228 



Board of County Commissioners of 

 Lincoln County, Nevada 



P.O. BOX 329. PIOCHE, NEVADA 89043 

 TELEPHONE (702)962-5185 



TESTIK3NY OF LENARD SMTIH 



LINCOLN COUNTY OC»lMISSIONER 



CALIENTE, NEVADA 



CN S.854 



BEFiQRE 



SUBXMMmEE CN HJBLIC LANDS, NATICffJAL PARKS, AND P3RESTS 



SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OCWMi'lTEE 



JUNE 30, 1987 



Mr. Chairman and Meaonbers of the Ocanmittee. . . 



It is a great honor and rare privilege to come to this, the greatest 

 capitol on earth, guardian of that Constitution which I firmly believe 

 was divinely inspired by the Almighty to lead the earth to peace and 

 liberty. 



I give my testimony today in complete sincerity of heart, knowing the 

 plight of my people and the needs and circumstances of our area. 



I I beUeve that this Aerojet proposal is one of the greatest opportunities for Linaoln 

 Oounty in this century, and may indeed save our cxxmty frcm extinction. 



There are several issues to be seriously considered: 

 1. FEDERAL vs. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP 



When Nevada was brought into the Union, it was with the agree- 

 ment that it was to be on an equal footing with the other states. To 

 make a long story short, Nevada never realized this goal, as you all 

 realize very well. We are yet dominated by 872 publicly administered 

 land. Until the 1976 Federal Land Policy Act, we.were still operating 

 under laws that were of the understanding that these vacant lands of 

 Nevada were only held in a caretaker status until such time as was 

 right to be transferred to private or state administration. 



