Message posted by Norio Hayakawa on December 19, 1999 at 00:05:26 EST:
Thank you so much, Joerg, for posting that article that appeared on Las Vegas Review Journal on December 16, 1999 that reported that the 38,400-acre rectangle surrounding Groom Lake area (a.k.a. AREA 51) is being relinquished by the Department of Energy and is being officially handed over to the Air Force for total control, ownership and jurisdiction. Here are my thoughts: What does this all mean? This basically means that the DOE gained 200 additional square miles in Nevada in partial exchange for relinquishing "ownership" of land around Groom Lake to the Air Force, which was exactly what the latter had wanted all along.
It means that the Air Force finally got what it always wanted from the very beginning, i.e., total control and "ownership" of the 38,400-acre rectangle that surround Groom Lake (a.k.a. AREA 51, which had always been a strictly DOE-designated name, and not the Air Force-designated name).
This was the final result of a series of Public Hearings which were held during 1998 in Nevada to correct "misalignments" and "confusing jurisdiction" of the past that would have hindered any new modifications to future land use of the entire Nevada Test Site.
This means that there will be no more "secret agreements" with DOE necessary.
Now the Air Force will be free to name this base in Air Force's terms, for example, as "Groom Lake Air Base", etc. and expand its multi-faceted programs at the base (which they are already doing anyway).
This would be perfectly all right with us, as long as they address once and for all the yet-unresolved issue of former workers' compensatory rights and also abide by environmental statutes.
This also means that the Air Force will be able to provide its own Air Force's Guard Shack and Air Force's own Security Personnel, without having to rely on "anonymous", semi-private security contracted through DOE's Special Response Team (SRT) or even other entities such as Wackenhut's (WHACK-en-NUTS)(LOL!!)Special Security personnel.
The Air Force will also technically be empowered to erect a definite, clearly-marked security fence (for safety to the public) all along the northern and eastern borderlines of Groom Lake base.
What new changes will actually be made, however, at the restricted boundary line on Groom Lake Road, as a result of this new "change of hands", remains to be seen. (probably high unlikely).
Anyway, Joerg, keep up the great work you are doing!!
Yes, the year 2000 will be a VERY interesting year for AREA 51.
I can hardly wait for the Peoples' Rally at AREA 51 on June 6, 2000!!
-from Norio
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