Bill will designate land for Motocross Park and Elko Indian Colony Expansion

March 17, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign today introduced a bill to secure two parcels of federal land for citizens in Elko County.  The Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act would convey about 300 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to Elko County to provide a space for construction of a BMX, motocross, off-highway vehicle, and stock car racing area.  The new Motocross Park will benefit people all across northeastern Nevada who enjoy motorsports and will bolster the region’s economy through tourism and new economic development opportunities in Elko.

The legislation will also direct the Department of the Interior to take in trust approximately 370 acres of BLM land for the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada.  Over the past 75 years, the population of the Elko Indian Colony has steadily grown, but their land base has remained disproportionately small.   This bill will create new opportunities for the tribe by providing them with land for housing, cultural activities, and other vital purposes. The tribe, City of Elko and Elko County all strongly support this effort.

“These two land transfers may seem like small adjustments, but they are vital to job creation and development in Nevada’s rural communities,” said Reid.  “This initiative is the result of a lot of hard work and perseverance on the local level.  I look forward to continue working with the people of Elko to find more opportunities to promote community growth, economic development, and recreation in northeastern Nevada.” 

“This legislation will promote economic development and job creation in rural Nevada,” said Ensign. “It also strengthens the community in Elko by inviting people from all over to a safe place where they can enjoy and participate in motocross and other recreational activities. This is another example of state, local and federal entities working together to get Nevadans back to work and our economy back on track.”

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