The U.S. Navy holds an open house, presentation and public hearing Saturday at West Homer Elementary School on a draft environmental impact statement for Navy training in the Gulf of Alaska. The open house is from 5 to 7 p.m. with a presentation and opportunity for oral comments from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Public hearings also are being held in Kodiak, Anchorage, Juneau and Cordova.

The Navy has trained in the Gulf of Alaska in an area roughly between Kodiak and Yakutat and south of the Kenai Peninsula. Its proposed action would expand training, including:

* Increasing training activity from 14 to 21 days in the summer;

* Conducting anti-submarine warfare training exercises, including the use of active sonar;

* Putting in place training for new ships, submarines and aircraft and new weapons systems, including echo-ranging sonobuoys;

* Adding a second annual 21-day carrier strike group training exercise.

Three alternatives will be presented, from continuing training at the current level to expanding training. Joint training would be done with other military services, including the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard.

Some training proposed would use active sonar and explosives that could affect marine animals. According to an analysis by the Navy, there could be physiological and behavioral effects on marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals, but that does not take into account using protective measures.

A copy of the draft EIS is available online at www.GulfofAlaskaNavyEIS.com or in print form at the Homer Public Library. The Web site also has links to more information about specific topics as well as an online comment form.

Written comments are due Jan. 25 and can be mailed to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, attention Mrs. Amy Burt - Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.