261 



Opposition to the transfer of Forest Service land to the BLM resulted in a 

 controversial multistate bill and a separate 1986 bill for Nevada which 

 subsequently died in committee. 



S. 59/H.R. 267 addresses and rectifies many of the concerns expressed by 

 the citizens and elected officials of Nevada under earlier legislation. 

 The Clark County Board of County Commissioners has not taken formal action 

 on the proposed bills but has a resolution of support on its July 7, 1987 

 Board meeting agenda. 



Staff comments to the proposed legislation are the following: 



S. 59/H.R. 267 proposes to transfer some 511,000 acres of land currently 

 administered by BLM in northern Nevada and in the Spring Mountain Range, 

 north of Las Vegas, to the Humboldt and Toiyabe National Forests. Map 2 

 illustrates the lands to be transferred in southern Nevada. 23,000 acres 

 of forest land will conversely be transferred to BLM in Mineral County. 

 The lands to be transferred to the Forest Service are coterminous with 

 existing national forest lands, are of scenic beauty and should be included 

 within the administration of the Forest Service. In many cases, the lands 

 included in the transfer are, as an example, part of the same watersheds. 

 It is, therefore, logical and would be more efficient if they are managed 

 by the same agency. The public lands transferred by the Act contain 

 valuable natural resources which will be afforded the opportunity of mana- 

 gement by the professional expertise of the Forest Service. 



Tourism is, of course, a major sector of Nevada's economy. Much of 

 Nevada's tax revenues are derived from tourist dollars. In addition to 



