State not interested in leasing Navy land for exercises



SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state has told the U.S. Navy it's not interesting in allowing state lands on the Olympic Peninsula to be used for electronic warfare exercises.

The Navy has proposed using mobile electronic emitters on three Department of Natural Resources sites so jet pilots could practice detecting those signals. The Navy had not yet applied for a permit.

In a letter sent Friday, Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark told the Navy the state didn't want to participate in this training exercise. He did not give a reason in the letter.

A Navy spokeswoman, Liane Nakahara, on Monday said the Navy is still reviewing the letter and did not know how it would proceed.

The Navy has also proposed using U.S. forest lands for its exercises. It says there's no safety issue for the public, wildlife or the environment.