Specific federal lands would be conveyed to several northern Nevada jurisdictions for both economic development and to promote conservation if a bill offered by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) is enacted.
“In Nevada, everybody recognizes the importance of striking the right balance between our state’s development and conservation needs,” Rep. Amodei said on Wednesday.
The Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2023, H.R. 3173, which Rep. Amodei sponsored on May 10, would permit the conveyance of federal lands to Douglas County, Pershing County, Carson City, the City of Fernley, the City of Sparks, and the Incline Village General Improvement District in Nevada, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff.
Additionally, H.R. 3173 would designate nearly 150,000 acres of wilderness in northern Nevada and remove the possibility of oil and gas leasing in over 300,000 acres of the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, the summary says, noting that this would represent over 450,000 acres of land given conservation protections, compared to the less than 40,000 acres identified for development.
Specifically, H.R. 3173 would transfer approximately 67 acres to the State of Nevada to be used for state parks and convey roughly 7,777 acres to Douglas County for flood management and public purposes. The bill also would allow for public sale of up to 60 acres within one year of enactment and would direct special use permits for 188 acres for critical flood protection and water infrastructure sites, the summary says.
Additionally, the bill would convey some 1,084 acres to Douglas County to be used for open space, transfer approximately 2,669 acres to the Washoe Tribe, and designate 12,392 acres as wilderness area.
“I’m grateful to the city and county officials, business leaders, and others with boots on the ground who provided the input necessary to craft this critical legislation,” said Rep. Amodei. “I remain committed to seeing it pass the House this year, which will hopefully give the Senate enough time to do its job.”
A similar version of this legislation was previously introduced in the 117th Congress as the Northern Nevada Economic Development, Conservation, and Military Modernization Act, H.R. 5243, according to the congressman’s staff.