Nevada lands bill package passes House committee

The omnibus package of Nevada lands bills was approved by the House Natural Resources committee, moving it to the floor for a vote.

The package of seven bills includes allowing Yerington to develop 12,500 acres surrounding the Pumpkin Hollow mine site. Pumpkin Hollow is expected to create some 800 mining jobs and 500 construction jobs, as well as provide land for industrial, recreational and infrastructure projects, said Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev.

It was Horsford’s first measure to clear a committee vote.

He and Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., worked together on the project, which provides for the release of more than 23,000 acres of federal land in Nevada for economic development.

Amodei said it also includes the creation of 71,500 acres of wilderness.

In addition to the Lyon County/Yerington lands package, the bill includes provisions for the Pine Forest Range Recreation Act, the Restoring Storey County Act, Carlin Economic Self-Determination Act, housing and development at the Fallon Naval Air Station and the Fernley Economic Self-Determination Act.

Amodei described it as the most comprehensive package of Nevada lands legislation ever.

“This is a key victory for Nevada’s fight for self-determination and the ability of our middle class to earn a living,” he said.