Environment tops Nevadans’ lists

Monday, June 5, 2000 | 8:26 a.m.

The telephone poll of 601 likely Nevada voters was commissioned by the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and conducted between Feb. 29 and March 5 by Greenberg Quinlan Research Inc. It has a margin of error 4 percent either way.

"Contrary to what many of our legislators believe, Nevadans want more environmental protection and enforcement, not less," said Marge Sill of the Sierra Club.

Seventy percent of those surveyed think that laws protecting the environment are either not strong enough or are not being sufficiently enforced.

Sixty-one percent said they're extremely concerned about clean air and water. Only crime, education and health care ranked more important to the poll's respondents.

Eighty-four percent said environmental issues were an important factor in casting a vote for a candidate, and 71 percent said they would favor a candidate who cares more about the environment than relaxing business regulations.

The poll also found strong support for wilderness protection of federal lands.