The Las Vegas Review-Journal - Red Rock Land Sale Bill Passes

April 20, 2005
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Red Rock Land Sale Bill Passes

Review-Journal Capital Bureau

CARSON CITY -- A bill that would authorize the sale of 80 acres of state-owned land
within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the federal government
unanimously passed Tuesday in the Senate.

Senate Bill 318, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, and
Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, goes to the Assembly.

Titus said the bill is a good deal for everyone.

The federal government wants the 80 acres of state-owned property in Red Rock
near Pine Creek to consolidate its ownership.

The federal government, using money from the Southern Nevada Public Land
Management Act, would buy the land for $16 million, Titus said.

The bill would set aside the money in a trust fund, with the interest earned dedicated
to state park improvement and maintenance projects, she said. The trust fund
money would have to be spent over and above what is appropriated now for state
parks by the Legislature, she said.

"Our state parks are in such bad shape throughout the state," Titus said.

About $250,000 a year could be generated for park improvement projects, she said.
"If you visit any of our state parks, you can see immediately that the maintenance of
these areas has not kept pace with the demands created by the rapid increases in
our population and the increasing numbers of out-of-state visitors," Titus said.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/titus/docs/StateParksArticle.pdf