Construction of Reno-Stead Airport Business Center Destined to Swallow Race Course Lands With Unquenchable Thirst Depends on Water to Begin & Complete Construction; Additional Water Sources Expected to Supply the Facility's Growth Over 3,000 + Acres

Stead Perspectives # 1

Mary Dilda, in Race 22, "Two of Hearts," chases Nick Macy during an AT-6 event at the Reno "Invitational" National Championship Air Races in 2003. Shot from the Valley of Speed, one can see the vast amount of land needing protected to maintain the AT-6 course (where Mary and Nick are banking) all the way back to the deadline.

The land extends from the fenceline on the East side by Lemon Valley residents, to the fenceline on the West side near Silver Knolls. The land must provide for three Inner Race courses for IF1, Sport Biplane and AT-6, and the three outer courses for Unlimiteds, Jets and Sport 1st lap Unlimited, all others, Internediate between AT-6 and Unlimited courses), all of which (Outer course circuit racers) merge at some point on the same course lines utilized entering and leaving the home stretch as the Inner circuit racers. All races culminate at the Home Pylon on the straightaway.

"Invitational" Air Racing at Reno is currently conducted over two sections of Privately owned land (North of Outer Pylon 5 and North of Lemon Valley Drive on the East side, near Outer Pylon 2) and two small sections of BLM land atop Cheakskate Hill on the East.

The IF1 and Sport Biplane courses fall inbetween the grandstands and the location of Mary's and Nick's Texan Trainers. A thirty-foot power pole can be seen in the foreground. At present, these poles need taking down as increased speeds by the racers are putting them in too close proximity to these solid wooden "structures.

This entire area is roughly over 3/5 ths the 5,000 acres of Reno-Stead Airport grounds. So, how can it be that Air Racing will survive if 3,000 acres are required for an Industrial Manufacturing and Business Center -- well over 3/5ths of the land proposed for development? The math doesn't add up.

Not unless you encroach into this area on the Inner course circuit. Thus, Reno Air Racing might continue, but Classes will start being eliminated during the process of this continuing fraud. Since the Sport Biplanes and IF1s utilize the same course in this area, and the AT-6s another, it will likely be one (IF1s/Sport Bipes) or the other (AT-6) as the first to depart. There are also issues with the expansion of the Nevada Army National Guard facility that could bring an end to either Inner circuit.

Course changes could extend the life of the Class that SSNS believes would be first on the chopping block. If the AT-6 course is lengthened to match the Sport Class course, or vice-versa, the one course could be eliminated for encroachment. A shortened Sport Class course, to match AT-6, would make for faster circuits and more exciting races, where lengthening the AT-6 course would mean longer times around the course and strain on older racing engines. That would give additional time before encroachment began on the Inner courses in earnest.

Considering that AAWC personnel have been and currently are sitting illegally, in obvious violation of Nevada State Law, on the Boards of both the AAWC and RARA, Silver State News Service believes that the opportunity exists to declare the land sale between those AAWC officials at RARA and their buddies at AAWC -- the parent organization -- null and void as fraud and as a violation of their fiduciary * duties.

The mission of RARA is the preservation of Air Racing. That mission is not accomplished by selling racecourse lands to developers, Private or otherwise.

* fi·du·ci·ar·y   adj.

1. 1. Of or relating to a holding of something in trust for another: a fiduciary heir; a fiduciary contract.
   2. Of or being a trustee or trusteeship.
   3. Held in trust.
2. Of or consisting of fiat money.
3. 
   n. pl. fi·du·ci·ar·ies

One, such as an agent of a principal or a company director, that stands in a special relation of trust, confidence, or responsibility in certain obligations to others.

 

(www.dictionary.com )

Watery Dream in a Dry Lake...

A very interesting document has been brought to our attention by researchers assisting Silver State News Service (SSNS) and its Editor in the presentation of supporting documents and evidence involving the Water Works Scandal and other related stories, including:

1) the rumored shut down of the Reno Air Races in favor of an Industrial Business Center on Reno-Stead Airport racecourse and infield grounds, and...

2) the rumored move of the Reno Air Races to Las Vegas, Nevada, sometime before 2006.

SSNS will be investigating further events critical to the accomplishment of both RARA's and AAWC's pending goals as SSNS understands them. SSNS is left to believe that both RARA and the AAWC have a bigger jump then originally known on the completion of their goals. SSNS questions why all these projects -- Power Lines, Water Projects and Business Center -- are on the "fast track" for completion simultaneously and why more isn't known publically about these documents and the projects associated with all.

Thus, SSNS's investigation will now delve into these latest issues. Here is the BLM statement of July 23, 2003 -- nearly seven months ago.

BLM Statement of July 23, 2003:

Federal Register Environmental Documents Recent Additions | Contact Us |Print Version Search: EPA Home > Federal Register > FR Years > FR Months > FR Days > FR Daily > Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North Valleys Water Projects

