I’m sure you have all seen some of the latest press coverage regarding the delay in creating the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument!!

Since we have not had an informational meeting since February it is about time to get everyone updated. So…..

WHEN:               THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28TH 7-8:30PM

WHERE:             SUN CITY [...]]]> From POTS:

-North Las Vegas City Councilman Richard Cherchio will give the North Las Vegas viewpoint on the NV Energy request
-OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE-John Hiatt serves on many Conservation Group boards and has been involved with Nevada Lands Legislation for many years.
-UPDATE ON BLM ENVIORNMENTAL IMPACT STUDY WHICH IS NOT YET FINALIZED

No political speakers will be allowed. The Protectors of Tule Springs is advocating for the protection of 23,000 acres of BLM land as a Fossil Beds National Monument managed by the National Park Service.

HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE AND BRING A FRIEND!!!!!

Mammoth Takes Stance on Harry Reid

The president of the (deep breath) North Las Vegas Alliance of Home Owners and Concerned Citizens, sent out the following statement about NV Energy’s asinine proposal to put new power transmission lines near the site of the planned fossil bed national monument:

At last [...]]]>

Mammoth Takes Stance on Harry Reid

The president of the (deep breath) North Las Vegas Alliance of Home Owners and Concerned Citizens, sent out the following statement about NV Energy’s asinine proposal to put new power transmission lines near the site of the planned fossil bed national monument:

At last evenings City Council Meeting, Mayor Buck commented that NVEnergy is trying to put an additional set of gigantic power poles between the current Northern boundaries of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas and the Sheep Range foot hills.

As many of you are aware the Alliance almost since inception a few years ago has been very active supporting POTS (Protectors of Tule Spring) and other groups trying to establish a National Park or National Monument in the area from the northern limits of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas to the mountains and stretching from the Piute Reservation up US 95 and ending around Pecos.  For several months now it has been waiting the President’s signature creating a National Monument for the area.

This could be a big tourist attraction.  Many of the folks from around the world fly into Las Vegas to go to the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion and then fly back out.  Why not provide them with an additional day or two here and exploring our National Monument. With the projected new UNLV campus to be at the eastern end of the site consider the many new opportunities for additional high school, College and University courses.

Off and on various groups such as developers, NVEnergy and others have wanted to utilize the land for their own purposes.  Some of our members have been on guided tours of the area which you have heard about over the last few years and have actually seen examples of the fossils and other artifacts that in many cases are not found anywhere else in the world.  It would be a shame to lose any of these items to satisfy a perceived corporate need.

It is our understanding that the Sun is going to print an article about the proposed monument and NVEnergy interest in putting the second set of poles through the area.

Please pick up a copy and make your wishes and comments known to the Sun.

The Sun article is available here, and the LV Review Journal had a note here. Power company lobbyists are filling up the comments sections of those articles, so one thing net-savvy Nor’Townies might do is throw up a comment over there.

Well, it looks a bit like the proposed fossil beds national monument to be located in the northern valley has run smack into election year politics–kinda like a kite caught in powerlines.

NV Energy has proposed cutting through the monument with another huge set of power transmission [...]]]>

Mammoth Taking a Stance on Harry Reid

Well, it looks a bit like the proposed fossil beds national monument to be located in the northern valley has run smack into election year politics–kinda like a kite caught in powerlines.

NV Energy has proposed cutting through the monument with another huge set of power transmission lines similar to those that already mark the northern boundary. (Sun,RJ) Presumably, the lines are necessary to support “green” power initiatives.

Probably the most important voice in all this will be that of Senator Harry Reid. Unfortunately, the power lines likely will have his support. They are part of his plan to hook up solar, wind, and geothermal plants throughout the state to the power grid via transmission lines between the Vegas Valley and Ely.

In fact, it seems that the energy plan is a cornerstone of Reid’s campaign pitch, which he claims will bring new jobs to the area. The plan, however, requires transmission lines. Here’s a quote from the Reid campaign site:

To deliver renewable energy from rural locations to consumers, Nevada must build new transmission lines.  Sen. Reid’s Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act is groundbreaking legislation that will ensure that Nevada reaps the full benefits of renewable energy.  Building new transmission lines will also create jobs and encourage more companies to build renewable energy plants here in Nevada.  Sen. Reid’s commitment to this issue will benefit Nevada’s economy and consumers for years to come.

And you don’t have to surf the Internets very long to find Reid press releases trumpeting his approval of a recent decision by the Public Utilities Commission to support the new lines. (Lincoln County Record)

In the past, however, Reid seemed supportive of the national monument, too. Members of his staff attended a meeting on the monument several months ago and indicated that the Senator’s office was helping to move relevant legislation along.

