Environmentalists decry Navy training plan

SEATTLE, March 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy says it wants to increase practice exercises off the West Coast, drawing criticism from environmental groups and some scientists.

Opponents have asked for further scrutiny of the exercises before the Navy proposal goes forward, The Seattle Times reported Sunday.

The newspaper noted that during training exercises, sailors drop bombs, fire missiles and launch torpedoes during in parts of the Northwest Training Range Complex, which runs along the West Coast from Washington to Northern California.

The Navy plans to increase the number of practice activities it performs each year to 11,000, up from 7,300, the report said.

"The Navy has a mandate to train and equip sailors before going into combat," said Kimberly Kler, an environmental planner and coordinator of the project's review. "This is realistic training for them."

Critics say they want the environmental effects of increased training runs examined thoroughly, especially because the training range covers the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary off the Washington coast.

The current environmental impact report lacks specific information on training activities, said Terrie Klinger, a University of Washington associate professor of marine affairs and chairwoman of the sanctuary's advisory council.

"We don't know the numbers or what they might be, so we can't ascertain what the impacts might be," Klinger said.