Northern Constraints: Within the Northern boundaries, Leach Lakes Impact Area comprises 89,000 acres of NTC and is used for live-fire exercises by the Army, and as a live ordnance bombing range by the Air Force. It would cost approximately $200 million to clear the unexploded ordnance from the site Clearing the site would impact the training of both the Army and Air Force. Just north of the NTC lies Death Valley National Park therefore prohibiting expansion to the north.

Eastern Constraints: Highway 127, which lies approximately 20 miles east of the NTC boundaries, off road vehicle sites (Dumont Dunes), and power lines that border the current eastern NTC boundary.

Southern Constraints: Ideal terrain (less than 20% slope) makes a southern expansion ideal for military training; however, this is also prime habitat for the federally threatened desert tortoise. Additionally, the majority of land south of NTC has been designated as desert tortoise critical habitat, therefore making a southern expansion infeasible.

Western Constraints: Approximately 32,960 acres along the western border, within NTC, is off limits due to activities performed at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications complex. A western expansion is further compromised by operations conducted by NAWS China Lake on NASA and the NTC. The Army has considered joint use of China Lake; however, the Department of the Navy drafted Compatibility of Use Study in 1993 outlining various factors making joint use incompatible.

Land Ownership Map

Alternative I: East/West Alternative (DA/DOI Proposed) Map

Alternative I: Written Legal Description

Alternative II: East Gate Southern (BLM 1997) Map

Alternative III: East Gate Map

Alternative IV: Army Proposed Map

Alternative V: East Gate--UTM 90 Map

Alternative VI: No Action Map