Department of Defense nominee for Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, of Virginia, speaks during a Senate Armed Services hearing to examine Department of Defense nominations, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, AP)
Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Carlos Del Toro, President Biden’s nominee to be secretary of the Navy, committed on Tuesday to working with the tribes, local officials and the Nevada delegation on plans to expand the Fallon Naval Air Station.
He was asked about the proposed expansion of the air base by Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., during a committee hearing after she pointed out that the objections tribal officials, locals and the delegation had to the original expansion proposal were not cured by the Navy’s latest plan. The original proposal would have expanded Fallon to some 900,000 acres and restricted civilian access to much of the property.
“It’s incredibly important to expand that naval air station,” he said. “In doing so, it is also equally important to respect the tribes that have sacred land there.”
He committed to meeting with the stakeholders including the tribes and to bring the Interior Department into the conversation as well.
Rosen also asked for his commitment to fairly compensate the Walker River Paiute Tribe for the damage to 6,000 acres of their land in 1959 when live ordinance was dropped on it.
“I confirm that I fully commit to working with you and your staff on this incredibly important issue as well,” he said.
