U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) on Monday introduced bipartisan legislation to enable protecting and preserving iconic Western federal lands with special conservation importance without using taxpayer funds.
Heller’s bill reauthorizes the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), which expired in 2011. Prior to expiration, FLTFA permitted U.S. Department of Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to use certain federal lands sales proceeds to protect exceptional public lands.
“This bipartisan program provides a fiscally responsible way to protect and manage important public lands in Nevada and throughout the West. Not only will it spur economic growth and development, it will also keep conservation at the forefront of the region’s needs,” said Sen. Heller.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) joined Heller in introducing S. 2185. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Steve Daines (R-MT) cosponsored the bill.
“FLTFA is a common sense program that achieves the dual goals of conservation and economic development,” Heinrich said. “These funds have been used to protect iconic lands in New Mexico including in the Aztec Ruins National Monument, Santa Fe National Forest, and Elk Springs. FLTFA helps our state preserve the places that draw visitors from around the world and sustain outdoor traditions like hunting and fishing for generations to come.”
Among the more than 165 organizations supporting Heller’s legislation are the Conservation Fund, the Trust for Public Land, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and the Nevada Land Trust.
“Supporting vibrant economies and safeguarding our environment are both essential to Americans,” said Larry Selzer, president and chief executive officer of The Conservation Fund. “That is why we applaud Senators Heinrich and Heller for their leadership in recognizing FLTFA as a practical and effective tool that has allowed businesses, ranchers, counties and others to buy land for strategic growth, while enabling public agencies to protect outstanding natural lands for public recreation in the West.”