Editorial: Land swap that does merit consideration

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002 | 8:24 a.m.

The border of the Red Rock conservation area could be expanded, and a public park created in its place, if a deal can be reached among the Howard Hughes Corp., the Bureau of Land Management and Clark County government. In the plan being discussed by the developer and government entities, Howard Hughes would trade 1,071 acres of its land on the western side of Summerlin to the BLM. In return, the developer would receive a similar amount of land from the federal agency in the southwest part of the valley. Housing encroachment in the Red Rock area is a concern, so this definitely is an idea worth pursuing.

It would take an act of Congress, however, to make this happen. The reason for that is because a few years ago the Nevada congressional delegation was able to get important legislation passed that put an end to land swaps, which had been criticized for benefitting large landowners at the expense of the federal government. In response, a system was set up that requires federal land to be sold to the highest bidder. In nearly all cases, we believe selling the land at auction is the best course. The land near Red Rock, though, very well may be one of those instances where an exception should be made. Still, government should show the utmost care as it finalizes negotiations, making sure that it doesn't get taken advantage of as has occurred in previous land swaps.