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Mar. 27, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Plan to close Tonopah Test Range criticized

STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Nye County Commission Chairwoman Joni Eastley appealed this week for the government's nuclear weapons agency to keep open its flight testing base at the Tonopah Test Range.

"Our county has served the nation's defense needs at every turn," Eastley said. "We have yet to shy away from doing our patriotic duty.

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    • "All that we have ever asked is that we be treated with fairness and respect."

    Eastley delivered comments at a public hearing Tuesday on plans to reconfigure the nation's nuclear weapons complex that includes the Nevada Test Site and the remote Tonopah proving ground 140 miles north of Las Vegas.

    Saying its facilities are too old and too numerous, the National Nuclear Security Administration proposes to downsize the network of laboratories and weapons dismantlement factories that played key roles in the Cold War.

    Among a host of recommendations, the agency plans to shift its testing of components in air-dropped bombs from the 280-square-mile Tonopah range to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico or to the Nevada Test Site.

    In a short presentation, Eastley, echoed comments delivered at a public meeting earlier this month in Tonopah. Eastley said relocating NNSA flight testing to New Mexico would devastate Tonopah, resulting in the loss of as many as 135 jobs and an economic loss of $153 million annually.

    "But that doesn't tell the whole story," she said.

    Family members are active as county search-and-rescue workers and volunteer firefighters. Some are teachers. Others belong to parent-teacher organizations.

    "They operate family-owned businesses," she said. "They fill critical positions in our county and state offices."

    Eastley said she reluctantly would support moving the Tonopah mission to the Nevada Test Site "because the jobs would stay in Nye County."

    But she urged that the government ensure that benefits of that move would accrue to Nye County. She said federal investments customarily migrate to Clark County which "bears no burden in return for this benefit."

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    LMK wrote on March 27, 2008 08:42 PM: The reason is...they are educated and don't feel like talking to the rednecks in Nye County, present company included! Where's Ensign? He's one of you isn't he? Patriotism, yeah, how much money did Tonopah get from that fat defense contract. That's the only reason you "muckers" are still around to gripe. Go out and get an education...they maybe you'll stop worrying about "them gays".


    Nye Co. needs support wrote on March 27, 2008 01:04 PM: Where is the help from Washington on keeping this in Nye county? We have read recently of Shelley Berkeley marching with gays. "Stinky" Reid is always whining about something. But where are they now? They rarely are fighting for the Nevadans who need someone to fight for them.

    Tonopah and the outlying counties have been there for this country. When the Stealth fighter was being developed and tested, they supported and kept mum on the top secret activity. They are true patriots. Nevada's small towns and communities are at risk of extinction without someone taking a stand in support of them.

    Where are you Harry Reid, Shelley Berkely, John Ensign, and Jon Porter. This is Nevada calling --- we need help. Are only the powerful unions and liberal agenda's worthy of attention?


    Ron wrote on March 27, 2008 10:45 AM: This country hasn't tested a nuclear weapon in over ten years. How many people crying over this are otherwise ranting about the evils of government.


    Steven wrote on March 27, 2008 07:17 AM: Hope this doesn't happen, then Tonopah would truly become a "Ghost Town".