Public meeting Monday on Yerington land designation

Lyon County will conduct a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Lyon County Commission chambers to hear comments regarding proposed recommendations on land use designations in the South Pine Grove Hills.The City of Yerington and Nevada Copper, in consultation with Lyon County, want to acquire approximately 10,400 acres of BLM administered lands located in Mason Valley near Yerington for development of the Pumpkin Hollow Mine and other sustainable economic development.Priorities for that area include existing land uses and access (grazing allotments, mining claims and mineral resource potential, public access and recreation); potential designation of wilderness; protection of existing and future management of the East Walker River for natural resource values, irrigation and public access; fire control and fuels management; sage grouse management and steps needed to prevent listing on the federal Endangered Species List and other appropriate land management designations to protect natural resources and other public interests.Annexation would allow the city to receive a share of property and net proceeds of mines taxes. It would also allow the city and Nevada Copper to develop infrastructure to the benefit of both the proposed mine and other sustainable economic development.Lyon County commissioners and Yerington city officials both passed resolutions to support the bill in August 2011.Sponsored by Rep. Mark Amodei and co-sponsored by Nevada representatives Shelly Berkeley and Joe Heck, the bill was introduced in February and passed in June in the House of Representatives.An identical bill was introduced by Sen. Dean Heller in March and is pending action in the Senate. In August 2012, Sen. Harry Reid stated that a wilderness component, located in the South Pine Grove Hills be included in federal legislation as a companion to the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act Yerington bill.After public comments, Lyon County will consider action on a formal resolution on Dec. 6.