Nevada Lands Hearing Committee on Resources

NEVADA LANDS HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 449 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR AN ORDERLY DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN FED- ERAL LANDS IN CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS IN THE STATE OF NEVADA MARCH 13, 1997ÐWASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 105±5 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 40±299 CC WASHINGTON : 1997 COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, California JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland Samoa KEN CALVERT, California NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii RICHARD W. POMBO, California SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELOÂ , Puerto WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina Rico WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York JOHN SHADEGG, Arizona ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada SAM FARR, California ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island CHRIS CANNON, Utah ADAM SMITH, Washington KEVIN BRADY, Texas WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts JOHN PETERSON, Pennsylvania CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana RICK HILL, Montana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado NICK LAMPSON, Texas JIM GIBBONS, Nevada RON KIND, Wisconsin MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho LLOYD A. JONES, Chief of Staff ELIZABETH MEGGINSON, Chief Counsel CHRISTINE KENNEDY, Chief Clerk/Administrator JOHN LAWRENCE, Democratic Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah, Chairman ELTON, GALLEGLY, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee Samoa JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia RICHARD W. POMBO, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan LINDA SMITH, Washington FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELOÂ , Puerto WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina Rico JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island RICK HILL, Montana WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts JIM GIBBONS, Nevada DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands RON KIND, Wisconsin ALLEN FREEMYER, Counsel STEVE HODAPP, Professional Staff LIZ BIRNBAUM, Democratic Counsel (II) C O N T E N T S Page Hearing held March 13, 1997 ................................................................................. 1 Text of H.R. 449 ....................................................................................................... 42 Statements of Members: Bryan, Hon. Richard, a U.S. Senator from Nevada ....................................... 4 Duncan, Hon. John, a U.S. Representative from Tennessee ........................ 6 Ensign, Hon. John, a U.S. Representative from Nevada .............................. 1 Faleomavaega, Hon. Eni, a U.S. Delegate from American Samoa ............... 6 Hansen, Hon. James V., a U.S. Representative from Utah .......................... 2 Reid, Hon. Harry, a U.S. Senator from Nevada ............................................. 3 Statements of witnesses: Hobbs, Steve, Nevada State Director, The Nature Conservancy ................. 29 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 39 Malone, Lance, Clark County (Nevada) Commissioner ................................. 25 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 34 Millenbach, Mat, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management ............... 12 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 32 Wimmer, Richard, Deputy General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority ....................................................................................................... 27 Prepared statement ................................................................................... 38 (III) DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LANDS IN CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ENVIRON- MENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS IN THE STATE OF NEVADA THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1997 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON NA- TIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS, COMMITTEE ON RE- SOURCES, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:05 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. John Ensign pre- siding. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN ENSIGN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEVADA Mr. ENSIGN. The Subcommittee will come to order. I would like to welcome my colleagues from the State of Nevada and the rest of the people who are going to be testifying today. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands will com- mence this meeting. Chairman Hansen has a conflict this morning and has graciously asked me to chair the Subcommittee. Although he isn't here, I would like to extend my gratitude to him on behalf of the people of Nevada for his work in passing this bill. We came extremely close last year to sending this legislation to the Presi- dent, and with his efforts I am very optimistic that we will ulti- mately be successful this year. He has submitted a statement and has asked that it be included as part of the record. And without objection, it will be so ordered. Likewise, I understand that Nevada Governor Bob Miller has submitted a statement for the record. And I appreciate his contin- ued support on this legislation. And it should be included in the record without objection. This morning we are going to hear testimony on my legislation, H.R. 449, the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1997. I would like to welcome all who are going to testify today in taking time out of their busy schedule, especially those who have come from our home State. It is always a pleasure to see familiar faces from the State of Nevada on the east coast. And, Mat, also, it is good to see and have you here, now that you are a big tele- vision star. We have come a long way since this bill's conception. Senator Bryan and I have worked very closely with our respective local (1) 2 Public Lands Task Forces to craft legislation to address a variety of interests and concerns. After extensive negotiation, we have the support of local environmentalists, developers, recreationalists, the Clark County Commission, Governor Miller, local utility provides, and the Administration. I understand that there are some very minute issues that still need some tinkering, which I am sure Mr. Millenbach will explain, but I am extremely optimistic that we can reach an agreement that accommodates everyone involved. As some may know, or may not know, Las Vegas, Nevada, is the fastest growing metropolitan city in the country. In addition, 87 percent of the State of Nevada is federally owned. This dueling combination puts enormous pressure on local elected officials, BLM officials, and, most importantly, the current residents who are forced to shoulder the price tag of this development. H.R. 449 provides the essential mechanisms to: (1) allow this growth to occur in an orderly fashion by allowing local officials a seat at the table; (2) ensure this growth occurs without neglecting the environment by funneling revenue for acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands and to our existing Federal facilities, such as Lake Tahoe, Red Rock and Lake Mead; (3) provides money to offset a $1.7 billion water delivery system for Las Vegas; And finally, H.R. 449 helps future generations by providing some revenue for education. Although the BLM has made dramatic improvements to the way they handle the land exchange process, as evidenced by the way the recent and current exchanges appear to have been handled, however, the process doesn't work to give the fairest value of the land in a fast-growing area like Las Vegas. Therefore, an open, fair market auction process will best serve the American people by en- suring the most revenue to purchase and improve our favorite envi- ronmental areas. I believe very strongly that the Ensign/Bryan bill will be model legislation for other cities as they experience increased rates of growth. I am looking forward to hearing the comments of our two panels of witnesses and other members of the Subcommittee and look forward to working with my colleagues on its expeditious pas- sage. [Statement of Hon. Jim Hansen follows:] STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES V. HANSEN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM UTAH; AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS H.R. 449, the legislation before the Subcommittee today, is a critical component in providing for the orderly disposal of federal lands in Clark County, Nevada. It builds on the existing Santini-Burton Act and enhances the best elements of that Act. As the witnesses and Mr. Ensign will testify, the Las Vegas valley has experi- enced unprecedented growth over the past decade. Driven by sustained employment

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