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NORA Proposal - Senate Bill 59 1 



INTRODUCTION 



The National Forests and Public Lands of Nevada Enhancement 

 Act of 1987 deals with interchanges of responsibilities for 

 administration of certain federally owned lands in Nevada between 

 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) , a part of the Interior 

 Department, and the United States Forest Service (USFS) a part of 

 the Department of Agriculture. The Nevada Outdoor Recreation 

 Association (NORA) believes that the transfers in question can 

 best be thought of as three separate areas, each with different 

 assets and management challenges. These three areas can briefly 

 be described as: 



I - affected lands in the Spring Mountains in Clark and Nye 



Counties; 



II - affected lands east of US Highway 395 along the state 



line in Township 9 & 10 North, Range 23 East in Douglas 

 County, and in Lyon, Mineral, and Esmeralda Counties; 



III - affected lands west of US Highway 395, in Washoe County, 



Carson City, and all of Douglas County except applicable 

 portions of Township 9 & 10 North, Range 23 East. 



As we shall see throughout, this bill has the potential to 

 assure that the southwest portion of Nevada, and the Las V'egas 

 area in particular, become even better known as one of the most 

 desirable recreation/vacation land destinations in the country 

 for people who are not crazy about snow - even before one 

 considers the traditional attractions of Las Vegas. Some of the 

 time there is even snow in moderation for those who like it. The 

 assets and resources are already there. This Bill does not - and 

 need not - refer to a whole lot of Federal money being spent on 

 somebodies boondoggle. All this Bill really has to do to be great 

 is to protect and manage the assets and resources at hand. With 

 improved and proper administration and sensible development we 

 feel that these lands will repay the American people handsomely. 



Our recommendations rely heavily on areas of critical 

 environmental concern as a very flexible and delicate management 

 tool to selectively protect, enhance, and ultimately develop 

 specific identified resources for the benefit of the public. The 

 concept of ACEC ' s has been endorsed by every Nevada county and so 

 they may be expected to have strong public support. 



The following suggestions for modification of Senate Bill 59 

 are put forth with only the sincerest hope that the resulting 

 Bill, as amended, can be enacted and lead directly and quickly to 

 the best possible management of our federally owned lands in 

 south-western Nevada. The guiding principle has been the essence 

 of good stewardship - to preserve the resources we have, while 

 responsibly developing the new resources we need. Some of the 

 actions proposed may appear to break new ground, but Nevada has 

 often been a leader in the past, and can certainly do so again. 



