Governor Bill Richardson Announces Purchase of Land for Cannon Air Force Base's Melrose Bombing Range

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson today announced that the Office of the Secretary
of Defense has granted a waiver to the United State Air Force allowing the Air Force to
proceed with necessary actions to receive the land gift associated with Melrose Bombing
Range.

The waiver comes as a result of Governor Richardson’s 2005 commitment of $5 million
worth of land to the Melrose Bombing Range to help save Cannon Air Force Base during
the BRAC.

“During the intense period in New Mexico’s history when we were working hard to save
Cannon AFB, I committed $5 million to expand Cannon contingent upon a new mission
being assigned to the base,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “I am pleased that the
Department of Defense has approved the waiver that will allow the Air Force to acquire
the land to expand Melrose Bombing Range.”

The Legislature appropriated money during the 2006 session for the acquisition of the
land to expand the Melrose Bombing Range. Since then, the State has been working very
closely with the Air Force to move this land acquisition forward. The U.S. Department
of Defense currently has a moratorium on major land acquisitions by the military
branches for installations in the United States. Waivers of this moratorium can be
granted on a case-by –case basis if a military service can justify to the Pentagon a need to
acquire more land.

“This issue has required a lot of hard work on the part of the Air Force, Air Force Special
Operations Command, and my staff to identify the necessary steps and provide the
required information so that the waiver could be granted,” said Governor Richardson.
“The expansion of Melrose Range is extremely important to the future of Cannon Air
Force Base, Clovis, Portales, Melrose, and our State as it will be an invaluable resource,
not only to the Air Force, but to other services which are interested in joint training.”
The Department of Defense’s approval is a major step for the commitment to be met and
the land transfer worth $5million to Melrose Bombing Range and Cannon Air Force
Base.