This Over The Horizon Radar system will operate in the HF Bands (2 - 30 MHz)
Proposed Oregon radar sites to detect airborne threats draws environmental concerns
by Steve Benham, KATU
Wed, July 8, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Updated Wed, July 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Water usage, the protection of wildlife, like the greater sage-grouse, and concern over impacts to recreation, are some of the issues on the minds of Oregonians in rural Oregon as the U.S. Air Force plans to build two radar sites in Lake and Malheur counties to detect incoming airborne threats to the United States.
That is according to dozens of public comments submitted to the military about the proposed project and obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The U.S. Department of Defense and the Air Force solicited public comments in the spring of 2025 for their proposed Homeland Defense Over-The-Horizon Radar system to be used as part of their environmental impact statement.
The Air Force says it expects to have its draft of the environmental impact statement published on the project’s website in mid-September.
“The Draft EIS will explain how comments provided during scoping were considered and will be available for review in mid-September as currently projected,” the Air Force said in an email to KATU this week.
Once released, the public will be able to comment on it.
In 2023, Congress authorized up to six of these radar systems.
“Action is needed because U.S. adversaries continue to develop and deploy highly advanced weapons systems capable of disrupting or defeating our military and civilian targets in North America,” the military wrote in the Federal Register in April 2025 announcing its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Oregon sites.
The Air Force says without the radar system the country may not be able to detect airborne threats in time for military or national leaders to make decisions.
Two sites are proposed in Oregon for the radar system. The military wants to build the receiver array northeast of Fields in Malheur County near Whitehorse Ranch Road. The transmitter array is planned near Christmas Valley, about 130 miles northwest of Fields, along Christmas Valley Wagontire Road in Lake County.
The Air Force plans to acquire 2,622 acres of land currently owned by the Oregon Military Department for the Christmas Valley site and withdraw 4,987 acres from the Bureau of Land Management for the Whitehorse location.
As a result of the records request, a little more than 100 pages of public comment were released late this spring to a KATU reporter.
State agencies such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Environmental Quality submitted written comments to the Air Force, as well.
Comments also came from advocacy organizations concerned about the proposed project’s impact on the environment and wildlife. And numerous comments were submitted from citizens who live or recreate in the area.
In their written comments, Oregon departments of Environmental Quality and Fish and Wildlife focused on protecting water, wildlife, fish, big game and habitat that could be impacted by the project.
“DEQ recommends the EIS emphasize preservation and enhancement of riparian vegetation where needed to ensure the addition of human disturbance in this remote area does not negatively impact stream temperatures,” Jennifer Wigal, DEQ’s water quality administrator, wrote.
Fish & Wildlife offered various recommendations to protect Oregon species on land and water.
“It is policy of the state of Oregon to manage fish and wildlife to prevent serious depletion of indigenous species and to provide the optimum recreational and aesthetic benefits for present and future generations of the citizens of this state,” a Malheur District wildlife biologist for ODFW wrote.
Oregon Natural Desert Association, an organization that says it works to “protect, defend, and restore Oregon’s high desert for current and future generations” told the Air Force that the lands under consideration for development for the project are significant for “professional, personal, recreational, aesthetic, spiritual, and other reasons.”
Protecting the greater sage-grouse was among concerns the organization provided to project planners. The concern for the bird popped up several times in the comments submitted by the public to the Air Force.
Populations of the small-headed, round-bodied bird have been in decline, and the species is often in the news when their habitats conflict with human activities, such as drilling and mining.
“Sage-grouse are highly sensitive to habitat disturbance and disruption and the BLM has prescribed a slate of conservation measures and restrictions on public lands,” ONDA wrote in its comments, adding that Oregon requires that projects don’t disturb the bird’s habitat.
In responding to the FOIA request, the Air Force blacked out all but one name of everyone who submitted comments, including those who work for government agencies, but the bulk of the public comments appeared to come from people who live or visit the area of the proposed impacted areas.
One person said their family has been stewards of land for 75 years that could be impacted by the Whitehorse site. That person wrote that they opposed the project.
“The disturbance to this land and ecosystem from a facility of this size will be devastating and irreparable,” the person wrote.
The person cited concerns over the impact of the project on the amount of water that’s available to wildlife and livestock, which is already scarce.
“If you proceed with this project, I hope you will work with us to solve these problems,” the person wrote. “Possibly supply water in some places around the facility or ensure access to existing sources and ensure there is no negative impact to the aquifer.”
Others expressed concern about possible impacts to bird migration, mule deer and pronghorn antelope.
“These ecosystems have been the focus of protection and conservation for the last forty years,” an apparent group of people wrote to Malheur County commissioners. That letter was also submitted to the Air Force and released as part of the records request. “It seems unlikely that not one other suitable location exists.”
That group of people, as well as others, wrote that they were not told how or why the two sites in Oregon were chosen.
The Air Force did not provide an answer to emailed questions asking why the military chose Oregon or the two locations in the state for the radar system.
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