CHINA LAKE, Calif. — The China Lake earthquake recovery project has a tentative start date of late 2020, according to Captain Laurie Scott, the commanding officer heading up the field team that's overseeing the China Lake construction.
On Feb. 25, Cpt. Scott addressed a packed room at the Kerr McGee Center in Ridgecrest during the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest’s “Meet the Buyers” Industry Day.
Repairs at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake have been underway ever since the devastating earthquakes in Ridgecrest last year.
NAWSCL Public Works department, along with the base's Emergency Operating Center, has prioritized restoration of the base.
Back in December, Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced Conference Report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would supply $1.152 billion for planning and projects to rebuild Naval Air Weapons Station, including China Lake. Rep. McCarthy said that NAWSCL would be recieve the full amount of funding they requested as well as an additional $64.5 million for runway and taxi extensions at the base.
"China Lake is the top military installation that provides unique vital capabilities to our national defense, including weapons development and research," said McCarthy in December.