Not since 2004 has a C-130 or other cargo plane landed at the Yakima Training Center runway in eastern Washington.

"The (runway) surface has deteriorated," said Joe Kubistek, a spokesman for Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "It's currently not being used by any cargo aircraft."

But now, work is being done to assess what repairs are necessary to the runway and when and how those repairs will be made, Kubistek further explained.

Kubistek said an unspecified amount of funding is available to cover the cost of the project. The money, Kubistek explained, is allocated from the Sustainment Restoration Modernization fund, a funding mechanism used for regular maintenance of military operations.

"Renovation of the airstrip has been under consideration for a couple years," he said.

No determination has been made as to when the project will commence. The project is scheduled to be completed in fiscal year 2017. The 2017 fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2017.

Once renovation of the runway is completed, C-17 crews will once again perform landing and training exercises.

"It will allow us to work on a restricted airspace where we can practice the full range of employment for the C-17," said Lt. Col. Jaron Roux, 62nd Operations Support Squadron commander. "Once (the runway is) completed, we will absolutely take advantage and use this runway when our flying and training schedules allow. We will use it to work with our Army partners, as it will allow for more robust training in airland and airdrop operations."