Statement provided by the U.S. Navy regarding the Record of Decision for the Fallon Range Training Complex Modernization Environmental Impact Statement Available
The U.S. Navy has announced its decision to select Alternative 3, the Navy’s preferred alternative, from the Fallon Range Training Complex Modernization Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), dated January 2020. This alternative will support the Navy’s request for a legislative proposal in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 for Congressional action and Presidential approval for renewal of the current federal land withdrawal and withdrawal of additional federal land to expand the range. Alternative 3 also requires the acquisition of non-federal land, of which the Department of the Navy has included $29 million in military construction appropriations in its budget request for Fiscal Year 2021 as the first phase of a multi-year plan totaling approximately $259 million.
The Fallon Range Training Complex is the Navy’s premier aviation training range, supporting aviation and ground training, including live-fire training. The Navy trains 100 percent of deploying naval aviation and naval special warfare units at the Fallon Range Training Complex. The training conducted here is critical for defending and securing the United States and its interests abroad. However, the ranges have not changed substantially in size or configuration since the 1990s. The operating parameters of modern aircraft and weapons have exceeded the current capabilities of the Fallon Range Training Complex.
In making this decision, the Navy carefully weighed its strategic and operational needs; potential impacts on the human, natural, and cultural environment; and comments from government officials and agencies, Tribes, and the public on the proposal and environmental analysis. The Navy selected Alternative 3 because it best balances the Navy’s operational needs while minimizing environmental impacts. The Navy will implement management practices, monitoring, and mitigation measures to reduce potential adverse effects on the public and the environment. Some of the more notable commitments include an ethnographic study and Class III pedestrian surveys of expanded Bravo ranges; establishing additional noise sensitive areas and airspace exclusion zones; studying Pole Line Road access replacement or alternative ingress/egress options; and hiring additional staff to facilitate conservation activities, land management, coordinating access, and Tribal relations. Also, the Navy will develop and implement agreements to allow managed access to live-fire (Bravo) ranges for Tribal access, hunting, natural resources management, fire suppression, ceremonies, and other events. The Navy will notify and make payments to holders of mining claims impacted by the modernization and will make payments to federal grazing permit holders for losses suffered by the permit holders as a result of the withdrawal.
“We appreciate the efforts and participation of all stakeholders, especially the Tribes, to address concerns with the expansion of the range and the withdrawal of additional lands,” stated Todd Mellon, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations, Energy, and Environment. “While this Record of Decision does not provide a specific solution to each and every concern, some of which have lingered for decades, we are committed to continuing the strong collaboration with our partners that we have developed over the past years to resolve these concerns.”
With the implementation of the modernization, the Fallon Range Training Complex significantly enhances the aviation and ground training for a wide range of mission capabilities into the foreseeable future. Modernization allows the use of precision-guided weapons to their required capabilities by Navy aviators, and use of the full complement of weapons by Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) teams during ground training. It also protects the capabilities of the aviation electronic warfare range, and modifies existing special use airspace to accommodate the additional training capabilities created by modernizing the range complex. In this regard, the Navy’s selected alternative, Alternative 3, supports the Navy’s execution of its Congressionally mandated roles and responsibilities under 10 U.S.C. Section 8062 and 10 U.S.C. Section 167.
The completion of the Record of Decision and Final EIS follows years of research, analysis, and public involvement. The Navy held seven scoping meetings in 2016 and seven public meetings in 2018 to provide information and obtain public input. The Navy also held a public informational meeting in January 2020 after the Final EIS was released. The Navy carefully considered all public comments submitted during the EIS process.
Availability of Record of Decision:
The Record of Decision and Final EIS are available online at www.FRTCModernization.com and at the following public libraries:
Austin Branch Library, 88 Main St., Austin, NV 89310.
Carson City Library, 900 N. Roop St., Carson City, NV 89701.
Churchill County Library, 553 S. Maine St., Fallon, NV 89406.
Crescent Valley Branch Library, 5045 Tenabo Ave., Crescent Valley, NV 89821.
Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center St., Reno, NV 89501.
Eureka Branch Library, 80 S. Monroe St., Eureka, NV 89316.
If you have questions or require additional information, please visit www.FRTCModernization.com or contact the Fallon Range Training Complex Modernization EIS project manager at:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, Attention: Code EV21.LD, 1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, 5th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132
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