May 22, 2019

Today Representative Dina Titus released the following statement in response to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s commitment of more than $106.8 million to support 47 public lands projects throughout Nevada and the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, as required by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA): 

“This commitment of over $100 million to improve Southern Nevada’s recreational parks, conservation efforts, and wildlife protection is outstanding news,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1). “I fought the Trump Administration for two years to give us this money that is rightfully ours. While President Trump’s budget would’ve eliminated this funding, I will continue to defend Southern Nevada’s residents and visitors who chose to hike, swim, and play in our parks and open spaces.”

Background: The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) was signed into law in 1998. It requires that the funds derived from the sale of federal lands in Clark County be returned to the community through projects evaluated by the Bureau of Land Management and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. SNPLMA has funded over 1,200 local projects, including renovation of Lorenzi Park and the construction of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area visitor center. 

In June of 2017, Congresswoman Titus wrote to then-Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, demanding that he release the SNPLMA funding that had already been recommended by the Bureau of Land Management. In March of 2019, Congresswoman Titus wrote to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, calling out his department for failing to uphold its responsibilities under SNPLMA. Both letters are attached.

The list of individual projects supported by these funds can be found here by selecting “Round 17” and clicking “search.”

Attached letters: (1) Titus Letter to Acting Sec. Bernhardt re SNPLMA.pdf, (2) Titus Letter to Sec Zinke - SNPLMA.pdf

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