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Corrective Actions Home | Program CorrespondenceSite Summaries | Agreement | Historic Photos | IRP Reports 
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July 23, 2009 — Naval Air Station Fallon Restoration Advisory Board Meeting [44 Pages -- 3.64MB] July 16, 2008 — Naval Air Station Fallon Restoration Advisory Board Meeting [38 Pages -- 5MB] August 2006 — Naval Air Station Fallon, Fact Sheet — Installation Restoration Program 2006 / 2007 (12 pages Adobe PDF File - 1.2MB) |
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Background:
It was during World War II that construction on the airfield was initiated for what would become the Naval Air State at Fallon, Nevada (NAS Fallon). As might be expected, this federal facility has grown over time as operations have expanded -- today, NAS Fallon operates and maintains a complete airfield facility which, in conjunction with its associated bombing ranges and special use airspace, provides visiting squadrons and air wings with ordnance, fuel, air traffic control, berthing, messing, and related elements necessary for air wing training  Recently, a new hangar, ramp and academic building were constructed to accommodate the move of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (Top Dome) to Fallon. NAS Fallon is currently the only Navy facility where advanced integrated Carrier Air Wing strike training can take place. A Seabee construction unit and reserve adversary strike fighter squadron also relocated to Fallon in 1996.
Environmental Activities and Concerns Groundwater underlying Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon exists at a very shallow depth, and is generally considered nonpotable due to high concentrations of dissolved minerals. Shallow groundwater may discharge to drainage canals located at the boundaries of the base during periods when flow in the drainage canals is low. In turn, contaminated groundwater could impact the quality of surface water in the drainage canals which may adversely impact aquatic environments including the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. Consequently, groundwater contamination is a principal concern at NAS Fallon. A Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) Report was completed for NAS Fallon during April 1988. This report identifies potential threats to human health or the environmental caused by past hazardous substance storage, handling, or disposal practices at NAS Fallon. A total of 27 sites were identified and assessed in the PA/SI Report. Based on data collected during the PA/SI, 21 of these sites presented a potential threat to human health or the environment and were recommended for a more detailed characterization under a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) program. The RI/FS Report, which presents results of the site characterizations, was completed in September 1994. Contaminated groundwater was identified under six sites. Contaminants identified included petroleum hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels), chlorinated solvents (trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, tetrachloro-ethene), and minor amounts of pesticides (pentachlorophenol). Currently, a feasibility study is being conducted for the six RI/FS Sites to evaluate if contaminants will naturally biodegrade, and additional characterization work is being completed for three other RI/FS sites which are abandoned landfills. One RI/FS site has been closed. In June 1998, a draft Record of Decision (ROD) was submitted by the Navy to the NDEP for review. A ROD is a comprehensive document which describes the selection of a site-specific remedy and carefully shows that the decision being reached is consistent with the National Contingency Plan. The draft ROD submitted by the Navy to the NDEP in June 1998 specified "No Further Action" as the selected remedial alternative for eleven sites that were included in the RI/FS program and for six sites that were described in the PA/SI Report, but not included in the RI/FS program. The NDEP did not concur with the ROD due to a lack of supporting information presented in the ROD and to a lack of supporting documentation provided to the NDEP. The NDEP provided detailed comments for each of the 17 sites in the draft ROD. (See Program Correspondence above) Public Land Withdrawals Public land withdrawals are parcels of federally administered land which have been withdrawn from public use and reserved for military activities. Over 127,000 acres of public land has been withdrawn to support military training at NAS Fallon. The withdrawan land encompass the ranges which comprise the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). NAS Fallon and the FRTC are located in the Carson Desert and surrounding valleys of Churchill County in west-central Nevada. The base is about 70 miles east of Reno and 6 miles southeast of the City of Fallon. NAS Fallon controls 5 air-to-ground training ranges:
Special Use Airspace (SUA) controlled by NAS Fallon includes nine restricted areas, seven military operations areas (MOAs), and five air traffic control assigned airspace (ATCCA) areas. Restricted areas are located above and extend beyond the boundaries of the associated ranges or targets. Civilian air traffic is either prohibited or tightly controlled in SUAs. The restricted area over B-16, R-4803 South, includes approximately 113 square miles which overlie public land that is not withdrawn. R-4804, the restricted areas over B-17, includes approximately 87 square miles which overlie public land that in not withdrawn. The restricted area over B-19, R-4810, includes approximately 93 square miles which overlie public land that is not withdrawn. R-4813, one of the restricted areas over B-20, includes approximately 531 square miles which overlie public land that in not withdrawn. Restricted area R-4812, associated with both B-17 and B-19, includes approximately 175 squares miles which overlie public land that is not withdrawn. NAS Fallon recently concluded a major land withdrawal (approximately 130,000 acres) as well as selected expansion of military SUA. The referenced land withdrawal received congressional approval, and the significant additions to SUAs were approval by the FAA. |
