Amodei says lands bill on track

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei said in his weekly report issued Oct. 21 that H.R. 3173, the Northern Nevada Economic Development & Conservation Act, is on track for a markup when the House returns to session in mid-November.

Among the key provisions of the act are initiatives that specifically focus on Douglas County, Pershing County, Carson City, Fernley, and Elko. In Fernley, the bill would give the City the authority to acquire federal land within the city limits for future development.

“This markup is a crucial step in the legislative process and will be critical for ensuring the bill’s passage before the conclusion of this Congress,” Amodei said.

Amodei reintroduced the bill in May 2023 that would allow for the conveyance of more than 12,000 acres of federal land to the City of Fernley as part of a larger federal lands conveyance. The bill also allows for the conveyance of federal lands to Douglas County, Pershing County, Carson City, the City of Sparks, and the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVIGD) for public purposes and economic development.

Additionally, the bill would designate nearly 150,000 acres of wilderness in northern Nevada and remove the possibility of oil and gas leasing in over 300,000 acres of the Ruby Mountains of Elko County. This represents over 450,000 acres of land given conservation protections, compared to the less than 40,000 acres identified for development.

The price of the land would be determined by the Secretary of the Interior by an appraisal. The city would pay all costs for the conveyance, including all surveys, appraisals and other administrative costs. Any gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of Federal land under this section shall be deposited into the special account created by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998.