President Obama has designated a sprawling desert and mountain area in southeast Nevada as a new national monument.
The Basin and Range National Monument is located about two hours from Las Vegas and is about 1,100 square miles. It includes remains from some the earliest humans to live in Nevada including petroglyphs and prehistoric art.
In a statement Senator Harry Reid supported the president's decision. However, the decision drew criticism from Nevada Republican Congressmen Mark Amodei, Joe Heck and Cresent Hardy who said the affected counties weren't properly consulted before the president set aside an area the size of Rhode Island.
Governor Brian Sandoval issued the following statement:
“Nevadans and our federal delegation have worked together for generations to conserve, protect, and maintain our precious natural resources. Where the federal government asserts ultimate jurisdiction, Nevada has been, and continues to be, a willing partner with federal agencies and administrative bodies. The Basin and Range Monument designation, however, bypassed Congress on a public lands issue in which Nevada and our entire delegation should have had a primary role in working collectively to build consensus as we have done successfully in the past,” said Governor Brian Sandoval. “While we all share a common goal of preserving our lands for the use and enjoyment of generations to come, I would have preferred a more collaborative process when making such an important designation. I firmly believe our local ranchers, environmentalists, and community stakeholders are the best experts in ensuring Nevada’s lands are preserved, protected and accessible."
