FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2002

NEWS RELEASE

Date: Time: Place:

October 7, 2002 9:30 a.m. Legislative Building Room 4100 401 South Carson Street Carson City, Nevada videoconferenced to: Grant Sawyer State Office Building Room 4412 555 East Washington Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada

Contact:

Scott Young, Committee Policy Analyst Legislative Committee on Public Lands’ Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas Subcommittee 401 South Carson Street Carson City, Nevada  89701-4747 (775) 684-6825

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS’ WILDERNESS AND WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS SUBCOMMITTEE TO MEET IN CARSON CITY

More than two decades ago, approximately 5.1 million acres of Nevada land were designated as Wilderness Study Areas pursuant to federal law. As such, the Bureau of Land Management administers these tracts as though they are Wilderness Areas. The original intent of the United States Congress was to have these lands evaluated for permanent status as Wilderness Areas or returned to more general use. However, in the ensuing years, the various groups interested in using these lands have been unable to reach a consensus regarding the final disposition of the Wilderness Study Areas.

Nevada State Senator Dean A. Rhoads (R-Tuscarora) chairs a legislative Subcommittee established to review the status of those areas. At its upcoming and final meeting of the 2001‑2002 Legislative Interim, the Subcommittee will receive an update on the “Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002,” currently pending in Congress. Additionally, the White Pine County Public Land Users Advisory Committee and Friends of Nevada Wilderness will make presentations.

According to Senator Rhoads, “The Subcommittee has spent the interim period between legislative sessions traveling to various locations around the state in an effort to gather information from concerned citizens and federal, state, and local land management agencies. At the upcoming work session, we will discuss recommendations presented at these meetings and possible actions.”

The final meeting and work session of the Subcommittee will be held October 7, 2002, at the Legislative Building in Carson City with videoconference to the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas, beginning at 9:30 a.m. An agenda and work session document is attached to this news release. Members of the public are invited to attend and address the Subcommittee. Other members of the Subcommittee include Assemblyman P.M. “Roy” Neighbors, Vice Chairman (D‑Tonopah); Senator Mark E. Amodei (R‑Carson City); Senator Dina Titus (D‑Las Vegas); Assemblyman David F. Brown (R‑Henderson); and Assemblyman Jerry D. Claborn (D-Las Vegas).