Nevada land transfer opponents prepare for legislative hearing

A conservation group sent out a rally cry Tuesday for those opposed to a sweeping federal-to-state public land transfer. In an email, the Nevada Conservation League asked recipients to take action against Senate Joint Resolution 1 by encouraging lawmakers to vote down the measure, and voicing their disapproval at a meeting next week. “This is a crucial moment, when grassroots action can make an enormous difference,” the message states. The resolution asks congress to transfer an initial 7.2 million acres of federal land to the State of Nevada. The remaining public land – excluding military sites, tribal land, wilderness and Great Basin National Park – would be transferred on request. Those backing the bill, however, said the state would actually supplement its budget by tens of millions if it had control over the land. A study completed at the behest of the Nevada Public Land Management Task Force, chaired by Elko County Commissioner Demar Dahl, estimated the state stood to gain about $26 million in the first year of the proposed transfer. Dahl said the intent is for all existing rights to transfer with the land. He and other proponents believe a land transfer would increase access to public lands, and that public land concerns will be better resolved in Carson City than Washington D.C. Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, said the 7.2 million acres targeted for the initial transfer are comprised of areas the Bureau of Land Management identified for disposal, as well as “checkerboard land” made up of alternating public and private squares that line the railroad corridor...more