MINUTES OF THE
SENATE Committee on Natural Resources
Seventieth Session
February 3, 1999
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, February 3, 1999, in Room 2144 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All Exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman
Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Vice Chairman
Senator Mike McGinness
Senator Mark A. James
Senator Raymond C. Shaffer
Senator Bob Coffin
Senator Maggie Carlton
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Fred Welden, Committee Policy Analyst
Scott Corbett, Committee Secretary
Billie Brinkman, Personal Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Robert V. Abbey, State of Nevada Director, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of the Interior
Gloria E. Flora, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture
Chairman Rhoads requested a motion for the adoption of the committee’s Standing Rules (Exhibit C).
SENATOR COFFIN MOVED TO ADOPT THE COMMITTEE STANDING RULES.
SENATOR SHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS JACOBSEN, JAMES AND McGINNESS WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
*****
Chairman Rhoads commented that almost every topic that is going to be heard on public lands and water is probably in the Legislative Counsel Bureau Bulletin No. 99-13, Legislative Committee on Public Lands (Exhibit D. Original is on file in the Research Library.).
Chairman Rhoads requested that the following bill draft requests (BDRs) be passed as one motion:
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 45-460: Defines "license" and "permit" for purposes of assessment of demerit points for wildlife convictions. (Later introduced as Senate Bill (S.B.) 106.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 45-461: Authorizes board of wildlife commissioners to adopt regulations setting forth circumstances under which person may fish in certain lakes or ponds without license, permit or stamp. (Later introduced as S.B. 105.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST R-918: Express support of Nevada Legislature for amendment to Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require identification, mapping and recognition of certain rights of way across land administered by Federal Government. (Later introduced as S.J.R. 2.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST R-919: Urges Congress to appropriate money for, or to transfer land to, counties in Nevada that have received insufficient payments under federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act. (Later introduced as S.J.R. 1.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 49-923: Creates position of weed control analyst within division of agriculture of department of business and industry. (Later introduced as S.B. 107.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST R-921: Expresses strong disapproval of certain regulations concerning regional haze proposed by United States Environmental Protection Agency. (Later introduced as S.J.R. 3.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 48-922: Revises provisions governing interbasin transfers of water. (Later introduced as S.B. 108.)
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 50-612: Revises provisions governing sterilization of pets.
SENATOR McGINNESS MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 45-460, BDR 45-461, BDR R-918, BDR R-919, BDR 49-923, BDR R-921, BDR 48-922, and BDR 50-612.
SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR JACOBSEN AND SENATOR JAMES WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
*****
Chairman Rhoads asked for a motion to refer BDR 49-923 to the Senate Committee on Finance.
SENATOR McGINNESS MOVED TO SEND BDR 49-923 TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
SENATOR SHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR JACOBSEN WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
*****
Chairman Rhoads introduced Robert V. Abbey, State of Nevada Director, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States Department of the Interior and Gloria E. Flora, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Department of Agriculture, to update and inform the committee on some of the current issues in which each of their departments are involved.
Mr. Abbey spoke from prepared remarks (Exhibit E) which consisted of an overview of BLM’s programs and topics that were raised before the Nevada Legislature’s Committee on Public Lands during the past year as well as upcoming issues.
Chairman Rhoads asked Mr. Abbey if the money for wild horse management is included in the BLM’s allotted budget of $33.5 million for the State of Nevada for this fiscal year.
Mr. Abbey said that the wild horse management funds were included. He continued to discuss topics including mining regulations, range management that included efforts to fight noxious weeds, the BLM lands program, and the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.
Senator James expressed concern on how the Las Vegas Airport Authority is going to be able to develop approximately 5,000 acres given to them under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.
Mr. Abbey said that when the deeds to these lands are handed over to Clark County they will include a reverter clause and some special language on how these lands can be used and how any revenues generated can be utilized.
Chairman Rhoads raised concern on a bill that is similar to the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act for the northern part of the state called the Nevada Lands Bill. He said that certain poor counties in the state might need additional acreage to be added to this bill to help them financially.
Mr. Abbey finished his presentation with topics on recreational use on public lands, BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and the BLM’s wilderness program.
Gloria E. Flora gave a presentation from prepared remarks (Exhibit F) concerning the issues surrounding the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for fiscal year 1999. Ms. Flora covered projects that USFS is pursuing for this fiscal year as well as working partnerships between other government and private entities. Ms. Flora also mentioned that USFS is involved in a land adjustment program that creates additional opportunities for recreation in addition to protecting natural and cultural resources and is continuing with its prevention program on noxious weeds.
Fred Welden, Committee Policy Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau distributed a handout on key dates for the 1999 Legislative Session (Exhibit G) and a committee brief for the Senate Committee on Natural Resources (Exhibit H) that outlined types of measures that came before this committee in the 1997 Legislative Session.
There being no further business and no public comment before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Scott Corbett,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman
DATE: