U.S. Navy to Shut Down ELF, page 1

The US Navy has been operating two ELF facilities, Clam Lake in Wisconsin, the other near Escanaba State Forest in Michigan. I have only read a bit about the Extremely Low Frequency transmitter systems and its ability to penetrate sea water deeply enough to communicate with submerged subs, but I am more familiar with the controversy that has dogged the project. It seems from this report that ELF has outlived its usefulness and will be replaced by newer technology.

The Daily Press
The U.S. Navy has announced that it will shut down the controversial Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Communications System on September 30, ending operations at the Two ELF transmitter facilities located near Clam Lake and Michigan's Escanaba State Forest.
The announcement came Friday afternoon in a news release from the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.
"The Navy used the ELF system to maintain secure communications with submarines at sea. Improvements in the communications technology and the changing requirements of Today's Navy made the ELF communications system no longer necessary," said the news release.
A Navy spokesman said the decision to shut down ELF came out of an assessment concluding that improvements in technology made ELF unnecessary.

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The replacement technologies will be based around Very Low Frequency transmitters and satellite systems. The Navy thinks that these new methods of communication will get the job done, be easier on marine life, and have less risk of electromagnetic health effects, too.

More info
FAS.org - ELF
OSHA on ELF
ELF Defined

Other News Links
The Register