Legislative panel studies land use

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001 | 9:40 a.m.

Advocates have a new forum in which to argue the contentious fate of millions of acres of Nevada's federal land -- a Legislative subcommittee that met for the first time Monday.

Subcommittee chairman Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Elko, said the future of about 4.4 million acres of Nevada land, now under review as "wilderness study areas," "should not remain in limbo indefinitely."

The six-person subcommittee will look at land uses throughout the state, but an early focus will be on the future of federal land in Southern Nevada.

Rhoads said the subcommittee will meet at least five more times throughout the next 10 months, but the group should have recommendations to Nevada's congressional delegation on the future of wilderness areas in Clark County by early next year.

As federal land, it is up to the federal government to determine the ultimate disposition of the acreage now under review. Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign announced earlier this year that they would introduce legislation to convert some of the study areas in Clark County to private land for development and protect other areas with a formal "wilderness" designation.

The designation would prohibit roads and off-road vehicles.

Nathan Naylor, press secretary for Reid, a Democrat and Senate majority whip, said the senators appreciate the state board's input.

"I think the more input the better," Naylor said. "That's what we've learned."

There are 21 study areas in Clark County, covering more than 570,000 acres. The Bureau of Land Management oversees the land, and in March recommended about 190,000 acres for wilderness.

Advocates for hunters and off-road-vehicle enthusiasts during previous workshops for the Reid-Ensign proposal have tangled with environmentalists over how much of the land should be protected as wilderness.

John Hiatt, conservation chairman for the Red Rock Audubon group, said Southern Nevada's nation-leading population group -- and the increased number and variety of off-road vehicles -- make previously out-of-reach areas accessible to many.

That endangers once-pristine land, he said.

"We will have to take some positive action to protect these lands," Hiatt said.

While other land-use designations for the federal property are possible, such as conservation areas and recreation areas, wilderness status is on the table now and should be used, he argued.

But Clint Bentley, head of the Nevada Land Users Coalition, supports a plan that would have about 180,000 acres of wilderness, but leave much of the land open to roads and vehicles. The coalition is composed mostly of hunting and off-road-vehicle enthusiasts.

The Nevada Land Users Coalition's proposal was almost identical, in language and acres for wilderness, as the Nevada Wildlife Commission's. The state commission is dominated by sportsmen.

Rhoads cut off a few speakers who used the forum to criticize the constitutionality of federal land ownership.

Federal agencies "are not accountable to the people of Nevada," and thus have no legal claim to the land, said Janine Hansen, president of the Nevada Eagle Forum. Rhoads asked her to speak specifically on the issue of what should happen to the lands under review.

Rhoads said later that the issue prompts strong feelings, but the goal of the subcommittee is to reach a broad consensus.

The subcommittee will next meet and take public testimony Dec. 6 in Pioche.