[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Ensign):
  S. 1451. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain public land 
in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I rise today for myself and for Senator 
Ensign to introduce the Clark County Public Shooting Range Conveyance 
Act.
  Clark County and the Las Vegas Valley have experienced tremendous 
population growth over the past decade from about 770,000 in 1990 to 
over 1.4 million people today. This growth has had a tremendous impact 
on uses of the outlying public lands, including traditional 
recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and target shooting. 
There are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of makeshift shooting 
ranges across Las Vegas Valley which pose extreme danger to nearby 
homes and increasingly busy roads.
  My bill provides the foundation for the establishment of a world-
class shooting range, sports park and firearms training facility by 
conveying 2,880 acres of public land to Clark County. This facility 
will be used by residents of, and visitors to the Las Vegas Valley for 
recreation, education, competitive and marksmanship events, and 
training related to firearms. Firearms training facilities owned and 
operated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the North Las Vegas 
Police Department are also being encroached upon by residential and 
commercial development. Special facilities will be provided at the 
Clark County facility to accommodate law enforcement training for 
firearms qualification and certification.
  This facility will provide a great public benefit by creating a safe 
centralized location for this important purpose. It will enhance public 
safety by reducing indiscriminate shooting. This facility will also 
provide economic incentives to the Las Vegas Valley in the form of jobs 
and support services.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1451

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Las Vegas area has experienced such rapid growth in 
     the last few years that traditional locations for target 
     shooting are now too close to populated areas for safety;
       (2) there is a need to designate a centralized location in 
     the Las Vegas valley where target shooters can practice 
     safely; and
       (3) a central facility is also needed for persons training 
     in the use of firearms, such as local law enforcement and 
     security personnel.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to provide a suitable location for the establishment of 
     a centralized shooting facility in the Las Vegas valley; and
       (2) to provide the public with--
       (A) opportunities for education and recreation; and
       (B) a location for competitive events and marksmanship 
     training.
       (c) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to Clark County, Nevada, subject to valid existing 
     rights, for no consideration, all right, title, and interest 
     of the United States in and to the parcels of land described 
     in subsection (d).
       (d) Land Descriptions.--The parcels of land to be conveyed 
     under subsection (c) are the parcels of land described as 
     follows:
       (1) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 25, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (2) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 26, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (3) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 27, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (4) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 34, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (5) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 35, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (6) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 36, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (e) Use of Land.--
       (1) In general.--The parcels of land conveyed under 
     subsection (c)--
       (A) shall be used by Clark County for the purposes 
     described in subsection (b) only; and
       (B) shall not be disposed of by the county.
       (2) Reversion.--If Clark County ceases to use any parcel 
     for the purposes described in subsection (b), title to the 
     parcel shall revert to the United States, at the option of 
     the United States.
       (f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior may require such additional terms and conditions in 
     connection with the conveyance as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
       (g) Release of Land.--Congress--
       (1) finds that the parcels of land conveyed under 
     subsection (c), comprising a portion of the Quail Springs 
     Wilderness Study Area, NV-050-411, managed by the Bureau of 
     Land Management and reported to Congress in 1991, have been 
     adequately studied for wilderness designation under section 
     603 of the Federal Land Management Policy Act of 1976 (43 
     U.S.C. 1782); and
       (2) declares that those parcels are no longer subject to 
     the requirements contained in subsection (c) of that section 
     pertaining to the management of wilderness study areas in a 
     manner that does not impair the suitability of such areas for 
     preservation as wilderness.
                                 ______