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TESTIMONY OP FRED WIGHT, NEVADA WILDLIFE FEDERATION, June 50, 1987 



consideration as we move in that economic direction. The actions 

 that Aerojet agrees to take or will permit to be taken will result in 

 reasonable mitigation and enhancement of wildlife values. Bighorn 

 sheep, upland game birds and their watering devices on site and off 

 site (guzzlers) have been addressed. Extract iai of ground water and 

 its possible impacts upon wildlife particularly endangered fish, 

 and other water interests is the responsibility of the State Engineer 

 and fall under state water law for administration. 



The primary loss from our point of interest that will occur if 

 S854 becomes law is no further public use of the 42,800 acres of 

 Coyote Spring Valley and reduced access opoortunity to west side of 

 the Meadow Valley Mountains. The trade-off will be economic benefit 

 to Lincoln County and Clark County and hopefully employment opportunit- 

 ies for Lincoln County residents to help offset the swings in mining 

 boom and bust and reduced railroad employment. 



The desert tortoise stands to gain under the proposal. While 

 Nevada does not consider the tortoise to be threatened or endangered, 

 some populations are in decline. Factors bearing upon the species 

 are human encroachment on their habitat, livestock grazing, abusive 

 off-road vehicle use, highway mortalities, collection and holding the 

 reptiles as pets which is illegal. The provisions in Exhibit F, 

 Section 9 (pgs.3-4) provides for settirg aside 17,885 acres to "enable 

 and encourage continued study and observation of the desert tortoise." 

 The area selected for set-aside holds higher populations in the general 

 area and are considered as critical habitat by wildlife specialists. 

 By phasing out grazing, posting and patrolling the area for Aerojet 

 security and fencing to reduce vehicle mortality means the population 

 will not be subject to the present random-indiscriminate uses and will 

 benefit from reduced man-caused hazards. In reality, a reserve is being 

 created in Nevada for these reptiles, something that government has yet 

 done. The net effect would seem to be wildlife enhancement. 



We have heard Aero jet testimony before the Nevada Legislature's 

 Senate and Assembly Committees that deal with natural resources in 

 which the 17,885 acre set-aside was described as a "Conservation 

 Reserve" with the declaration that it is to be in perpetuity as a 



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