House bill would transfer land to Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe would receive more than 6,000 acres of BLM land under a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

The bill, H.R. 2733, the Nevada Native Nations Land Act, would allow public land to be held in trust for six different tribes throughout Nevada.

For the Pyramid Lake tribe, that means approximately 6,357 acres of BLM land in Washoe County would be held in trust to expand the reservation boundary to fully incorporate the watershed of Pyramid Lake. Other sections near the lake would be used for potential economic development and management efficiency.

The bill passed the house June 7 and was sent to the Senate June 8. A senate hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Sponsored by Congressman Mark Amodei, the bill would allow Nevada’s tribes to address housing shortages, promote development of natural resources, support additional grazing and agricultural activities, promote renewable energy, preserve cultural resources and protect their communities against illegal shooting and activities.

The legislation is supported by the Nevada congressional delegation, Washoe County, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and multiple off-highway vehicle (OHV) organizations.

The bill requires the United States to hold in trust lands for the benefit of: Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Duckwater Shoshone Tribe.