FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS

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SUPPORT PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS NEAR LAS VEGAS

Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign of Nevada have introduced S. 2612--the "Clark County Conservation of Public Lands and Natural Resources Act of 2002." Representative Jim Gibbons of Nevada is expected to introduce a similar bill in the House of Representatives.

This legislation would designate 444,000 acres of magnificent wild land in Clark County near Las Vegas as protected wilderness.

However, many important areas have not been included in the legislation, including Gold Butte and the Highland Range. These areas were left out because of opposition from off-road vehicle groups. Gold Butte is extremely important both for its archeological values, which are threatened by motor vehicles that use the area, and for its diverse species; the area provides habitat for the threatened desert tortoise and several rare plants.

The legislation also includes provisions not included in the Wilderness Act that could harm the wilderness character of the areas which would be designated by the bill and would allow activities not otherwise permitted in wilderness.

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs urges interested citizens to contact Senators Reid and Ensign and Representative Gibbons to ask them to add the Gold Butte and the Highland Range areas to the 444,000 acres in this legislation and to remove special provisions that could harm the wilderness character of the areas which would be designated by the bill.

Write to Senators Reid (fax: 202/224-7327; phone: 202/224-3542) and Ensign (fax: 202/228-2193; phone: 202/224-6244) ) and to Representative Gibbons (fax: 202/225/5679; phone: 202/225-6155) and ask them to support adding the Gold Butte and Highland Range areas to this legislation.