{"id":27406,"date":"2018-12-08T19:33:26","date_gmt":"2018-12-08T19:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/08\/conservationists-spearhead-opposition-to-navy-bombing-range-expansion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:28:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:28:53","slug":"conservationists-spearhead-opposition-to-navy-bombing-range-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/12\/08\/conservationists-spearhead-opposition-to-navy-bombing-range-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservationists spearhead opposition to Navy bombing range expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RENO, Nev. \u2014 Conservationists are leading opposition to a proposal to triple the size of a U.S. military bombing range and training grounds in northern Nevada in a move that could gobble up more than 900 square miles (2,330 square kilometers) of public land across five counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy wants to add as more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) of private land to the Fallon Range Training Complex <\/a>60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Reno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy officials say the additional space is needed to safely provide more realistic training using today’s faster, more advanced aircraft and weaponry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But critics say it could have ramifications for hunters, ATV riders<\/a>, backcountry explorers and wildlife, all of which could face access restrictions on public land the Navy would use for newly expanded bombing and training ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis would blow a hole through the middle of the Great Basin desert, literally,\u201d said Patrick Donnelly, Nevada state director for the Center for Biological Diversity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t