48 



TESTIMONY OF FORMER U.S. SENATOR PAUL LAXALT 



AT HEARING OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS AND FORESTS 



IN SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



ON S. 59 (THE NATIONAL FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS OF NEVADA 



ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1987) 



WASHINGTON, D.C. 



JUNE 30, 1987 



I am Paul Laxalt, attorney-at-law, and former United 

 States Senator from Nevada. While I am not able to attend the 

 Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C, I would ask that my 

 testimony be made part of the public record of said hearing. 



I support the National Forest and Public Lands of Nevada 

 Enhancement Act of 1987. 



The Forest Service has a proud tradition in Nevada. At 

 the turn of the century, most of Nevada's rangelands were 

 damaged severely. Two million sheep and cattle grazed the 

 public domain without controls. Deterioration became so 

 serious that in 1906, Nevada's ranchers petitioned Congress to 

 establish national forests to bring regulation and management 

 to the range. Congress responded by creating the Toiyabe 

 National Forest in 1907 and the Humboldt National Forest in 

 1908. 



This point bears closer scrutiny. Nevadans wanted the 

 National Forests to be created in Nevada. Congress was 

 responsive in establishing our two national forests. In 1985, 

 there was an effort by some to decrease the national forest 



