us at this time. Send him a copy of your message: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact THANK YOU for adding your voice to save Olympic National Park! Pat SNAIL MAIL ADDRESSES: Jon Jarvis, Director National Park Service 1849 C St. NW Washington, DC 20240 Sally Jewell, Secretary Dept of the Interior 1849 C St. NW Washington DC 20240 Christy Goldfuss Council on Environmental Quality 722 Jackson Place NW Washington DC 20503 Leslie Jones, (assistant to UnderSecretary Bonnie) 1400 Independence Ave NW Jamie L. Whitten Bldg Suite 240 E Washington DC 20250 Tom Tidwell, Chief US Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington DC 20250-1111 President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington DC 20500