Nevada Senator facilitates land purchase from state

January 14, 2009

Washington, DC – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will expand its ownership in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) by 80 acres, thanks to an assist from Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

The BLM purchased this week from the State of Nevada the 80-acre Pine Creek property, which is located within the conservation area, at a price of $14.5 million. Both the BLM and the State of Nevada wanted previously to complete the sale, but language in the legislation that created the Red Rock NCA prohibited direct purchase of state land by the federal agency. At the request of both entities, Reid fixed the situation by submitting and passing a change to the act last year. Under the new language, the BLM is able to acquire the land for fair market value.  By consolidating ownership, the BLM will be able to better manage all lands within the NCA.

“Red Rock is one of the great treasures of Nevada and I’ll do everything I can to protect it and make it stronger,” Reid said. “In this situation, Nevadans benefit both from the expansion of one of our favorite recreation areas and from the revenues this purchase provides to the state in difficult times.”

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