Judge Denies Injunction Request To Halt Loud Whidbey Growlers

A federal judge has denied an injunction request from a Whidbey Island group that would have prevented Navy jets from landing at a strip near Coupeville, Washington.

The group says the noise from EA-18 Growler jet training flights is harmful.

In the spring they asked a federal judge to stop the landings until the Navy completes a new environmental assessment, which is due next year.

In his 29-page ruling U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly said the Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve didn't establish a "likelihood of success on the merits, has not sufficiently demonstrated that its members will suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction, and has not shown that the balance of equities or the public interest weigh in its favor."

In a release officials at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island said they were pleased with the ruling and that work on the environmental impact statement continues.

Cathryn Andrews of the Citizens of Ebey's Reserve said they're drafting a response.

Photo credit: "130202-N-VZ328-193," by U.S. Pacific Fleet on Flickr (CC BY NC 2.0)