S 462119th CongressIn Committee

Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act

Introduced: Feb 6, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act would dramatically reshape land ownership and land uses in Washoe County, Nevada. It combines a broad package of actions: (1) immediate conveyances of large blocks of federal land to local governments, school districts, and special districts for public purposes (parks, trails, open space, school sites, flood management, etc.), with no purchase price and with reversion rights if the land is not used for the specified public purposes; (2) transfers of federal land into trust for several federally recognized tribes, expanding reservation boundaries and restricting gaming on those lands; (3) designation of multiple new wilderness areas as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, with specified boundaries and management rules; (4) a process to identify and potentially dispose of certain federal lands in the county, with proceeds allocated to education, conservation, infrastructure, wildfire prevention, and related programs; and (5) additional provisions related to voluntary grazing permit donations, and the establishment/management of national conservation areas. The act also directs maps and legal descriptions, surveys, and various administrative processes to implement these changes. In short, the bill seeks to advance local economic development and conservation by transferring significant public lands to local entities, expanding tribal trust lands, designating new wilderness areas, and creating a funding stream from any future land disposals to support parks, conservation, wildfire mitigation, and other public purposes in the Truckee Meadows area.

Key Points

1Public land conveyances to local entities (Sec. 101)
2- The Secretary would convey sizable parcels of federal land to the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, Washoe County, the Washoe County School District, and several special districts (incl. Incline Village GID, Gerlach GID, Truckee River Flood Management Authority) for public use (parks, open space, roads, schools, flood mitigation, etc.) with no consideration.
3- Some parcels would revert to the United States if not used for the described public purposes.
4- Conveyances also include land for State parks and other public uses, with costs borne by the respective recipient.
5- Includes environmental disclosures and reserved access easements as needed.
6Land disposal and affordable housing (Sec. 102)
7- The act contemplates identifying and selling certain federal lands in Washoe County that are suitable for disposal, with joint selection by the Secretary and the County.
8- Some lands could be deemed suitable for affordable housing; if so, they may be sold at less than fair market value to a governmental entity under existing law.
9- Sale would generally be by competitive bidding and at not less than fair market value, with a portion of proceeds earmarked for conservation and education.
10Proceeds and the Truckee Meadows Special Account (Sec. 102)
11- Sale proceeds are allocated as follows: 5% to the State for general education, 10% to the County/Reno/Sparks for Truckee River conservation, and 85% deposited into a new Truckee Meadows Special Account in the U.S. Treasury.
12- The Special Account would fund land acquisition for environmental protection, park/trail development, hazardous fuels reduction and wildfire prevention, Tahoe restoration-related projects, capital improvements, and reimbursements of related costs, among other uses.
13Tribal trust land expansions (Title II)
14- Lands would be transferred to be held in trust for:
15- Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
16- Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
17- Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
18- Some lands would be tribal fee lands to be held in trust as well.
19- All trust land would be part of the respective reservations, with cadastral surveys and Federal Register publication to record the changes.
20- Gaming on these tracts would be prohibited (no class II or III gaming).
21Wilderness additions (Title III)
22- Designation of several new wilderness areas in Nevada:
23- Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness (about 112,002 acres)
24- Bitner Table Wilderness (about 25,216 acres)
25- Wrangler Canyon Wilderness (about 49,540 acres)
26- Burro Mountain Wilderness (about 6,343 acres)
27- Granite-Banjo Wilderness (about 30,000 acres)
28- Boundaries and access provisions include road setbacks (generally 100 feet from roads; 150 feet from the Sheldon fence), and maps/legal descriptions to be prepared and made available.
29- Wilderness lands are withdrawn from most forms of entry, mineral leasing, and other extractive uses.
30Other provisions ( Titles I-IV overview)
31- Definitions for terms like Conservation Area, Secretary, Secretary concerned, etc.
32- Voluntary donation of grazing permits and leases (Title IV) as another mechanism to support public lands and conservation goals.
33- Various map, survey, and administrative requirements to implement all conveyances, disposals, and designations.

Impact Areas

Primary groups/areas affected- Washoe County residents and local governments (City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, Washoe County School District) who would gain significant parcels of land for public uses, schools, parks, trails, and open space, with potential reversion if not used for approved purposes.- Tribal communities (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Washoe Tribe) who would gain new lands held in trust as part of reservations, expanding federal trusteeship and sovereignty considerations; gaming restrictions on these lands would apply.- The University of Nevada, Reno and other local institutions that would receive land for campus expansion or related needs.Secondary groups/areas affected- Environmental and conservation interests, who would benefit from designated wilderness areas and a dedicated funding stream (Truckee Meadows Special Account) for land protection and environmental restoration, as well as park/trail development.- Local landowners and developers, who could be affected by land disposals, affordable housing options, and the need to adhere to local zoning and master plans for parcels offered for sale.- Federal agencies (BLM and Forest Service) and state agencies involved in administering land transfers, disposals, and wilderness administration.Additional impacts- Economic development: large-scale land conveyances could enable infrastructure, parks, and public facilities that support growth and tourism in the Truckee Meadows area, albeit with land-use constraints on the conveyed tracts.- Housing: potential for affordable housing provision through disposal of land at below-market value to governmental entities, addressing local housing needs, but with defined eligibility and planning requirements.- Resource and land management: new wilderness designations impose restrictions on mining and other extractive activities; road/trail access rules and easements will shape future recreation and travel within these lands.- Fiscal implications: creation of the Truckee Meadows Special Account would centralize a significant funding stream for environmental and public-lands programs, requiring ongoing congressional and departmental oversight.

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