BLM plans hearings on land that will be sold in future

Monday, Sept. 29, 2003 | 9:37 a.m.

The Bureau of Land Management is preparing to survey up to 50,000 acres that might be eligible for sale some day -- but first the agency is asking for the public's help.

Three hearings are scheduled this week in an effort to determine the possible environmental impact on the land.

The hearings are:

The majority of the lands ripe for surveys are north of North Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Paiute Indian reservation, Jeff Steinmetz, environmental protection specialist, said.

"The president has already decided the lands are for disposal, but we have to assess the environmental impacts," Steinmetz said.

The surveys are expected to include searches for threatened or endangered plants, animals, insects and birds, archaeological hunts and environmental assessments, Steinmetz said.

For example, the Blue Diamond cholla, a type of cactus that has not been found anywhere else, is under study near the Jim Hardie gypsum mine southwest of Las Vegas.

All surveys and reports are expected in time for a decision by the BLM in August 2004.

"It's an extremely aggressive schedule, but we have to be aggressive," Steinmetz said.

If any areas contain rare plants or animals, or significant cultural or historical treasures, the BLM would protect the resources, BLM spokesman Phil Guerrero said.

"We would leave it as is, somehow protecting the resource," Guerrero said.