Environment
Ensign on the Issues
Senator Ensign is committed to protecting our environment and ensuring that the natural resources in Nevada are cared for so that future generations can enjoy them. Sen. Ensign's legislation amends the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, which he authored in 1998 as a member of the House of Representatives, so that restoration activities in the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2000 can be funded by land auction proceeds in the Las Vegas Valley.
One Nevada jewel that Sen. Ensign has worked to protect is Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe, an alpine lake, has fallen victim to pollution that has clouded its beauty. In August of 2003, Sen. Ensign announced a proposal to guarantee funding for the preservation of the lake by setting aside $300 million over the next eight years for water clarity, erosion control, fire suppression, and other projects to reverse the decline of Lake Tahoe's famous clarity. President Bush signed the legislation into law on November 11, 2003.
The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998, lauded by a diverse coalition of environmentalists, land users, and wilderness groups, as well as local, state, and federal governments, is one of Sen. Ensign's proudest legislative accomplishments. The legislation offered a comprehensive way in which to handle large tracts of federal land, manage growth, and protect environmentally sensitive land in southern Nevada.
One of the major reforms from the bill was the change in how public land is disposed of in the Las Vegas valley. A disposal boundary was drawn around the valley and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in consultation with local governments, auctions the land to the highest bidder. The proceeds of 
those land auctions, millions of dollars, go into a special fund to build parks and trails, acquire environmentally sensitive land, initiate capital improvements in recreation and conservation areas, and maintain the Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Funds are also allocated for water infrastructure and to the general education fund of the state of Nevada.
Proceeds from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act auctions, conducted by the BLM's Nevada office, have totaled more than $567 million.
Building on the success of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, Sen. Harry Reid joined Sen. Ensign in introducing the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (Clark County Lands Bill). The legislation was signed into law by President Bush on November 6, 2002, and was the culmination of over a year of work and the input of interested parties across Clark County. Former Congressman Jim Gibbons actively worked with Senators Ensign and Reid on the legislation. Sen. Ensign said of the Clark County Lands Bill: "We will look back 30 years from now and realize how this legislation contributed to the quality of life we cherish in southern Nevada."
Among the highlights of the Clark County Lands Bill are the establishment of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, the protection of the priceless Sloan Petroglyphs, and the expansion of the Red Rock National Conservation Area. The legislation also formally designated 444,000 acres of quality wilderness in Clark County, while releasing 231,000 acres for multiple use or development. Sen. Ensign successfully advocated for the inclusion of funds to implement a comprehensive litter cleanup and public education campaign in southern Nevada.
Southern Nevada is not the only area that can benefit from a lands bill. Sen. Ensign and Sen. Reid have invited every Nevada county to bring interested parties together to develop a plan for land management and future growth.
The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 and the White Pine County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2006 have been signed into law after careful consideration, debate, and compromise by interested parties in those counties with and the full support of the Nevada congressional delegation. The lands bills enhance the development of infrastructure, provide recreational opportunities, and assist in the conservation of our natural resources and public lands.
Another environmental issue which Sen. Ensign has worked on tirelessly is the fight against storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Please visit the Yucca Mountain page for more information on that important environmental issue.
Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008
Text of S.2821
Summary of S.2821
Bipartisan Proposal to Encourage Development of Renewable Energy
Related Records:
Click here to view a list of related press releases