Navy completes draft of Nevada bombing range expansion

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The Associated Press

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150903-N-SS390-266 FALLON, Nev. (Sept. 3, 2015) F-35C Lightning IIs, attached to the Grim Reapers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, and an F/A-18E/F Super Hornets attached to the Naval Aviation Warfighter Development Center (NAWDC) fly over Naval Air Station Fallon’s (NASF) Range Training Complex. VFA 101, based out of Eglin Air Force Base, is conducting an F-35C cross-country visit to NASF. The purpose is to begin integration of F-35C with the Fallon Range Training Complex and work with NAWDC to refine tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) of F-35C as it integrates into the carrier air wing. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Darin Russell/Released)

LAS VEGAS — The Navy has completed a draft plan to expand the size of its Nevada bombing range.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Navy officials want to add as much as 967 square miles (2,505 square kilometers) of federal land and more than 100 square miles (about 260 square kilometers) of private land to the Fallon Range Training Complex about 350 miles (560 kilometers) northwest of Las Vegas.

The proposed expansion includes parts of Churchill, Lyon, Mineral, Nye and Pershing counties.

Starting Friday, the public will have 60 days to submit input on the draft as part of a comment period, which will last through Jan. 15 and include seven public meetings in northern and central Nevada next month.

At least one environmental group is already pushing back against the expansion.

All naval strike aviation units train at Fallon before deployment.

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