Summary#
This bill moves many federal lands in southern Nevada into new uses. It would transfer large areas into trust for two tribes (the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe), add and change boundaries for conservation and recreation areas, create several "Special Management Areas," add new wilderness areas, and set aside land for local public uses like water supply, fire and police facilities, parks, and a job creation zone. The bill also updates parts of the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, creates off-highway vehicle recreation areas, and includes rules about road use, utility corridors, and mining and leasing withdrawals in some areas. Several conveyances require surveys or local cost payments and some projects (for example, erosion-control weirs) are tied to the availability of appropriations.
What it means for you#
- Tribal communities: The Moapa Band and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe would receive large parcels of federal land to be held in trust and added to their reservations. Lands taken into trust under the bill are not eligible for class II or class III gaming. Some water-rights rules are specified in the bill.
- Local governments: Clark County and several cities could receive or manage federal parcels for job development, public safety buildings, water infrastructure, parks, and fire training. Some land transfers allow the local entity to sell or lease parcels (usually at fair market value) or keep them for public uses. Some conveyed lands may revert to the United States if not used for their intended public purpose.
- Conservation and recreation: The bill adjusts boundaries for Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon, designates Special Management Areas with protections (such as limits on new roads and motorized travel except on designated routes), adds many acres to the National Wilderness Preservation System, and creates off-highway vehicle recreation areas with management plans.
- Utilities and projects: The bill preserves some existing utility and transmission rights-of-way and allows certain utility or water pipeline rights-of-way under conditions. It requires management plans to account for maintenance, avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts.
Expenses#
No publicly available information on total federal costs. The bill requires some local entities (for example, Clark County and certain cities) to pay costs related to surveys and conveyance processing. Construction of the lower Las Vegas Wash erosion-control weirs is subject to the availability of appropriations. Some conveyances are made without consideration to local governments, while sales by local governments to third parties generally must be at fair market value.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.