Friday, April 3, 1998 | 10:32 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- An initiative petition for the state and the counties to take control of all the public lands in Nevada has been started in what is a new effort to rekindle the "Sagebrush Rebellion."
For more than 30 years, there have been unsuccessful attempts by various groups to wage a rebellion to get the federal government to relinquish control of the public lands to the state.
A group called the Nevada Freedom Coalition plans to circulate the petition to qualify it for presentation to the 1999 Legislature.
"I hope there's not a war," Dennis Grover, moderator for the coalition, said. "They (federal government) won't give up easily but they haven't been doing such a hot job."
The Reno resident filed the initiative with the secretary of state's office Thursday.
Grover's group has to gather the signatures of 46,764 registered voters before Nov. 10. In 13 of the 17 counties, 10 percent of the voters would have to sign the petition. If the signatures were validated, the petition would be presented to the 1999 Legislature.
Lawmakers would have 40 days to either pass or reject the plan. If it was turned down, it would go on the election ballot in 2000.
Grover said he sees no problem in getting the signatures. The coalition also has started initiative petitions to begin a state bank and to make $20 gold pieces to be used as currency.
Federal agencies manage 87 percent of the public lands in Nevada. Grover says the state and local governments should have control over 100 percent.
"I have a lot of friends who are ranchers and they are not getting a fair deal now," he said.
Under the proposed change in Nevada law, a 17-member board would be appointed by the boards of county commissioners to set policies for running the lands.
"The purported right of ownership and control of the public lands within the state of Nevada by the United States is without foundation and violates the clear intent of the Constitution of the United States," the petition states.
Under the petition outline, county commissions would manage the public lands in each county and would be able to impose a fee for their use. Existing rights for such things as mining, grazing or recreating on public lands would be recognized.
If a county commission wanted to acquire any of the public lands, it would notify the state which would convey title to the property, the petition states.
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