FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2001
NEWS RELEASE
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Date: Time: Place: |
December 7, 2001 9 a.m. Pioche Town Hall Hinman and Main Streets Pioche, Nevada |
Contact: |
Linda Eissmann, Committee Staff Director Legislative Committee on Public Lands Carson City, Nevada 89701-4747 (775) 684-6825 |
PUBLIC LANDS COMMITTEE TO MEET IN PIOCHE
Senator Dean A. Rhoads (R-Tuscarora), Chairman, is pleased to announce that Nevada’s Legislative Committee on Public Lands will hold its third meeting of the 2001‑2002 Legislative Interim at the Pioche Town Hall on Friday, December 7, at 9 a.m. An agenda is attached to this news release.
The Public Lands Committee was created in 1983, as a permanent committee of the Nevada Legislature. Its purpose is to review and comment on federal land management policies and practices, and to provide a forum for the discussion of public lands matters. The committee holds meetings throughout Nevada during the interim period, and looks to local governments and residents to provide information that may be used for future legislation or other legislative actions.
“Every county in Nevada has an interest in the use and management of our public lands,” Rhoads said. “The Legislature’s Public Lands Committee wants to know how we might provide assistance or support to our local governments to address concerns and opportunities relative to the public lands in this state.” Typical public lands topics may address grazing, mining, public access, recreation, and a variety of natural resource and land use topics.
December’s meeting will begin with several briefings about subjects of local concern to Lincoln and White Pine Counties. The committee will receive reports about projects and activities common to both counties, including grazing activities by the State Grazing Board, efforts with the Great Basin Restoration Initiative, and various rural land and water projects. “The Great Basin Restoration Initiative is geared at restoring and maintaining the biological and ecological conditions of the Great Basin landscape throughout eastern Nevada,” explained Rhoads. “The impacts of noxious and invasive weeds, climatic shifts, and fires have seriously influenced the ecological diversity of the region.” The committee will receive an update of attempts to restore the natural diversity of 10 million acres of public land from the Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition.
Rhoads continued, “Everyone knows what a valuable and critical resource water is to Nevada. The committee is anxious to hear about rural water projects that are planned or underway in this part of the state.” To that end, Vidler Water Company and the Southern Nevada Water Authority will make presentations to the committee.
Projects of specific interest to Lincoln County will also be discussed at the meeting. These include the pinion-juniper harvest project by Resource Concepts, Inc. of Carson City, the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000, and the construction of a fence along a portion of U.S. Highway 319 east of Panaca to address public safety concerns.
Finally, the committee will receive a staff report on the “land in lieu of PILT” (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) proposal that was suggested by Lincoln County during the previous interim.
The other members of the Public Lands Committee are Assemblyman John W. Marvel, Vice Chairman (R-Battle Mountain); Senator Terry Care (D‑Las Vegas); Senator Mark A. James (R‑Las Vegas); Assemblyman Tom Collins (D‑Las Vegas); Assemblyman P.M. “Roy” Neighbors (D‑Tonopah); and Eureka County Commissioner Pete Goicoechea.