Now it looks like a very close Senate election has changed all that. Mr. Reid is perhaps loathe to alienate power company magnates who provide campaign cash and whose support is required for large scale projects to build transmission lines.

Still, the campaign should probably keep the following in mind. The support for the monument in North Las Vegas and environs comes from what is perhaps the first true grassroots movement in the Northern Valley, a notoriously apathetic place. It is a citizens movement which brought together people from across the political spectrum and united local governments in an unprecedented fashion.

I would guess that it would be devastating to the Senator’s tenuous lead in his current race for that constituency to decide that his opponent, as flawed as she is, is a palatable alternative. A grassroots organization impassioned by this issue in the heart of blue Nevada throwing its support to Reid’s opposition would seem to be the death knell of his campaign.

Pretty stupid, too, since a phone call the Michael Yackira, C.E.O. on NV Energy from the Senate Majority Leader would probably put a stop to the idea pretty quick.

Ah, Mr. Yackira. One of my favorite people. He happily sat on Lame Duck Governor Jim Gibbons’ committee to cover-up global warming a few years back just so he could build coal-fired power plants. Those were the same plants that Harry Reid came out against a year or two later.

It would certainly be entertaining, too, to all of us in Nor’Town to see folks like Sharron Angle and Kenneth Wegner come out against powerlines and in favor of the fossils. Mainly because it would be something line being an eyewitness to Hell freezing over.

But, I suppose the most obvious question is: why not run the damn line through the Clark County Shooting Park? Heck, nobody goes up there anyway, and the County’s losing big money on it. Why not lease it out to NV Energy? Win-win all the way around!

Greetings all –

On June 7-8th, we would like to mount a sit-up-take-notice campaign aimed at Nevada’s Congressional delegation. Why? Because

NOW is the time to get Tule Springs legislation introduced – to assure its passage during this Congress!

From Jill DeStefano, representing the Protectors of Tule Springs:

Greetings all –

On June 7-8th, we would like to mount a sit-up-take-notice campaign aimed at Nevada’s Congressional delegation. Why? Because

NOW is the time to get Tule Springs legislation introduced – to assure its passage during this Congress!

NOW is the time to remind Nevada’s Congressional delegation of the amazing support this community has expressed to make Tule Springs a national monument managed by the National Park Service!

NOW is the time to show Nevadans that our representatives work TOGETHER on Nevada land legislation as they have in the PAST!!

This is NOT a partisan issue. Protectors of Tule Springs has members of every political affiliation. This is about preserving one of the most important Ice Age Fossil sites in the World!

TALKING POINTS
(Feel free to use and please edit to make these points relevant to the endorsing individual/organization.)

• Last November, with noteworthy collaboration, the Clark County Commission, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas City Councils and the Tribal Council of the Southern Nevada Paiute Tribe UNANIMOUSLY PASSED resolutions asking Nevada’s Congressional to make Tule Springs a national monument, managed by the National Park Service. These elected officials represent more than a million Southern Nevada residents.
• In the ensuing months, a broad range of stakeholders and varied groups have worked together to outline boundaries and details, and all have come together in the spirit of collaboration to make Tule Springs a model urban national park.
• We appeal NOW to Nevada’s Congressional delegation to file legislation with anticipation that this legislation will be passed during this Congress.
• Tule Springs is, as you undoubtedly know, is a significant paleontological site with fossils that span 7,000 to nearly 200,000 years ago. This site is expected to attract visitors from around the world, as well as global scientific interest. Thank you for your support in this vital, essential legislative action.

EXECUTION
The most effective way to really make our point stand out will be to flood Congressional offices with snail mail, faxes, email and phone calls. If possible, we need to rally individuals and organizations …. We’re looking for numbers.

Senator John Ensign
Washington D.C. Office
119 Russell Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6244
Fax: (202) 228-2193
TTY: (202) 228-3364
Las Vegas Office
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8203
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone: (702) 388-6605
Fax: (702) 388-6501
Nevada Toll Free: (877) 894-7711

Senator Harry Reid
Washington D.C. Office
522 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3542
Fax: (202) 224-7327
Nevada Toll Free: (866) SEN-REID (736-7343)
Las Vegas Office
Lloyd D. George Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard
South, Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 388-5020
Fax: (702) 388-5030

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
Washington, D.C. Office
405 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5965
Fax: (202) 225-3119
Las Vegas Office
2340 Paseo Del Prado, Suite D-106 Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 220-9823
Fax: (702) 220-9841

Congressman Dean Heller
Washington, D.C. Office
125 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6155 /// Fax: (202) 225-5679
Las Vegas Office
600 Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 680
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone:(702) 255-1651 / Fax: (702) 255-1927

Congresswoman Dina Titus
Washington D.C. Office
319 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3252
Fax: (202) 225-2185
Las Vegas Office
8215 S. Eastern Avenue, Suite 205
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: (702) 387-4941
Fax: (702) 837-0728

I would add that if you happen to actually see your representative around asking for your vote, tell them that Tule Springs is a priority for you. I know some of you are working phone banks and volunteering for these people, too. Tell the campaign staff how important the issue is to you.

