NAS Whidbey Island Plans Explosive Demolition, Simulated Gunfire Training in March

Residents near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island heard explosions on March 16 and simulated gunfire on March 20 as the base conducted back-to-back training evolutions at its Seaplane Base Survival Training Area, the Navy confirmed in an official release issued March 11.

The announcement, designated Release 26-12, stated the two separate exercises would unfold on consecutive weekdays: limited explosive demolition training on the Monday, followed by simulated gunfire the following Friday. Both operations were conducted during daylight hours, and the Navy said safety precautions were set to ensure ground operations posed no threat to neighboring property or persons.

The Seaplane Base Training Area sits at the eastern end of the Seaplane Base near Oak Harbor. A 2000 Environmental Assessment prepared for the Navy by EDAW, Inc. of Seattle described the facility's detonation enclosure as a 20-by-20-foot structure ringed by barricades standing 8 feet tall and 8 inches thick, built from materials including wood, plastic lumber, concrete, or sandbags, with a 12-inch layer of sand lining the interior. That assessment concluded that as long as detonations occur during favorable meteorological conditions, no adverse physiological effects are anticipated, and that cumulative impacts from the range's operation would not be significant.

The March training came one week after a separate base announcement that suspended the weekly aircraft carrier-based flight training window notice, citing ongoing global military operations and heightened operational security. The Navy said the suspension was not in response to a specific threat.

Residents with questions about the training can call the NAS Whidbey Island Public Affairs Office at (360) 257-2286. Those wishing to report noise concerns can use the base's dedicated comment line at (360) 257-6665 or email NASWI_Noise_Comments@us.navy.mil. The Navy asks that noise comments include the time and exact location of the event and as much detail as possible, along with contact information for tracking purposes.