The range includes 58,700 acres under consideration as federal wilderness. By law, Congress must approve the withdrawal of wilderness study areas and of any public lands of more than 5,000 acres. A practice bombing site will likely be placed between wilderness study areas, and pilots will not drop live bombs. But throughout the area will be supersonic overflights at 10,000 feet from the ground and subsonic flights at 100 feet. Chaff could be ingested by wildlife, fish, and livestock.
Flares can occasionally cause wildfires.
There are concerns about the effects of overflight noise and sonic booms on wildlife. While BLM supports the proposal, a letter from its state office to the Air Force criticized the lack of information provided on these points. Crane said the Air Force's draft environmental impact statement also did not examine other sites for the range. Comments may be sent to Lt. Tom Bartol, Director of Environmental Programs, Norton Air Force Base, CA 92409.