Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7–Committee on
Natural Resources

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

SENATE Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Committee on Public Lands to continue the study of wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state.

 

    Whereas, The provisions of 16 U.S.C. §§ 1131 et seq.,

commonly referred to as the Wilderness Act, establish the National

Wilderness Preservation System, which consists of areas of federal

public land that are designated by Congress as wilderness areas; and

    Whereas, Congress has designated approximately 2 million

acres of certain federal public lands in Nevada as wilderness areas;

and

    Whereas, If an area of federal public land is designated as a

wilderness area, it must be managed in a manner that preserves the

wilderness character of the area and ensures that the area remains

unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as a wilderness area; and

    Whereas, A reasonable amount of wilderness area in this state

provides for a diverse spectrum of recreational opportunities in

Nevada, promotes tourism and provides a place for Nevadans to

escape the pressures of urban growth; and

    Whereas, In conjunction with the provisions of the Wilderness

Act, the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the

Interior manages approximately 3.86 million acres of federal public

lands in Nevada identified as wilderness study areas; and

    Whereas, Until a wilderness study area is designated by

Congress as a wilderness area or released, the wilderness study area

must be managed in a manner that does not impair its suitability for

preservation as a wilderness area; and

    Whereas, Because approximately 2 million acres of federal

public land in Nevada have been designated as wilderness areas and

approximately 8.6 percent of the federal public land in Nevada that

is managed by the Bureau of Land Management has been identified

as wilderness study areas and because such designation or

identification is believed to impose significant restrictions

concerning the management and use of such land, including land

used for mining, ranching and recreation, the Legislative

Commission appointed a subcommittee in 2001 to conduct an

interim study of wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this

state; and

    Whereas, During the 2001-2002 legislative interim, the

subcommittee met several times throughout this state and facilitated

important and wide-ranging discussions among many agencies,

organizations and persons with diverse interests, perspectives and


expertise concerning wilderness areas and wilderness study areas;

and

    Whereas, Although the subcommittee obtained valuable

information concerning the selection, management and use of

wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and

although Congress recently enacted the Clark County Conservation

of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, Public Law 107-

282 (2002), which released approximately 224,000 acres in Clark

County from its current status as a wilderness study area, additional

study of these issues is still needed as a significant majority of the

federal public land in Nevada that had been previously designated as

a wilderness area or identified as a wilderness study area remains

designated or identified as such; now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

Assembly Concurring, That the Legislative Committee on

Public Lands is hereby directed to continue the study of wilderness

areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and that the

Legislative Commission is hereby directed to appoint two additional

members of the Senate and two additional members of the

Assembly who are representative of various geographical areas of

this state to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands for the

purposes of this study; and be it further

    Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

    1.  An examination of the manner in which wilderness areas

and wilderness study areas are selected, managed and used, and the

laws, regulations and policies of the Federal Government relating to

that selection, management and use;

    2.  Consideration of whether areas of this state are suitable for

possible designation by Congress as wilderness areas; and

    3.  A review of any other issues or subjects concerning the

establishment, management or use of a wilderness area or

wilderness study area in this state, as deemed necessary by the

subcommittee; and be it further

    Resolved, That in conducting the study, the Legislative

Committee on Public Lands shall seek input from various

governmental agencies, organizations and persons concerning

wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state; and be it

further

    Resolved, That any recommendations that result from the

study relating to the manner in which Congress designates

wilderness areas or identifies wilderness study areas must be

submitted to each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation;

and be it further

    Resolved, That the Legislative Committee on Public Lands

shall submit a report of the results of the study and any


recommendations for legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada

Legislature.

 

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