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, A reasonable amount of wilderness area in this state

1-13  provides for a diverse spectrum of recreational opportunities in

1-14  Nevada, promotes tourism and provides a place for Nevadans to

1-15  escape the pressures of urban growth; and

1-16      Whereas, In conjunction with the provisions of the Wilderness

1-17  Act, the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the

2-1  Interior manages approximately 3.86 million acres of federal public

2-2  lands in Nevada identified as wilderness study areas; and

2-3  Whereas, Until a wilderness study area is designated by

2-4  Congress as a wilderness area or released, the wilderness study area

2-5  must be managed in a manner that does not impair its suitability for

2-6  preservation as a wilderness area; and

2-7  Whereas, Because approximately 2 million acres of federal

2-8  public land in Nevada have been designated as wilderness areas and

2-9  approximately 8.6 percent of the federal public land in Nevada that

2-10  is managed by the Bureau of Land Management has been identified

2-11  as wilderness study areas and because such designation or

2-12  identification is believed to impose significant restrictions

2-13  concerning the management and use of such land, including land

2-14  used for mining, ranching and recreation, the Legislative

2-15  Commission appointed a subcommittee in 2001 to conduct an

2-16  interim study of wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this

2-17  state; and

2-18      Whereas, During the 2001-2002 legislative interim, the

2-19  subcommittee met several times throughout this state and facilitated

2-20  important and wide-ranging discussions among many agencies,

2-21  organizations and persons with diverse interests, perspectives and

2-22  expertise concerning wilderness areas and wilderness study areas;

2-23  and

2-24      Whereas, Although the subcommittee obtained valuable

2-25  information concerning the selection, management and use of

2-26  wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and

2-27  although Congress recently enacted the Clark County Conservation

2-28  of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, Public Law 107-

2-29  282 (2002), which released approximately 224,000 acres in Clark

2-30  County from its current status as a wilderness study area, additional

2-31  study of these issues is still needed as a significant majority of the

2-32  federal public land in Nevada that had been previously designated as

2-33  a wilderness area or identified as a wilderness study area remains

2-34  designated or identified as such; now, therefore, be it

2-35      Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

2-36  Assembly Concurring, That the Legislative Committee on

2-37  Public Lands is hereby directed to continue the study of wilderness

2-38  areas and wilderness study areas in this state, and that the

2-39  Legislative Commission is hereby directed to appoint two additional

2-40  members of the Senate and two additional members of the

2-41  Assembly who are representative of various geographical areas of

2-42  this state to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands for the

2-43  purposes of this study; and be it further

 

 

3-1  Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

3-2  1.  An examination of the manner in which wilderness areas

3-3  and wilderness study areas are selected, managed and used, and the

3-4  laws, regulations and policies of the Federal Government relating to

3-5  that selection, management and use;

3-6  2.  Consideration of whether areas of this state are suitable for

3-7  possible designation by Congress as wilderness areas; and

3-8  3.  A review of any other issues or subjects concerning the

3-9  establishment, management or use of a wilderness area or

3-10  wilderness study area in this state, as deemed necessary by the

3-11  subcommittee; and be it further

3-12      Resolved, That in conducting the study, the Legislative

3-13  Committee on Public Lands shall seek input from various

3-14  governmental agencies, organizations and persons concerning

3-15  wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in this state; and be it

3-16  further

3-17      Resolved, That any recommendations that result from the

3-18  study relating to the manner in which Congress designates

3-19  wilderness areas or identifies wilderness study areas must be

3-20  submitted to each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation;

3-21  and be it further

3-22      Resolved, That the Legislative Committee on Public Lands

3-23  shall submit a report of the results of the study and any

3-24  recommendations for legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada

3-25  Legislature.

 

3-26  H