the overlap of the range safety zones). In addition, some maneuver areas are
constrained during firing range training activities, again to avoid hazards to personnel and
equipment.
FMR has exclusive access to the northerly 10,865 acres of land leased via Special Land
Use Permit from the ASLD for only 22 days per year. The lands under this lease are
currently used for bivouac, mounted, and dismounted training by military soldiers. When
not available to the military, ASLD’s multiple use policy supports cattle grazing, hunting,
camping, birding, and other recreational opportunities. The leased lands are also a
financial burden on the AZARNG due to associated costs. In the past the AZARNG had an
additional lease from ASLD for approximately 7,100 acres of land that was used for
maneuver and artillery training for a certain number of days per year. This lease was to
the north of the current Special Land Use Permit area. The AZARNG chose to discontinue
this lease for monetary reasons.
Expansion of firing range areas to allow for full use while supporting other training
operations and / or the expansion of FMR to enable future mission requirements, such as
the shift in the Army towards enhanced ammunition rounds that have a larger safety
buffer footprint, would likely require additional or full‐time access to the land currently
leased from ASLD. Lands to the south and west of FMR are mostly privately owned and
have minimal potential for supporting the FMR mission, whereas the ASLD property to
the north is ideal for current and future FMR mission operations. There is also additional
BLM land adjacent to the southern border of FMR, and to the northeast of the
installation that could be considered for potential lease agreements.
Issue:
LAS‐4
AZARNG soldiers train at FMR
Source: Arizona DEMA, 2016
AZARNG Site: Restricted airspace over Florence Military
Reservation should be preserved.
Florence
Military
Reservation The restricted airspace over Florence Military
Reservation and over some of the surrounding
land is a critical asset for AZARNG and other
organizations that use the airspace for training.
The land itself is not protected from potential
incompatible development that may impact the
utility of the asset.
Compatibility Assessment
As discussed in LAS‐1, some UAS operations are conducted at FMR on the UAS airfield
located at the installation. The information provided in LAS‐1 also discusses the
RA airspace over FMR and its importance to the military mission which includes
UAS operations. The development and use of the land that underlies the RA airspace is a
critical component of how the military can utilize R‐2310A, R‐2310B and R‐2310C.
Background Report
5-61