LOVELOCK - After local ranchers challenged a sage grouse conservation planning agreement proposed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Pershing County commission further postponed a decision on the agreement.
Commissioners requested input from local natural resource committees to modify the document before it is signed.
Under the BLM's proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Pershing County would be designated a "cooperating agency" and give county officials input into the federal conservation planning process.
Clinton Wertz, state community liaison for the Bureau of Land Management, explained the conservation project and benefits to the county of the proposed MOU at last week's commission meeting.
"There was a settlement agreement between the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to work on some land use amendments to include conservations measures and increase protection for the greater sage grouse population," he said. "There are 11 states in the West involved in this, so it's a very large, very unique project which leads to the importance of getting the MOU signed and getting cooperators on board."
While there's a range of five alternative conservation plans under consideration, Wertz said the BLM is still seeking county input on local social and economic impacts.
"Currently, there's a socio-economic report being done," he said. "As alternatives are being developed, what are the impacts to the local economy, local population and local resource uses? The MOU is important in terms of (the county) contributing and commenting on the project itself."
Wertz said the majority of counties in northern Nevada have signed MOU agreements. Still in the works are agreements with Elko, White Pine and Pershing counties, he said.
"Most of the counties, north of Highway 50, have either signed or are at some point in getting the MOU executed," Wertz said. "Elko County is a hold-out as of now and there's some negotiations going on. White Pine County - it's going to be on their agenda in the next week or two. By and large, there are a few stragglers out there."
The MOU states that "either party may request changes to this MOU," but Commissioner Pat Irwin expressed concern over the county's rights to change the agreement.
"If we have any issues with you, then you guys have the power to say no (to those concerns). You're going to be the ruling body on whether we have a conflict," Irwin said. "It's written right in here that you may or may not consider our opinions. That kind of language in an MOU doesn't make sense to me, so I have a lot of issues with this."
During public comment, Carl Klinger, a local rancher/farmer and a supervisor with the Big Meadow Conservation District, said he has problems with wording in the MOU that, in his opinion, will undercut county control of the conservation plan.
"If the county commission agrees to this wording, they're giving up their responsibility to the voters that elected them to an appointed bureaucrat," Klinger said. "I think this should
say 'must' use Pershing County input and 'will' incorporate information provided by Pershing County."
Commissioners Darin Bloyed and Pat Irwin asked Klinger and his group to recommend changes to the MOU.
"Let's go ahead and have you guys meet, discuss it as a group and bring it back to us," Irwin said. "Then we can push through those changes and modify it (the agreement). I think that's the negotiation pattern they're in with Elko (County) right now."
Local rancher Mike Stremler, chairman of the Pershing County Natural Resource Committee, said he's concerned with the MOU language and those concerns should be made known to the governor. He believes the agreement is inconsistent with federal regulations that require a balance between state and national control of natural resources.
"When the rubber hits the road, if we really have some heartburn over how the BLM is treating us as a county, we need to make our concerns known to the governor. He needs to write an appeal to the BLM director," Stremler said.
During his statement, Stremler referred to a book of federal regulations. "Right there, it says the (BLM) director shall accept the recommendations of the governor if he or she determines that they provide for a reasonable balance between the national and the state interests. The way that MOU is written, it pretty much stacks the deck in BLM's favor."
Bloyed asked Stremler and his committee to meet and recommend appropriate language for the MOU. Irwin delayed action on the agreement and said modifications will be considered at a future commission meeting.
Wertz recommended the county commission reach an agreement soon to guarantee full participation in the planning process.
"The main issue right now is, as a cooperator, you would have access to pre-decision documents so you get a longer window of time to review (them)," Wertz said. "As alternative (conservation plans) come out, the things that are not consistent with your local plan really need to be put in writing and sent up the chain."
Stremler said he's concerned that federal sage grouse conservation plans may result in widespread land and road closures in Nevada.
"I come from a spotted owl state so I've seen this whole thing go sideways," he said. "It starts with 'we're going to save the bird' and pretty soon you can no longer drive up those Forest Service roads. It's like a cancer. It keeps on moving, and pretty soon they've shut you out of your own land."
Other county commission actions and discussions:
- Commissioners approved a right-of-way renewal for Tungsten Road that runs from Mill City north to the Nevada Tungsten Mine. The agreement between Pershing County and the BLM allows county access to operate and maintain the road under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
- The commission approved the purchase of a new truck and upgraded food delivery system for the Pershing County Senior Center's meal program serving homebound senior citizens.
- Pershing County Economic Diversification Authority Executive Director Heidi Lusby-Angvick reported on the recent housing summit sponsored by PCEDA. Participants expressed a need for greater online, written and direct communication between local real estate agents and mining officials on rental housing, homes for sale and housing construction lots available in Pershing County. Nevada Iron, Coeur Rochester and Hycroft mine officials attended the summit and outlined their projected employment numbers and housing needs.
- County officials will complete construction plans for a new Imlay volunteer firehouse for submission to the 2013 Community Development Block Grant program. If accepted for CDBG funding, the project will expand and upgrade the Imlay facility.
- Commissioners were notified of Bill Draft Request No. 520, submitted on Sept. 27, 2012, by Nevada Assemblyman David Bobzien, a Democrat representing Washoe County District 24. The BDR, to be considered during the 2013 state legislative session, proposes a prohibition on local government ordinances that would restrict events and activities on federal lands.
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