[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1099-H1100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, PUBLIC LAND CONVEYANCE
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2937) to provide for the conveyance of certain public land
in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2937
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.--The 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 that are
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)--
(A) title to the parcel shall revert to the United States,
at the option of the United States; and
(B) Clark County, Nevada, shall be responsible for any
reclamation necessary to revert the parcel to 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.--The 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 the 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.
(h) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary shall require that
Clark County, Nevada, pay all survey costs and other
administrative costs necessary for the preparation and
completion of any patents of and transfer of title to
property under this section.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs.
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937, introduced by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr.
Gibbons) would provide for the conveyance of certain public lands in
Clark County, Nevada, for use as a regional public shooting range.
Unprecedented residential growth over the past 20 years in and around
the city of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, has forced a number of
shooting ranges to close. Those few shooting ranges that remain are
close to being in violation of local ordinances that prohibit the
discharge of firearms in or near residential areas.
Mr. Speaker, to address this matter, H.R. 2937 authorizes and directs
the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 2,880 acres of
public lands to Clark County, Nevada, for the creation of a regional
public shooting range. The actual usable land for the shooting range
will be approximately 1,400 acres. The balance would go towards a
buffer zone for the west and south sides of the range. This new public
facility would provide users, archery, trap, skeet, rifle and pistol,
and air pellets, with a safe location for competitive events and
marksmanship training as well as opportunities for education and
recreation. The new shooting range will also be utilized by city and
county police departments.
The bill includes revision language should Clark County, Nevada,
cease to use the land as prescribed. In addition,
[[Page H1100]]
release language is included which declares the land conveyed has been
adequately studied for wilderness designation under the Federal Land
Management Policy Act; and once it is conveyed to Clark County, Nevada,
the land is no longer subject to FLMPA requirements. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 2937, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937, sponsored by the gentleman
from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), would convey 4.5 square miles of Federal
land in Clark County, Nevada, to Clark County, free of charge.
The acreage in question is currently managed by the Bureau of Land
Management as part of the Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area, and the
legislation releases the land from WSA status.
The purpose of the legislation is to provide a centralized firearms
training facility and shooting range in the Las Vegas Valley. Among
other effects, the rapid population expansion which has taken place in
the valley has created a dangerous situation whereby once rural
activities such as firearms practice, is now taking place in close
proximity to populated areas. This transfer will allow development of a
safe facility for these activities, with a sufficient buffer area.
While such a transaction raises several concerns, not the least of
which is the status of this land as a wilderness study area, we do not
intend to oppose this measure. The administration supports H.R. 2937,
and a companion bill has been introduced by the majority whip, Senator
Harry Reid of Nevada. We commend our colleague on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), the author of this legislation.
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for allowing H.R.
2937 to be considered here today. I would further like to thank the
chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public
Lands, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), for expediting
passage of this legislation in the Committee on Resources.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937 is a bill to provide for the conveyance of
certain public lands in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a public
shooting range. This legislation enjoys strong bipartisan and bicameral
support from our Nevada delegation.
{time} 1445
Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign have introduced a
companion bill in the United States Senate, and this legislation enjoys
support from the administration as well.
For 15 consecutive years, Nevada has had the fastest growing
population of any State. For 20 years, Clark County, Nevada has been
the fastest growing county, with the majority of that growth taking
place in the Second Congressional District. Accommodating that growth
and meeting its challenges is something that I often discuss before
this body.
Nevadans take great pride in the outdoor recreational opportunities
that our great State has to offer. Unfortunately, Nevada has 87 percent
publicly owned lands, which means that most of the recreation must take
place on our public lands. Regardless, protecting the multiple use of
our lands in Nevada is very important to our citizens.
The legislation before us today helps accommodate another longtime
recreational favorite in Nevada, target shooting. H.R. 2937 will
designate approximately 2,800 acres of public land north of Las Vegas
to be used as a permanent shooting range. About half of the 2,800 acres
will actually contain the shooting range, with the other 1,400 acres
serving as a required buffer zone to ensure public safety. This new
shooting facility will not only provide the public with a safe place to
shoot, it will serve as a training facility for our law enforcement
personnel in southern Nevada.
This legislation also includes reversionary language should Clark
County cease to use the land as prescribed in this bill. Further, the
2,800 acres is currently designated a wilderness study area by the BLM.
Yet, Mr. Speaker, the BLM has adequately studied this land and
determined that it is not suitable for wilderness area designation.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, release language is included that declares the
land conveyed has been adequately studied for wilderness designation
under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, or FLPMA as it is
known.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a simple land conveyance. It
makes good sense. H.R. 2937 is supported by our law enforcement
personnel, Clark County, and the public at large. Again, I want to
thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity. I urge
my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2937, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________