[SIERA] BLM

[Dick Young]

More than a decade ago, a Nevada Senator wanted to turn a substantial amount of BLM land into a NCA (National Conservation Area).  The area, principally the Black Rock Desert, teams with geothermal springs and many of us thought shutting down any future geothermal development was not in the best interest of Nevada.  We fought hard to keep those lands open.  The Senator retired and, with a sigh of relief, we wrote the remaining Senator and asked for his stance.  The reply was that no time was left in the existing session for any action and, besides, he had little interest in the project.  Wait a second, at the last minute and tied to another bill the remaining Senator got the NCA, forever shutting off any geothermal development.  Asked why such a move, the form letter reply simply stated that geothermal in the NCA was not of commercial value.  

BLM oversees a terrific percentage of Nevada lands.  BLM quite obviously gets "direction" from many people in Washington, most with a singular agenda that may not be in the best interest of you and me.

As we speak there is a proposed sale of 628 BLM acres in northern Lyon County, close to Fernley.  Why would you suppose this sale?  BLM says the land is no longer "necessary or usable".

Today BLM is being pushed to allow development of lands for Solar, Wind and Geothermal.  We've forever lost the geothermal potential in the Black Rock NCA.  Would Solar or Wind have application on that 628 acres?

We need to know more about BLM plans for our state, our nation, you and me.

Save February 6 for a special session of SIERA.  The intriguing subject is BLM.  Plan to be there!