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StumbleRep. Dean Heller: Feds looking at designating 2 Nevada national monuments
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 | 3:56 p.m.
Rep. Dean Heller
The Interior Department is considering two areas in Nevada for designation as national monuments, potentially carving out lands for protected use, Republican Rep. Dean Heller said today.
Heller, who is troubled by the possibility, said the department is eying The Heart of the Great Basin, where the "Toiyabe, Toquima, and Monitor peaks tower to 12,000 feet," as well as the Nevada portion of the Owyhee Desert, "one of the most remote areas in the continental United States." Heller cited documents he said came from the Interior Department.
Interior's consideration will surely be welcomed by nature and wildlife preservationists but could set up a face-off with interests who oppose restricting use and development of public lands. Nevada has a long history of fighting federal efforts carve out protective zones on land used by hunters, miners and others.
Heller said he found the administration's actions "troubling." The administration could make the designation without congressional approval.
"There should never be a rush to develop proposals that will have long lasting impacts on the local communities and county residents," Heller said. "The administration should work closely with members of Congress in an open and transparent process before deciding to designate any national monuments.”
Heller has posted parts of the Interior documents here.
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That Owyhee area is in the middle of nowhere, this guy is out of it. It would increase tourism, because people want to go to places that are the most extreme, highest, lowest, most remote.
Typical Republican response.
The feds don't have enough control over our state and now these libs are ready to hand over more control. Whatever is bad for business is good for the libs. Fight it, Dean! Make them keep their hands in their own pockets, not Nevada's!
mred, many of us already do recreate in the Owyhee area for the reasons you listed. Making it a National Monument will kill tourism. To truely experience the area you must leave the pavement to see it. This cannot be accomplished by foot or horse, motorized treavel is necessary and making it a National Monument will prohibit motorized travel. If you want to lock the public out make it a National Monument, if it is tourism you are after then direct the BLM and USFS to do their job and manage the area. The Obamha Administraion's use of the Antiquities Act is just another way of creating Wilderness Areas without going through Congress. If you are a camper, hiker, hunter, rockhound, bird/animal watcher, photographer or any other person who recreates out of doors then you should read the fine print before you support this action because you will be effected.
It is not the middle of nowhere, it is home. I much prefer having the State of Nevada in charge of the wildlife here. The NV game commission can be trusted and spoken to, how are you going to talk to the Feds? They never care about what people from NV want. FIGHT it DEAN, this will destroy our wildlife, destroy our local economy, and in the name of saving our environment it will turn our lands back into the wasteland it used to be before man came here.