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Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North Valleys Water Projects   [Federal Register: September 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 178)] [Notices] [Page 54000-54001] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15se03-101] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NV-030-5700-ER; N-76800, N-76897] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North Valleys Water Projects AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Carson City Field Office, Nevada. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Valleys Water Projects (Projects) located in Washoe County, Nevada. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City Field Office intends to prepare an EIS to address the impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative) resulting from construction and operation of two separate water supply and transmission projects located in Washoe County, Nevada. Rights-of-way applications were submitted to the BLM from Intermountain Water Supply, LTD and Fish Springs Ranch, LLC for production wells, pump stations, transmission pipelines, terminal water storage tanks and access road rights-of-way. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Comments can be submitted in writing to the address listed below and will be accepted throughout the preparation of the Draft EIS. All public meetings will be announced through the local news media, scoping documents, and the BLM Web site at http://www.nv.blm.gov/carson at least 15 days prior to the event. Public meetings will be held throughout the EIS scoping and preparation period. In order to ensure the widest range of public participation and input, presentations will be held, at a minimum, in Reno and Stead, Nevada. Early participation is encouraged and will assist in preparation of the EIS. In addition to the ongoing public scoping process, formal opportunities for public participation will be provided through comment on the draft and final documents. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to BLM Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701; Fax (775) 885- 6147; email address tknutson@nv.blm.gov. Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the above address during regular business hours (7:30 am-5 pm), Monday through [[Page 54001]] Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the EIS. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Written comments should be sent to BLM Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701; Fax (775) 885-6147; email address tknutson@nv.blm.gov. For additional information, write to the above address or call Terri Knutson (BLM Environmental Planner) at (775) 885-6156 or Ken Nelson (BLM Realty Specialist) at (775) 885-6114. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Carson City Field Office received separate water supply and transmission rights-of-way applications from the Fish Springs Ranch, LLC and Intermountain Water Supply, LTD, two independent water companies, proposing projects in Washoe County, Nevada. The BLM determined that due to the same timing, geography, and similarity of the types of actions, the two proposals would be analyzed in one EIS, together known as the North Valleys Water Projects. Each company is proposing to construct and operate water supply and transmission projects to meet present and future water demands of the Stead/Silver Lake/Lemmon Valley areas (North Valleys) in Washoe County. The proposed Projects consist of groundwater production wells, pump station(s), transmission pipeline(s) and terminal water storage tank(s) to convey water. The Fish Springs Ranch LLC proposed pipeline (carrying approximately 8000 acre-feet per year) would begin at the Fish Springs Ranch, and proceed south approximately 33 miles to the North Valleys. The Intermountain Water Supply, LTD proposed pipeline (carrying approximately 3500 acre-feet per year) would begin in Dry Valley, proceed east a short distance before tying into the same general route south to the North Valleys, a total of approximately 24 miles. The EIS will assess the impacts of the two proposed rights-of-way actions and the No Action alternatives and may consider alternative locations or alignments of the water project facilities, as appropriate. The EIS will address issues brought forth through scoping and will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists. Key issues likely to be considered in analyzing each alternative include groundwater hydrology; groundwater quality; threatened and endangered species; cultural resources; land use; and socioeconomic effects of the project. Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the decisions to be made on the proposed project are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request, or be requested by the BLM, to participate as a cooperating agency. Dated: July 22, 2003. John O. Singlaub, Manager, Carson City Field Office. [FR Doc. 03-23447 Filed 9-12-03; 8:45 am]

		EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us Last updated on Friday, February 6th, 2004 URL: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2003/September/Day-15/i23447.htm

Stead Perspectives # 2
An Unlimited Class North American P-51D Mustang, "Cloud Dancer," flown by Jimmy Leeward, approaches Outer Pylon 7 from the Valley of Speed at Nap-of-the-Earth level. The type of Industrial Manufacturing and Warehousing space proposed for Business Centers can be seen in the background. View as seen from Cheapskate Alley near the proposed Power Sub Station locations.

Such buildings will prove not only a visual blight environmentally on the land in the North Valley area, but will also distract from the viewing of the races and even keep some racers at low level from being seen by the crowds in the Pits and Grandstands, making it difficult to track the progress of a race. Depending on the color of the buildings, it may even be possible for pilots in a racing event to have difficulty seeing another aircraft of similar color to one or more of the buildings blend in during competition and turns.

The buildings in the end, will detract from the overall enjoyment and excitement of viewing "just the race." At least, until such time as the course is shut down. So, why would RARA keep the course active a few years more with the construction underway?

Answer: To save up additional funding for their anticipated Las Vegas move. Once moved, they can't go back, thus the need for additional funds to carry operations out over a few years at the new venue while Public recognition of the "rumored" Las Vegas event is built up to current Reno levels and beyond.

The sad thing is, if they would keep the Air Races operational at Reno and expand the number of Races, they would have the influx of money they need to start a separate racing entity elsewhere, then start up in that new venue while keeping Reno alive and solvent as the financial basis (provider) for further expansions elsewhere. Each site added means additional funding to expand into the next site. Simple mathematics, if not logic and physics, of expansion.

A simple case of Greed and Desperation overruling Wisdom and Long-term Planning. Avery's World of Wings (WoW) will have the advantage having been in Las Vegas roughly five years by the time the former RARA arrives with its organization in "Sin City," and by the time RARA is up and running, Avery will likely be expanding into new locations ahead of them with Prime Sponsors and well-treated Air Racing Teams on call, for his having been at their beck and call.

Perhaps...

...with all that water coming to Reno-Stead Airport, we should go back to racing these?

Seriously, though, we may be forced to. With the advent of Air Shows held over water, such as those in Virginia, Florida and California, among other places, and the return of Seaplane races in Monaco (using Ultralights at this time), future Air Race courses might just involve over-water circuits due to the inavailability of land-based courses, and despite the dangers of ditching.

The Sport Class division might prove suitable for such alterations. Others would likely have to be altered or homebuilt. The Supermarine S6B above, powered by the Rolls Royce R, was capable of speeds in excess of 400 mph.

Just the same, there are still a few ideal sites for land-based operations, including Las Vegas, Nevada, and Sebring, Florida. Why not keep Reno, hold multiple racing events at these three, and create the foundation for a circuit with all Classes and others (proposed) competing?