Interior secretary to unveil new land acquisitions

LAS VEGAS - Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt will announce Wednesday the first acquisitions of sensitive lands under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998.

Babbitt will unveil the proposed purchases at the Las Vegas Wash. He will be joined by Nevada's Democratic Sens. Richard Bryan and Harry Reid.

The law requires 85 percent of the proceeds from the sale of federal lands in the Las Vegas Valley to be used to purchase environmentally sensitive areas in the Silver State, including wetlands and other areas which could improve the health of Lake Mead.

''The Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead are both the victims of Southern Nevada's rapid growth,'' Reid said Tuesday in a prepared statement.

''Restoring wetlands in the area will help stop erosion and will act as a natural filter to stop harmful pollutants from entering the lake which supplies the valley's drinking water needs.''

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said he wants to see that adequate public input is considered on any land acquisitions involving private property in Nevada.

''When close to 90 percent of our land is already owned and managed by the federal government, we should be working to empower our local communities,'' Gibbons said. ''Nevadans cannot afford to be left out of this public lands debate when their livelihoods are at stake.''

Babbitt also is expected to announce a list of $4 million in infrastructure improvements for facilities on public lands in Nevada and additional financial aid for the Clark County Wetlands Park.

As many as 7,800 acres could be purchased, including 665 in Clark County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

In addition, funds from the lands management act could be used to purchase environmentally sensitive parcels of land in Mt. Charleston, along the Virgin River as well as other locations.