For years now, off-roaders have flocked to Johnson Valley, California, which has become a popular place to engage in such activities. That particular area is awash with steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds, and sandy surfaces, along with varying elevation, making it perfect for anyone looking to put their off-road-focused vehicle to the test. That’s precisely why King of the Hammers takes place in Johnson Valley each year – where Ford Racing has enjoyed a lot of success – but that may not be the case much longer.
Rather, the U.S. military is in the process of trying to expand its restricted airspace over Johnson Valley, which would effectively put an end to King of the Hammers and other events that take place in that area. The Johnson Valley OHV (off-highway vehicle) area was established by Congress for recreational purposes, but now, certain entities are working to change that.
The Marine Corps has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish additional and modify existing Special Use Airspace (SUA) over and adjacent to the existing combat center, and as such, the two have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment that analyzes the potential impacts associated with the proposed changes. That proposal is currently available for public review and comment.
“Establishment of permanent SUA over and adjacent to the installation is essential to the Combat Center’s mission,” the Marine Corps wrote of its proposal. “As weapon systems continue to advance and provide military forces with increased capability for detecting and countering enemy threats from greater distances, adequate airspace is required to conduct the full scope of training exercises prescribed by Congress.”
As one might imagine, there is some opposition to this proposed change, and in this case, it’s coming from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). SEMA is asking citizens to submit comments on the matter and help it achieve a trio of goals – it wants a full NEPA Environmental Impact Statement to be completed, a 90-day extension for public comment, and the removal of the most extreme threats to access in the existing DEA.
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