Although the current lease for Naval Air Station Fallon was extended in early December when congress passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act 84-13 in the Senate and 335-78 in the House, the Fallon Range Training Complex expansion request was not approved. In a statement last week, Nevada Senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, D-NV, said the extension of the current lease for NAS Fallon for 25 years was included in the final conference version of the Act.
“I’ve always supported the status-quo extension of the U.S. military’s presence at the Nevada Test and Training Range and NAS Fallon, and I’m glad to see this resolution included in the FY2021 NDAA. It’s vital that we support our military, as well as our local economies, while also preserving our public lands and sacred tribal sites across Nevada,” said Senator Masto.
The current Navy footprint covers 234,124 acres of land across Churchill County and Northern Nevada, and that lease was extended for 25 years. The Navy request to expand the range and withdraw an additional 604,789 acres of public land was not included.
The Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe has maintained opposition to the Navy expansion saying the proposal fails to address concerns of local tribes. Former tribal Chairman Len George said in a statement in October, “We have long opposed expansion, because it would allow bombing on our ancestral lands and deprive the Tribe of access to areas that are essential to our culture and way of life. The Navy has already destroyed our origin site at Fox Peak with its target practice, and bombed our most important medicine rock, which is now located in the Bravo-20 range. The expansion proposal deepens these wounds and threatens similar harms over hundreds of thousands of acres.”
A statement issued by military personnel at NAS Fallon said, “Modernizing the Fallon Range Training Complex is needed to safely provide more realistic training using today’s faster, more advance aircraft and weaponry. We continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders involved in the process, including tribal leadership, local and state officials, other federal partners, miners, ranchers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and the citizens of Nevada.”
County Manager Jim Barbee reported at the County Commission meeting Wednesday, that the Navy intends to continue to pursue the expansion. In a letter sent earlier this year to the congressional delegation, Commissioners voiced concerns with the Navy process, documenting efforts to resolve issues through the environmental process.
During the past year, commissioners have worked with the Navy on a lands bill that would mitigate community concerns with the expansion and provide for economic development opportunities, creating two national conservation areas, three wilderness areas, and consolidate checkerboard land throughout the community.
Congressman Mark Amodei introduced the legislation in May, as the Northern Nevada Economic Development, Conservation, and Military Modernization Act of 220, H.R. 6889.
Barbee said the next NDAA should happen sometime in June of 2021 and the Navy has requested certain hearings already relative to the expansion of the base.
During their meeting Wednesday, Commissioners approved an extension of the contract with Cassidy and Associates, a lobbying firm in Washington D.C. that works on behalf of the county. Barbee said the firm will work on the expansion issue and will support efforts toward the lands bill in terms of implementation as the process moves forward.
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