Air Force Wants 5,000 Acres in Eastern Oregon for New Radar Project
Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it is seeking public comments on the US Air Force Whitehorse Ranch Project proposal, which would set aside approximately 5,000 acres of public lands near Fields in Malheur County for 20 years, and grant the Secretary of the Air Force administrative jurisdiction over the property.
Whitehorse Ranch Over The Horizon Radar Project Proposed In Malheur County
A notice of application for withdrawal and public meeting is expected to be published in today’s Federal Register for what is known as the Whitehorse Ranch Project.
The publication serves as formal notice of the BLM’s plans to set aside the lands for a period of two years while the Air Force develops an environmental impact statement and the BLM processes the application.
If the application is ultimately approved, the Air Force could construct, operate, and maintain an over-the-horizon homeland defense radar system. The land would be set aside for Air Force use and fall under the exclusive authority of the Secretary of the Air Force.
The land would be withdrawn from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including US mining laws, mineral, and geothermal leasing laws, but subject to valid existing rights, and reserved for military purposes.
The Air Force and the BLM plan to host a public meeting to provide additional information about the proposed project; however, the details have not been announced yet. If you have any comments about the proposed Whitehorse Ranch Radar project:
Email BLM Realty Specialist Luke Poff at [email protected] (preferred)
Mail Luke Poff at BLM Oregon/Washington State Office (BLM OR-936.1) to 1220 SW 3rd Ave., 11th Floor; Portland, OR 97204.
For more information about the project, contact Luke Poff at [email protected] or 503-808-6249.