Nominations sought for land deals

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 | 9:02 a.m.

The federal Bureau of Land Management is asking for nominations for its fifth round of public land purchases to protect environmentally sensitive areas in Southern Nevada.

The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 allows the BLM to auction public lands in the Las Vegas Valley for development and use the bulk of the proceeds to purchase environmentally sensitive land throughout Nevada, with priority on parcels in Clark County. The money also can be used for improvement projects in environmentally sensitive areas.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton authorized $385 million for the fourth round of Southern Nevada projects on Oct. 28. That investment includes $22.4 million for the Oliver Ranch Science School in Red Rock Canyon, $38 million for purchasing Craig Ranch Golf Course for North Las Vegas to use as a regional park and $7 million to fund the Kyle Canyon Visitors Center at Mount Charleston.

So far the BLM has raised $567 million by auctioning off 4,901 acres of public land checkered throughout the valley.

The auctions have provided: $41.3 million, or 10 percent of the proceeds, for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's pipes and pumps; $23.2 million, or 5 percent, to the state General Education Fund; and $502.5 million, or 85 percent, to the Interior Department for land acquisitions and projects in Southern Nevada.

An additional $42 million has been offered for buying environmentally sensitive properties at Lake Tahoe and $5 million for the county Aviation Department.

Nominations for the fifth round should be submitted to: BLM Las Vegas Field Office, Land Sales and Acquisition, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130 by Jan. 9.

The public may also visit or call the BLM at (702) 515-5114 for more information.

Specific requirements for nominating environmentally sensitive land for purchase is available at the BLM's website (www.nv.blm.gov/SNPLMA).