Powerful stuff, the stuff of science fiction fantasy. The area draws its share of the curious, who stand on the perimeter of the base and look in at what's going on. They tend to get hassled by US military personnel - arrested and getting film and cameras confiscated.
But apart from the alien presence, there's a lot more going on at this mysterious base.
For a start, there's the legal action takenm by former serving veterans. They claim they suffered pollution and contamination whole they worked there, and they're pretty pissed off about it.
Then there's the planning issue: planning permission is needed if the base is to stay on beyond a particular date.
Then there's the strange deal that the Governor of Nevada made with 20th Century Fox on the film "Independence Day." Basically, he pushed a name change through for the road that passes by Area 51.
The road is now to be called "The Extra Terrestrial Highway," and has been used in various publicity tie-ins for Independence Day.
This name change was done without asking anybody in the local area and without clearing up the problem of sightseers beig arrested by the military.
Locals point out that although parts of the film were supposedly set in Area 51, none of the film was actually filmed in Nevada. They question why their governor is so quick to rush through a deal with an out of state film company which will bring no obvious benefit to the state and which is opposed by most locals.
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