Mr. Rex Wells, Bureau of Land Management
HCR 33, Box 5500
Las Vegas, Nevada 89124In August, 2002, the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council, noting increased congestion in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, sent you a proposal for Expansion of the National Conservation Area (ENCA)--a forty page document including the environmental and public use values of such an expansion. The Advisory Council recommended annexation of public lands adjacent to the Conservation Area and the purchase of the Hardie Gypsum Mine surrounded by the Conservation Area. We are writing to give and gather further information regarding the ENCA proposal.
A home developer recently attempted to purchase the Hardie properties and to negotiate a trade with BLM for property within the Conservation Area. The attempt to develop was thwarted by 4,000 petition signatures, by protest in the Canyon, by legal resistance, and by the general recognition that Red Rock Canyon is a precious resource not to be squandered by greed and poor decision-making.
Currently a citizens' group has involved Nature Conservancy in an attempt to purchase the more environmentally sensitive Hardie properties. In the meantime, local and national publications have taken note of the issues involved and have requested that the BLM acquire the property necessary to save Red Rock Canyon (see for example the Editor's Note in the Mercury of November 21,2002). Last week the Clark County Commission voted to nominate the Hardie properties for purchase under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act--which has more than adequate funding for the purchase. It seems clear that public, press, and political interests want to see an expansion of the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.
The Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council assumes that its August proposal will undergo BLM feasibility studies and public hearings regarding the annexation of public lands into a public park for public use. We appreciate being a part of the process and would like to be informed of the possible time-line for the process. We look forward to any information you can supply.
Sincerely yours,
Evan Blythin
Chairman,
Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council
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