Navy Meetings in Ukiah, Fort Bragg and Eureka

At the request of Congressman Mike Thompson (D-North Coast), Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, December 9 from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Mendocino Board of Supervisors Chambers in Ukiah.
Dr. Lubchenco will be taking comments from constituencies regarding such issues as the new National Ocean Policy and Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning initiative, fishing catch shares, salmon fishery issues, and other topics of local interest. Speakers from various entities are invited to make a short presentation and there will be time to respond to written questions.
“This is a time of great urgency and strong hope for the oceans,” said Dr. Lubchenco to a group during Capitol Hill Ocean Week, adding, “I have had the pleasure of visiting communities on coastlines all around our country. During listening sessions with citizens representing a broad array of interests, I paid special attention to trying to understand what Americans want from their oceans and coasts.”
“I’m pleased that Dr. Lubchenco has agreed to come and listen to the concerns of the residents of our district regarding these important issues,” said Congressman Thompson. “The ocean and rivers of our district are essential to the well-being and prosperity of the families and the economy of the North Coast.”
A marine ecologist and environmental scientist, Dr. Lubchenco became the first woman administrator of NOAA in March, 2009.  Her scientific expertise includes oceans, climate change and interactions between the environment and people. Raised in Denver, she received a B.A. degree in biology from Colorado College, a M.S. in zoology from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in ecology from Harvard University.
She subsequently taught at Harvard and then Oregon State University while actively studying marine ecosystems around the world and championing the importance of science and its relevance to policy making and human well-being.
Dr. Lubchenco has provided scientific input to multiple U.S. Administrations and Congress on climate, fisheries, marine ecosystems and biodiversity. As one of the ‘most highly cited’ ecologists in the world, Dr. Lubchenco has served on the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and academies of science in Britain, Europe and Chile. She has received numerous awards including a MacArthur (‘genius’) Fellowship.

At the request of Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley), representatives from the United States Navy will also hold public meetings regarding the Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC) on Wednesday, December 15th from 5:00-7:00 pm at theWharfinger Building in Eureka, and on Thursday, December 16th   from 5:00-7:00 pm at Pentecost Hall at 822 Stewart Street in Fort Bragg.
“I requested that the Navy come to the North Coast to provide information for the community and answer their questions regarding the NWTRC,” said Congressman Thompson. “A highly trained Navy, transparency regarding planned activities off our coast, and protection of marine life are not mutually exclusive.”
The NWTRC is one of many Navy Range Complexes used for training of operational forces, equipment and other military activities. Based at Whidbey Island, near Puget Sound in Washington, the Navy has been training in the NWTRC since World War II. The bulk of the air, surface and subsurface activity takes place in waters off the state of Washington, but the scope of influence covers approximately 122,400 nautical miles and extends from Washington to the southern tip of Humboldt. Training exercises vary in scope and effect, and in California, are carried out between 12 and 250 miles offshore.
For more information contact Congressman Thompson’s office at 707-962-0933 in Fort Bragg or 707-269-9595 in Eureka.