Southern Nevada Development and Conservation Act Heard Today in U.S. Senate Subcommittee

NEVADA — On June 12th, the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining, chaired by Senator Cortez-Masto (D-NV) will receive testimony about the proposed Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act (SNEDCA), commonly known as the Clark County Lands Bill. If enacted, SNEDCA would significantly increase impacts from suburban sprawl, climate change, water use, environmental injustices, air pollution, destroyed wildlife habitat for the threatened desert tortoise, and off-highway vehicle damage, all while failing to solve our affordable housing crisis. 

This bill, which was first introduced in 2021, was reintroduced last Wednesday, June 5th, and was promptly scheduled for a hearing.

There are several conservation proposals in SNEDCA that Sierra Club enthusiastically supports, including wilderness for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the expansion of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and the return of lands to the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Unfortunately, these protections are not enough to offset the damage caused by this bill's “economic development” portions.

“This bill, if passed as written, would cause irreparable damage for communities in Southern Nevada,” said Olivia Tanager, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Director. “While we support the conservation measures in the bill, we recognize that urban sprawl, without stronger provisions for affordable housing and accessible transportation, would exacerbate existing problems surrounding housing costs, drought, and extreme heat.”

“Las Vegas cannot afford to get hotter, more polluted, and waste more water. We cannot support this bill unless significant changes are made," said Vinny Spotleson, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Chair.

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