Summary#
This bill would change ownership and uses of many specific federal lands in northern Nevada. It directs federal agencies to convey, sell, or transfer parcels to the State, counties, cities, local districts, and the Washoe Tribe. The bill also designates new wilderness areas (for example, Burbank Canyons and several areas in Pershing County), creates land for parks and recreation, authorizes land for flood control and wildfire risk reduction, and establishes special Treasury accounts to hold sale proceeds for local and federal land management purposes. The bill includes procedures for surveys, appraisals, disclosure of hazardous substances, and limits on remediation duties by the United States. It also includes provisions about a Greenlink West project right-of-way on tribal land and the release of certain federal reversionary interests to the State.
What it means for you#
- Local governments, districts, and tribes named in the bill could receive federal land for parks, flood control, wildfire management, or economic development, sometimes without payment and sometimes for fair market value depending on the section.
- New wilderness areas would be added to the National Wilderness Preservation System and managed under the Wilderness Act, which affects permitted uses in those areas.
- The Washoe Tribe would receive specified land held in trust and that land would become part of the Tribe's reservation, but the bill says that land taken into trust is not eligible for class II or class III gaming.
- The bill requires certain local approvals or certifications (for example, compliance with county zoning or master plans) before some lands are sold.
Expenses#
- In many conveyances, the recipient (State, county, city, district, or qualified buyer) must pay costs associated with the transfer such as surveys, appraisals, environmental disclosure, and administrative or closing fees.
- Where land is sold, sales must be at not less than fair market value unless the text specifies conveyance without consideration. Appraisals must follow federal appraisal standards.
- Proceeds from specified sales are divided in set shares (examples in the bill): 5 percent to the State for general education, 10 percent to the County for local budgeting, and the remainder to a named special account (for example, the "Douglas County Special Account" or the "Pershing County Special Account") to be used for reimbursements, land acquisition, conservation, flood control, hazardous fuels reduction, and other listed purposes. The Carson City special account lists specific allowed uses including wildlife habitat projects and hazardous fuels reduction.
- The bill says the United States will meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances but generally will not be required to remediate or remove improvements as a condition of conveyance.
Proponents' View#
The bill text states its purposes in multiple places: to promote conservation, improve public land, provide for sensible local development, enhance public recreation, improve hazardous fuels management and flood control, resolve wilderness study areas, and support tribal land needs. It also includes findings in the Pershing County title that describe consolidation of checkerboard lands to simplify management and improve the local tax base.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.