One thing that strikes me about the article is how all the cooperation between all the various government agencies  would not have happened [...]]]> The Las Vegas Sun apparently found a staffer still on the payroll to pen a piece about the BLM’s generally favorable position on the proposed Upper Las Vegas Wash national monument. (Sun)

One thing that strikes me about the article is how all the cooperation between all the various government agencies  would not have happened if the development bubble had not burst.

If Park Highlands were half-finished right now and Boyd Gaming was building the casino next to it, and developers were, like Alexander, looking for more worlds to conquer, just how willing would everyone had been to make all that land into an untouchable monument? Somebody was pushing for that Sheepdip Parkway, too, which would have plowed right through the fossils just a few years ago, and they had the County on board.

So, even the nasty dark clouds of the Great Recession have a silver lining or two.

Fun fact:  the domain www.sheepmountainparkway.com is owned by mega-developer Parsons Brinkerhoff. Funny that the copyright of the site is held by the City of Las Vegas, ain’t it?

Hey, they might sell that domain to ya cheap these days.

There will be a meeting of folk interested in the monument later this month:

Where: Aliante Community Center (the left building as you walk up) 7390 Aliante Parkway, just north of Aliante Station Casino.

When: Wednesday February 17th, from 6-8pm

Speakers:

• Gayle Marrs-Smith of the BLM will explain the preferred alternatives and public meeting process
• Kathleen Springer from the San Bernardino Museum will have specific info about the traininig classes for the site steward program
• Lynn Davis of the National Parks Conservation Assc. will talk about our role as we move toward National Monument status
• ? special guest still to be firmed up by next week.

Well, the baby has arrived!!! Baby being the BLM supplemental environmental impact study DRAFT!

The actual document is 2″ thick and having just received the hard copy this AM, I have not read every word. However, the preferred alternative is 11,007 acres! Three [...]]]> From Jill DeStefano for Protectors of Tule Springs:

Well, the baby has arrived!!! Baby being the BLM supplemental environmental impact study DRAFT!

The actual document is 2″ thick and having just received the hard copy this AM, I have not read every word.
However, the preferred alternative is 11,007 acres! Three years ago, when Protectors of Tule Springs was formed and began to get involved in this process, I was actually told by an unnamed person that we might as well not bother….that only 2900 acres would be saved or maybe 5500 acres if we worked real hard. Well, out of 12,900 acres studied, even the BLM is recommending protecting 11,007!

Now, we have 60 days to comment before the BLM publishes their FINAL decision. We will be turning in the 10,000 signatures collected over a year ago at the upcoming public meetings.

Of course, we are still pushing for another 10-14,000 acres of fossil bearing acres to be protected north of this studied area. This would give 20-27,000 acres of land protected as a National Monument. This will need to be legislation that our Congressional delegation submits to Congress! But, what an incredible benefit to the Las Vegas Valley for tourism and open space for our families!

The Protectors of Tule Springs will be having a meeting on Wednesday night, February 17th from 6-8pm. Location to be announced but we are trying to get the Sun City Aliante Clubhouse. Agenda as follows:

• We will discuss the public meetings scheduled for February 22, 23, and 24th. (locations and time to be determined)
• Gayle Marrs-Smith of the BLM will give us a presentation of the preferred alternative and the process from here on. She will also tell you how to comment, and even have forms with her for comment.
• Kathleen Springer of the San Bernardino County Museum will be coming to take a vote on when the site steward/paleontological classes will start as we learn to help the paleontologists in the field and help protect the fossil sites.
• An exciting and IMPORTANT guest, to be announced if schedules work out!

So, I have CD’s of the DRAFT to check out if you want one….. or please go to:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html Click on link on right that says EIS draft. The document is divided into chapters. The executive summary is vital along with chapter 2, alternatives A&B

Thanks and happy reading!!

Click here for the Upper Las Vegas Wash Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

Ooo. While your reading stuff, here’s some BLM docs on the Shooting Park.