(Washington, DC) – United States Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) announced the House and Senate have agreed upon a package of long-standing public lands bills, which will contain eight Nevada public lands priorities, including the Heller sponsored jobs bills the Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act (S.159), the Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act (S.1176), and the Fernley Economic Self-Determination Act (S.1983).
“This is great news for the entire state of Nevada. I’ve worked tirelessly from my first days in the House of Representatives to take the lead and ensure these lands bills were top priorities. I’ve been committed from the very beginning and am glad to see the fruits of this labor. I’m grateful my colleagues from the delegation, specifically Senator Reid and Congressman Amodei, collaborated in making these bills important action items this Congress. It was not an easy lift but the needs of Nevada were addressed, and I’m happy to achieve this goal. As this legislation becomes law, it will not only spur economic development in our state but enhance national security as well. Those are things we should all be proud to accomplish,” stated Heller.
Senator Heller, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, worked behind the scenes for months to attach these Nevada priorities, spurring economic development and enhancing national security, to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The package of lands bills will be part of the final FY2015 NDAA, which will be considered by both the Senate and the House before the end of the 113th Congress.
The eight Nevada public lands priorities included in the package are:
1) Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act – allows the City of Yerington to work with Nevada Copper to expand its mining operation and create over 1000+ jobs while also providing the City with new infrastructure, job creation, and recreational opportunities.
2) Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act - conveys nearly 300 acres of BLM land to Elko County for a public motocross park while providing land to the Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe for housing and community development.
3) Fernley Economic Self-Determination Act – provides the City of Fernley over 9,000 acres of federal land within its boundaries suitable for l commercial and industrial development, agriculture, and the expansion of community and cultural events
4) Las Vegas Valley Public Land and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Act – establishes Nevada’s first national monument while conveys BLM land suitable for economic development in Clark and Nye Counties for county and city growth and commercial development, additions to the Great Basin College in Pahrump, College of Southern Nevada, and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) campuses, establishment the Nellis Dunes OHV park, and an expansion of Nellis Air Force Base.
5) Pine Forest Range Recreation Enhancement Act – establishes the Pine Forest Range Wilderness Area while directing land exchanges between the BLM and local ranchers to ensure the economic viability of privately owned ranches
6) Carlin Economic Self-Determination Act – provides the City of Carlin over 1,000 acres of federal land surrounding the City to be used for economic development.
7) Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act – conveys nearly 400 acres of BLM land to the NAS Fallon for housing and continued use by the base.
8) Storey County Lands Fix – resolves a long-standing mining townsite issue that have put private property rights in question.
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