Letter: Public comment should be heard on lands bill

Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 | 9:15 a.m.

The Las Vegas Sun's view of the lands bill is all wrong.

The Sun states in its Sept. 8 editorial that wilderness "would not deny access." This is not true. All motorized travel would be shut out. The Sun also states that motorized traffic would be allowed on "existing roads." This is also not true. No motorized vehicles are allowed in any wilderness areas.

A blue-ribbon wilderness coalition did a survey of Western residents, asking if they wanted more wilderness and 68 percent said yes. Then, when they were told that all roads in the area would be closed and no vehicle access would be allowed, 79 percent said that they would be opposed to any new wilderness.

The Sun also states that the issue of water rights is the sticking point regarding the Senate and House versions of the bill. Actually, the real problem that the environmentalists have with the House bill is that the wilderness study areas not chosen for designation as wilderness could never again be considered for wilderness.

Most backers of this bill don't want any public meetings in Las Vegas. What are they afraid of? Is it that the public will show up and tell them that they don't want this bill? Let's have public meetings in Las Vegas so that the 1.6 million citizens who will be affected by this public lands bill can comment.

KENNY FREEMAN

Editor's note: The writer is president of Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts.