55 



Various conservation groups have expressed reservations about 

 the proposed conversation area, and, again, the hearings will allow 

 us to fully consider these views. 



Let me now turn to S. 59, the National Forests and Public Lands 

 of Nevada Enhancement Act of 1987. 



This legislation will transfer more than 500,000 acres of Federal 

 lands in Nevada, currently administered by the Bureau of Land 

 Management, to the United States Forest Service. 



A brief outline of the development of this proposal is warranted. 



In June of 1985, the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM announced 

 a proposal to Interchange management of about 30 million to 35 

 million acres of land and underlying minerals. The purpose of the 

 proposed Interchange was to improve the management of public 

 lands and national forests, enhance public service, and reduce 

 agency costs. 



The proposed "land swap" caused an uproar in Nevada. 



Under the original plan. Forest Service lands in Nevada would 

 shrink to less than 1 million acres, while the BLM would manage 

 4.5 million acres. The Departments of Interior and Agriculture also 

 held public hearings in Nevada to gauge the public sentiments 

 about the land swap. The public hearings brought out near unani- 

 mous opposition to reducing Forest Service lands in the State. 



Too many serious questions remained, ranging from concerns 

 about agency funding, quality of management, the status of reve- 

 nues to State and county governments, and possible environmental 

 degradation. 



Following public input and further deliberation, the U.S. Forest 

 Service and BLM developed a new Interchange proposal, affecting 

 12 western States and two eastern cities, allowing Nevada to retain 

 all of its existing national forests and converting BLM lands to the 

 Forest Service. 



The administration sent another omnibus Interchange proposal 

 to Capitol Hill this Congress. But there is no serious movement on 

 the legislation and support is negligible. 



At the urging of the National Forest Task Force of Nevada, the 

 Nevada delegation has introduced this legislation to enlarge and 

 enhance our valuable Forest Service lands. The Enhancement Act 

 has broad support throughout the State including Governor Bryan, 

 the Board of Commissioners of Clark County in the southern end of 

 the State, and the Washoe County Commissioners in the northern 

 end of the State. 



I would like to mention at this point, however, two reservations I 

 have about the bill that have also been expressed to me by con- 

 stituents. 



One is the inclusion of 17,000 acres around Peavine Mountain. 

 This area is an especially important scenic peak that can be seen 

 from Reno. It is a valuable watershed that includes White Fir, Jef- 

 frey Pine and Ponderosa Pine. It is also the winter range for 2,000 

 deer. 



This area was included in the Enhancement Act introduced last 

 Congress, and I understand was excluded this year because of com- 

 plaints by a mining interest in the area. 



I do not agree with the exclusion of the area, and the fact that it 

 is an issue. The support this legislation already enjoys from the 



