Long delays seen for pipeline plan

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005 | 7:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Approval for a 235-mile pipeline to bring water to Las Vegas from rural Nevada could face long delays, legislators were told Tuesday.

If the Bureau of Land Management approves the right of way for the $2 billion project, opponents could appeal first to an Interior Department review board and then to federal courts.

State BLM Director Ron Wenker told the Legislative Committee on Public Lands that the agency will start accepting public comment next year on the application to transport water from White Pine and Lincoln counties to the Las Vegas area.

Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, said there could be objections to the right of way "by third parties -- environmentalists come to mind."

Noting that appeals could "possibly lengthen the process," Wenker said he does not know how much time a federal court appeal could add to the process.

Southern Nevada Water Authority spokesman Vince Alberta said plans call for the water to be delivered to Clark County after 2015.

Outside the meeting, Care said a "large segment of the population feel they need the water" for Southern Nevada's growing population.

However, some people in Northern Nevada feel they own the water and could intervene and file suit, he said.

Wenker said the process could be shortened if the interior secretary decides the right of way, bypassing an appeal to the review board. The issue then could go straight to the federal courts.

The BLM is working with the state engineer's office, which would need to approve applications to draw water from rural Nevada, Wenker said.

Alberta said a prehearing conference is set for Jan. 4 to set the rules for the full hearing before state Engineer Hugh Ricci, which could start in late 2006.

Alberta said there are at least eight cases in which water from one county is used by residents of another county.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at cy@lasvegassun.com.