Indian Springs residents don’t mind Nellis range

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 9:31 a.m.

But the residents want pilots to stop buzzing schools and horses in the town that owes its existence to a small air base used by pilots who fly over the Nellis Air Force Base range.

That was the general tone of comments as Air Force officials traveled to the small community about 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas for the first of seven public hearings around the state.

The hearings are designed to air the pros and cons of keeping 3 million acres out of public hands so it can be used for training exercises.

The Air Force is asking Congress to extend the withdrawal of the land that stretches between state highways 95 and 93 from the northern edge of Las Vegas to Tonopah.

The area has been used by fighter pilots since its withdrawal in 1940 as the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, and the Air Force is asking for either indefinite withdrawal of the land or up to 25 years of withdrawal with periodic reviews.

Residents who attended Monday night's meeting in Indian Springs said they would like a place to complain to when pilots buzz the town, and one horse owner said his horses have been spooked by the planes.

Col. Bill Percival, commander of the range management office for Indian Springs, told residents attending the meeting that the Air Force needs the airspace to train.

"The 3 million acres we are asking to retain are absolutely critical for that mission," Percival said.

While 3 percent of the land in question gets buzzed, bombed or strafed, the other 97 percent remains as pristine habitat for native plants and animals.

In addition, without the secure training area, 7,100 people in Clark County and another 300 in Nye County, which includes Indian Springs, would lose their jobs if the land were withdrawn.