Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7–Committee on Natural Resources

 

(On Behalf of the Legislative Committee on Public Lands’ Subcommittee on Wilderness and
Wilderness Study Areas)

 

February 11, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Natural Resources

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Committee on Public Lands to continue study of wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state. (BDR R‑717)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

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

 

1-1  Whereas, The provisions of 16 U.S.C. §§ 1131 et seq.,

1-2  commonly referred to as the Wilderness Act, establish the National

1-3  Wilderness Preservation System, which consists of areas of federal

1-4  public land that are designated by Congress as wilderness areas; and

1-5  Whereas, Congress has designated approximately 2 million

1-6  acres of certain federal public lands in Nevada as wilderness areas;

1-7  and

1-8  Whereas, If an area of federal public land is designated as a

1-9  wilderness area, it must be managed in a manner that preserves the

1-10  wilderness character of the area and ensures that the area remains

1-11  unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as a wilderness area; and

1-12      Whereas, In conjunction with the provisions of the Wilderness

1-13  Act, the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the

1-14  Interior manages approximately 3.86 million acres of federal public

1-15  lands in Nevada identified as wilderness study areas; and

1-16      Whereas, Until a wilderness study area is designated by

1-17  Congress as a wilderness area or released, the wilderness study area

2-1  must be managed in a manner that does not impair its suitability for

2-2  preservation as a wilderness area; and

2-3  Whereas, Because a considerable amount of federal public

2-4  land in Nevada has been designated as wilderness areas and

2-5  approximately 8 percent of the federal public land in Nevada that is

2-6  managed by the Bureau of Land Management has been identified as

2-7  wilderness study areas and because such designation or

2-8  identification imposes significant restrictions concerning the

2-9  management and use of such land, including land used for mining,

2-10  ranching and recreation, the Legislative Commission appointed a

2-11  subcommittee in 2001 to conduct an interim study of wilderness

2-12  areas and wilderness study areas in this state; and

2-13      Whereas, During the 2001-2002 legislative interim, the

2-14  subcommittee met several times throughout this state and facilitated

2-15  important and wide-ranging discussions among many agencies,

2-16  organizations and persons with diverse interests, perspectives and

2-17  expertise concerning wilderness areas and wilderness study areas;

2-18  and

2-19      Whereas, Although the subcommittee obtained valuable

2-20  information concerning the selection, management and use of

2-21  wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and

2-22  although Congress recently enacted the Clark County Conservation

2-23  of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, Public Law 107-

2-24  282 (2002), which released approximately 224,000 acres in Clark

2-25  County from its current status as a wilderness study area, additional

2-26  study of these issues is still needed as a significant majority of the

2-27  federal public land in Nevada that had been previously designated as

2-28  a wilderness area or identified as a wilderness study area remains

2-29  designated or identified as such; now, therefore, be it

2-30      Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

2-31  Assembly Concurring, That the Legislative Committee on

2-32  Public Lands is hereby directed to continue the study of wilderness

2-33  areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and that the

2-34  Legislative Commission is hereby directed to appoint two additional

2-35  members of the Senate and two additional members of the

2-36  Assembly who are representative of various geographical areas of

2-37  this state to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands for the

2-38  purposes of this study; and be it further

2-39      Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-40      1.  An examination of the manner in which wilderness areas

2-41  and wilderness study areas are selected, managed and used, and the

2-42  laws, regulations and policies of the Federal Government relating to

2-43  that selection, management and use;

2-44      2.  Consideration of whether areas of this state are suitable for

2-45  possible designation by Congress as wilderness areas; and

3-1  3.  A review of any other issues or subjects concerning the

3-2  establishment, management or use of a wilderness area or

3-3  wilderness study area in this state, as deemed necessary by the

3-4  subcommittee; and be it further

3-5  Resolved, That in conducting the study, the Legislative

3-6  Committee on Public Lands shall seek input from various

3-7  governmental agencies, organizations and persons concerning

3-8  wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state; and be it

3-9  further

3-10      Resolved, That any recommendations that result from the

3-11  study relating to the manner in which Congress designates

3-12  wilderness areas or identifies wilderness study areas must be

3-13  submitted to each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation;

3-14  and be it further

3-15      Resolved, That the Legislative Committee on Public Lands

3-16  shall submit a report of the results of the study and any

3-17  recommendations for legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada

3-18  Legislature.

 

3-19  H