Land Disposal – White Pine County
This title expands economic opportunity in White Pine County by allowing up to 45,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands to be made available for disposal through a joint selection process between the county and the BLM. A small portion of this total acreage will be available for sale each year, providing a long term opportunity for managed growth. Currently more than 94% of the land in White Pine County is managed by federal agencies, including more than 4,300,000 acres managed by the BLM.

The bill distributes 5% of land sales proceeds to the state education fund; 10% to White Pine County law enforcement, fire protection, transportation and natural resource planning; and 85% to fund protection of wilderness areas in White Pine County, to support a three-year study for a potential extension of the Silver State OHV trail, to inventory and protect unique archeological resources, and to carry out other provisions of the bill.

Wilderness – White Pine County
The bill resolves wilderness study areas throughout White Pine County by designating roughly 558,000 acres of wilderness in 13 new areas. Additionally, more than 54,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management are released from wilderness study designation. Important adjustments are also made to the Mt. Moriah and Currant Mountain wilderness areas originally designated in 1989.

Land Transfers and Great Basin National Park – White Pine County
This title makes two important transfers of land between federal agencies that will improve public land management in White Pine County. It transfers about 658 acres from the Bureau of Land Management to the Fish and Wildlife Service in the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge and about 117,000 acres of land surrounding the Great Basin National Park from the Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management, of which approximately 70,000 will be designated wilderness and roughly 55,000 will be withdrawn from land disposal and mineral laws to further protect the area and ensure popular hunting areas remain open and accessible.

Land Transfers for Nevada State Parks – White Pine County
The bill conveys land for two existing state parks and one state wildlife management area to expand and improve the management of these areas. The Charcoal Ovens State Park will receive about 658 acres of Bureau of Land Management land they currently manage as part of the park; Cave Lake State Park will receive a conveyance of land totaling 2,960 acres; and Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management area will receive approximately 6,281 acres to expand this popular waterfowl and wetlands area.

The bill also conveys two small parcels of land for the expansion of the airport and industrial park to support future economic development in White Pine County.

Off Highway Vehicle Trail – White Pine County
This title authorizes a 3-year study for the possible extension of the Silver State Off-Highway Vehicle Trail into White Pine County. It authorizes a route designation only if the Secretary determines that such a trail would not significantly impact wildlife habitat, natural or cultural resources.

Ely Shoshone Tribal Lands – White Pine County
Currently the Ely Shoshone Tribe holds 100 acres in two separate parcels within the city limits of Ely. This title transfers approximately 3,526 acres in four separate parcels to be held in trust for the Tribe. The largest parcel and majority of the land is designated for traditional and ceremonial uses only while the other parcels are for residential and commercial development, allowing the Ely Shoshone Tribe to be a partner in the growth and economic development of White Pine County.

Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition
The threat of catastrophic fire and the loss of habitat for key species is a critical issue in eastern Nevada and the larger Great Basin area. This bill provides funding through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act for federal agencies, in cooperation with the Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition and the Great Basin Institute, to carryout landscape-scale restoration projects that reduce the risk of fire and improve critical watersheds.

Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act Amendments
This title amends the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA) to improve the effectiveness of the Act, while proposing new conservation-oriented expenditure categories from the Special Account.

Specifically, for SNPLMA Special Account expenditure categories, the bill provides new authority for (1) three comprehensive, ten-year hazardous fuels and fire prevention plans for the Spring Mountains, the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the eastern Sierra in Douglas and Washoe Counties, and Carson City; (2) the Bureau of Land Management to clear and protect public lands in the Las Vegas Valley that are reserved for affordable housing, alleviating problems with dumping; (3) authority for Washoe County to access parks and trails funds from the Special Account to purchase remaining Ballardini Ranch lands for use as a passive park and natural area; (4) implementation of the Clark County Multispecies Habitat Conservation Program; and (5) authority for White Pine County to nominate conservation and parks projects to be funded by SNPLMA.

For SNPLMA improvements, the bill also speeds the progress of local governments’ parks and trails projects by replacing a cumbersome reimbursement system, which constrains the financial ability of local governments to finance projects, with a requirement that local governments be paid up front.

All-American Canal Projects
This title provides for the construction of the “Drop 2” reservoir along the Colorado River and provides for the lining of the All-American Canal to conserve and capture Colorado River water. The construction of these projects will be financed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the result will be the conservation of an average of 60,000 acre feet of water per year. In return for the financing of the projects, Nevada will be guaranteed the right to divert and consume a portion of water from Lake Mead in addition to Nevada’s basic apportionment of 300,000 acre feet. These measures will further help southern Nevada’s water needs.