Navy Wants Fallon Range Training Complex to Undergo Modernization

The U.S. Navy is planning to modernize its Naval Air Station Fallon Range Training Complex. It’s seeking public input on the possible changes at seven information sessions. 

The first of seven informational meetings started Monday afternoon in Fallon, where officials shared their plans and heard community concerns. However, there's mix reaction from residents. Some just wanted to get informed about the Navy's plans, while other people like ranchers were worried about their land being taken away.

David Stix Jr, the President of the Nevada Cattleman's Association said, "If this is going to go through and there's going to be no compromise to help the rancher, then they need to sit down and talk about proper compensation for water rights, for property."

Ivan Evans, a resident from Fallon said, "We stick up for the Navy and love them and there's nothing that we could complain about."

The U.S. Navy is currently preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) associated with the modernization of the Fallon Range Training Complex. Under the plan, roads could be potentially moved and land and mining rights would be evaluated.

Modernization plans include land range expansion through additional land withdrawal and land acquisition, airspace modifications, and public land withdrawal renewal. The modernization is required because advances in warfare technology have outpaced the size and configuration of the ranges, hindering the Navy from fully sustaining realistic aviation and ground training.

Capt. David Halloran, from NAS Fallon said, "Find is there a win win solution that we can come up with in order to make sure that our training airplanes and pilots are properly prepared when  they go into combat and see in a realistic environment."

The Navy's proposed action includes renewal of the existing 202,859-acre public land withdrawal that expires on Nov. 5, 2021; the withdraw and reserve for military use of approximately 604,789 acres of additional public land; acquisition of approximately 65,160 acres of non-federal land; expansion of associated Special Use Airspace, as well as reconfiguration of existing airspace; and modification of range infrastructure to support modernization. The aviation and ground training to be conducted in the modernized Fallon Range Training Complex would be of the same general types and at the same tempos analyzed in Alternative 2 of the Final EIS for Military Readiness Activities at Fallon Range Training Complex (completed in December 2015).

The Bureau of Land Management, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. 

Open house information sessions will be held at the following locations: 

•           Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Fallon Convention Center, 100 Campus Way, Fallon, NV 89406.

•           Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Pershing County Community Center, 820 6th Street, Lovelock, NV 89419.

•           Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, 1301 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512.

•           Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Emma Nevada Town Hall, 135 Court Street, Austin, NV 89310.

•           Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eureka Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room, 431 McCoy Street, Eureka, NV 89316.

•           Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Hawthorne Convention Center, 950 E Street, Hawthorne, NV 89415.

•           Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Gabbs School Gymnasium, 511 E Avenue, Gabbs, NV 89409.

Each of the seven information sessions will begin with a brief presentation about the project, followed by an open house with information stations staffed by Navy and cooperating agency representatives.

Comments pertaining to the U.S. Navy's proposed action and/or environmental issues should be sent to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest; Attention: Code EV21.AK; 1220 Pacific Highway; Building 1, 5th Floor; San Diego, CA 92132, or submitted online at www.FRTCModernization.com. 

Additional information is also available at www.FRTCModernization.com. All written comments must be postmarked or received online by Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, to be considered in the Draft EIS.

The secretary of the Navy will make a final decision in 2020, and if approved, the plan would go into effect several years after that.