SJR4 - Urges the Federal Government to support and recognize certain land use planning principles when conducting projects in this State. (BDR R-380)

S.J.R. 4 - *SJR4* SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4– COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES (ON BEHALF OF THE JOINT INTERIM STANDING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES) PREFILED JANUARY 28, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Urges the Federal Government to support and recognize certain land use planning principles when conducting projects in this State. (BDR R-380) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: No. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION—Urging the Federal Government to support and recognize certain land use planning principles when conducting projects in this State. WHEREAS, Over 80 percent of the land in the State of Nevada is 1 owned by the Federal Government; and 2 WHEREAS, The public lands in the State of Nevada are managed 3 by a variety of federal agencies, including, the United States Bureau 4 of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the United 5 States National Park Service, the United States Bureau of 6 Reclamation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the 7 United States Department of Defense, including the United States 8 Army Corps of Engineers; and 9 WHEREAS, The high percentage of federally-owned lands in the 10 State of Nevada requires coordination between these federal 11 agencies, the State of Nevada, tribal governments and local 12 governments and communities when engaging in land use planning 13 in this State; and 14 WHEREAS, The Legislature has emphasized the importance in 15 land use planning of local leadership and knowledge along with 16 coordination with tribal and local governments; and 17 – 2 – - *SJR4* WHEREAS, The Legislature has declared that the conservation 1 and development of renewable natural resources is best led and 2 directed by persons in local communities and, as such, has 3 authorized the creation of conservation districts, comprised of 4 members of local communities, to oversee certain projects and 5 measures relating to the conservation and development of renewable 6 natural resources within each conservation district; and 7 WHEREAS, The Legislature also passed the State and Local 8 Government Cooperation Act to encourage communication, 9 cooperation and coordinated working relationships between state 10 agencies and local governments; and 11 WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has also 12 recognized in law the importance of consultation and coordination 13 with local communities by declaring that it is the policy of the 14 United States when conducting the land use planning process for 15 public lands and the resources of such public lands to coordinate 16 with other federal and state planning efforts; and 17 WHEREAS, A variety of federal laws that regulate federal actions 18 on public lands, including, without limitation, the National 19 Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act and 20 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act require federal 21 agencies to involve state, tribal and local governments and the 22 public in the process of evaluating federal actions on public lands; 23 and 24 WHEREAS, Managing public lands for multiple uses and 25 sustained yield are also important principles of land use planning as 26 these principles will best meet the needs of current and future 27 generations of Americans; and 28 WHEREAS, Federal law requires the Secretary of the Interior to 29 manage public lands under the principles of multiple use and 30 sustained yield and authorizes and directs the Secretary of 31 Agriculture to develop and administer the renewable surface 32 resources of the national forests for multiple use and sustained yield; 33 now, therefore, be it 34 RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 35 NEVADA, JOINTLY, That the members of the 83rd Session of the 36 Nevada Legislature hereby urge the Federal Government to support 37 and recognize the following land use planning principles when 38 conducting projects in this State: 39 1. Actions on public lands in the State of Nevada should be led 40 and driven by the impacted local communities; 41 2. There must be coordination between federal, state, tribal and 42 local governments, including, without limitation, federal agencies: 43 (a) Providing early notification to the State of Nevada and 44 impacted tribal and local governments in the State; 45 – 3 – - *SJR4* (b) Providing opportunities for meaningful input from the State 1 of Nevada and impacted tribal and local governments in the State; 2 (c) Remaining informed of the land use policies and plans of the 3 State of Nevada and impacted tribal and local governments in the 4 State and soliciting and considering the input of the State and 5 impacted tribal and local governments when interpreting these 6 policies and plans; and 7 (d) To the extent practicable, developing federal policies, plans 8 and actions that are consistent with the land use policies and plans 9 of the State of Nevada and impacted tribal and local governments; 10 and 11 3. Public lands must be managed for multiple uses while also 12 providing for the economic, social and environmental sustainability 13 of public lands; and be it further 14 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and 15 transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the United 16 States, the Vice President of the United States as presiding officer of 17 the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 18 Representatives, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the 19 United States Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United 20 States Bureau of Land Management, the Chief of the United States 21 Forest Service, the Director of the United States National Park 22 Service, the Commissioner of the United States Bureau of 23 Reclamation, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 24 Service, the Secretary of Defense of the United States Department 25 of Defense, each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation 26 and the Governor of the State of Nevada; and be it further 27 RESOLVED, That this resolution becomes effective upon 28 passage. 29 H