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February 12, 2012

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Legislators oppose pipeline through Northern Nevada

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 | 1:48 p.m.

CARSON CITY -- A legislative committee says it opposes a recent agreement that would open the door for El Paso Corp., to build a natural gas pipeline through Northern Nevada.

The Legislative Committee on Public Lands is sending letters to Nevada's congressional delegation, the Secretary of the Interior and the governor opposing the agreement between El Paso Corp. and the Western Watershed Project.

In exchange for a $15 million mitigation fund, Western Watershed has agreed to drop its opposition to the $3 billion, 680-mile pipeline from Opal, Wyo., to Malin, Ore.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, chairman of the committee, said the public and the livestock industry weren't consulted during negotiations.

Committee members will be headed for Washington, D.C., in the fall to oppose any federal legislation that would allow the permanent retirement of grazing permits on public lands.

Western Watershed said the $15 million will be received over 10 years to buy and retire federal grazing permits that are voluntarily offered in the states affected. Western Watershed is an organization aimed at protecting watersheds and wildlife.

The organization filed a request in April asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a rehearing on its initial approval of the pipeline project.

Rhoads said El Paso officials told the committee at its meeting in Ely it wouldn't lobby Congress to amend the Taylor Grazing Act to permit the permanent retirement of grazing permits.

He said lawmakers would be meeting with federal officials to stop any similar future agreements without the public being consulted.

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