MINUTES OF THE
SENATE Committee on Natural Resources
Seventy-First Session
May 23, 2001
The Senate Committee on Natural Resourceswas called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday, May 23, 2001 at the Conference Room in the Carson City Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. Exhibit A is the Agenda. There was no 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
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mark A. James (Excused)
Senator Raymond C. Shaffer (Excused)
Senator Bob Coffin (Excused)
Senator Maggie Carlton (Excused)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Fred W. Welden, Committee Policy Analyst
Billie Brinkman, Committee Manager
Heather Miller, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Robert V. Abbey, Nevada State Director, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Elaine Briggs, Field Office Director, Carson City, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mark Morse, Field Office Director, Las Vegas, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
C. Joe Guild III, Lobbyist, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association
Helen Hankins, Field Office Director, Elko, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Terry Read, Field Office Director, Winnemucca, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Jerry Smith, Field Office Director, Battle Mountain, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
Chairman Rhoads asked the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff to begin their presentation.
Robert V. Abbey, Nevada State Director, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, began his introduction of the staff, then read his presentation from a written statement (Exhibit B). He explained to the committee that the BLM was committed to creating healthy public lands through long-term management. He mentioned several restoration and academic projects currently underway in the BLM (Exhibit C). Mr. Abbey stated he was interested in working more closely with the Legislature than before, particularly the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
Chairman Rhoads asked if any of the nine power plants he had heard of were going to be built in northern Nevada. Elaine Briggs, Field Office Director, Carson City, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, answered that one would be close to Pyramid Lake. Chairman Rhoads asked how far along the construction plans were. Mr. Abbey replied the economic market would determine the speed of construction. Mr. Abbey added neighboring states had expressed an interest in purchasing Nevada energy, which would boost the economy. Chairman Rhoads asked about the sale of land parcels, particularly in Las Vegas. Mark Morse, Field Office Director, Las Vegas, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, answered a recent sale in Las Vegas had been made for $58.4 million. Chairman Rhoads and Mr. Morse discussed the future sale of smaller parcels. Chairman Rhoads asked if the BLM had jurisdiction for other sales in the rest of the state. Mr. Abbey affirmed it did, and the lands are sold through competitive auctions. Chairman Rhoads inquired about a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) throughout the state. Mr. Abbey replied the BLM would welcome the Legislature’s involvement, stating he also wanted to sponsor workshops throughout Nevada on wilderness designations and what that means for the state.
C. Joe Guild III, Lobbyist, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, asked Mr. Abbey how much money was allotted to the BLM by the U.S. Congress. Mr. Abbey responded that he was not sure. Mr. Guild asked if those federal allotments were used to reduce the Nevada fuel load. Mr. Abbey affirmed the funding helped proactively reduce the fuel load. Mr. Guild asked if the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) would be filling its coordinator position this year. Mr. Abbey replied it would be since a coordinator was essential to the NACO administration.
Senator McGinness asked Mr. Abbey if there was any considerable interest coming from the recent mining boom. Mr. Abbey answered affirmatively, and said it was on the increase.
Chairman Rhoads asked if the BLM had received the full funding for the Wild Horse Program. Mr. Abbey stated the BLM had not been fully funded for the fiscal year of 2001, but full funding had been promised to the BLM for the next fiscal year. Mr. Abbey added this year’s goal was to remove 6000 horses to help maintain a healthy population.
Mr. Abbey stated trespassing was a serious problem on lands where the BLM was trying to mend and preserve native wildlife. He said the BLM wanted stricter penalties brought against those who trespass in the future to try and dissuade the public from unintentionally destroying the habitat.
Mr. Abbey called on each of the BLM field office directors of Nevada to give a brief report on the activities in their district. Those he called upon were Ms. Briggs, Mr. Morse, Helen Hankins, Field Office Director, Elko, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Terry Read, Field Office Director, Winnemucca, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, and Jerry Smith, Field Office Director, Battle Mountain, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. Each gave a brief summary, with the following items discussed: land sales, funding, and fire safety.
Chairman Rhoads thanked the BLM staff for their presentation, and as there was no further business, he adjourned the meeting at 3:25 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Heather Miller,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman
DATE: