Federal council to look at sonar, explosives testing dispute

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — A federal preservation council plans to look at a dispute between the Navy and Washington state over planned sonar and explosives training and testing.

The Peninsula Daily News reports that the testing area includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well as northwestern Washington's Puget Sound and southeastern Alaska's Behm Canal.

State Historic Preservation Officer Allyson Brooks says she was stunned when the Navy said in a letter last week that it was finished consulting with her on the potential impacts of testing.

The letter said no specific objections had been raised regarding an environmental impact statement that says sonar and explosives training and testing at the sites will have no adverse effect.

A federal official says the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will look at the situation.