II
Calendar No. 286
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 940
[Report No. 111–136]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 30, 2009
Mr. Reid (for himself and Mr. Ensign) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
March 2, 2010
Reported by Mr. Bingaman, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Nevada System of Higher Education certain Federal land located in Clark and Nye counties, Nevada, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Southern Nevada Higher Education Land
Act of 2009
.
Findings; purpose
Findings
Congress finds that—
southern Nevada is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, with 750,000 new residents added since 2000 and 250,000 residents expected to be added by 2010;
the Nevada System of Higher Education serves more than 71,000 undergraduate and graduate students in southern Nevada, with enrollment in the System expected to grow by 21 percent during the next 10 years, which would bring enrollment to a total of 85,000 students in the System;
the Nevada System of Higher Education campuses in southern Nevada comprise 1,200 acres, one of the smallest land bases of any major higher education system in the western United States;
the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with 27,903 students and 3,000 faculty and staff, is the fourth fastest-growing research university in the United States;
the College of Southern Nevada—
serves more than 41,000 students each semester; and
is near capacity at each of the 3 urban campuses of the College;
Pahrump, located in rural Nye County, Nevada—
has grown by 20 percent since 2000; and
has a small satellite campus of Great Basin College to serve the 40,500 residents of Pahrump, Nevada; and
the Nevada System of Higher Education needs additional land to provide for the future growth of the System, particularly for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the College of Southern Nevada, and the Pahrump campus of Great Basin College.
Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
to provide additional land for a thriving higher education system that serves the residents of fast-growing southern Nevada;
to provide residents of the State with greater opportunities to pursue higher education and the resulting benefits, which include increased earnings, more employment opportunities, and better health; and
to provide communities in southern Nevada the economic and societal values of higher education, including economic growth, lower crime rates, greater civic participation, and less reliance on social services.
Definitions
In this Act:
Board of regents
The term Board of Regents means the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Campuses
The term Campuses means the Great Basin College, College of Southern Nevada, and University of Las Vegas, Nevada, campuses.
Federal land
The term Federal land means each of the 3
parcels of Bureau of Land Management land identified on the maps as
Parcel to be Conveyed
, of which—
approximately 40 acres is to be conveyed for the College of Southern Nevada;
approximately 2,085 acres is to be conveyed for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and
approximately 285 acres is to be conveyed for the Great Basin College.
Map
The
term Map means each of the 3 maps entitled Southern Nevada
Higher Education Land Act
, dated July 11, 2008, and on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of
Land Management.
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
State
The term State means the State of Nevada.
System
The term System means the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Conveyances of Federal land to the System
Conveyances
In general
Notwithstanding
section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1712) and section 1(c) of the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the
Recreation and Public Purposes Act
) (43 U.S.C. 869(c)), and
subject to all valid existing rights, the Secretary shall—
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, convey to the System, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land for the Great Basin College and the College of Southern Nevada; and
not later than 180 days after the receipt of certification of acceptable remediation of environmental conditions existing on the parcel to be conveyed for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, convey to the System, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Phases
The Secretary may phase the conveyance of the Federal land under paragraph (1)(B) as remediation is completed.
Conditions
In general
As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a)(1), the Board of Regents shall agree in writing—
to pay any administrative costs associated with the conveyance, including the costs of any environmental, wildlife, cultural, or historical resources studies;
to use the Federal land conveyed for educational and recreational purposes;
to release and indemnify the United States from any claims or liabilities that may arise from uses carried out on the Federal land on or before the date of enactment of this Act by the United States or any person;
as soon as practicable after the date of the conveyance under subsection (a)(1), to erect at each of the Campuses an appropriate and centrally located monument that acknowledges the conveyance of the Federal land by the United States for the purpose of furthering the higher education of the citizens in the State; and
to assist the Bureau of Land Management in providing information to the students of the System and the citizens of the State on—
public land (including the management of public land) in the Nation; and
the role of the Bureau of Land Management in managing, preserving, and protecting the public land in the State.
Agreement with nellis air force base
In general
As a precondition of the conveyance of the Federal land for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas under subsection (a)(1)(B), the Board of Regents shall enter into a binding interlocal agreement with Nellis Air Force Base to preserve the long-term capability of Nellis Air Force Base.
Requirements
The interlocal agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) and any related master plan shall require the mutual assent of the parties to the agreement.
Limitation
In no case shall the use of the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1)(B) compromise the national security mission or avigation rights of Nellis Air Force Base.
Use of Federal land
In general
The System may use the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1) for—
any purpose relating to the establishment, operation, growth, and maintenance of the System; and
any uses relating to the purposes, including residential and commercial development that would generally be associated with an institution of higher education.
Other entities
The System may—
consistent with Federal and State law, lease, or otherwise provide property or space at, the Campuses, with or without consideration, to religious, public interest, community, or other groups for services and events that are of interest to the System or to any community located in southern Nevada;
allow any other communities in southern Nevada to use facilities of the Campuses for educational and recreational programs of the community; and
in conjunction with the city of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Pahrump or Clark or Nye County plan, finance (including through the provision of cost-share assistance), construct, and operate facilities for the city of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Pahrump or Clark or Nye County on the Federal land conveyed for educational or recreational purposes consistent with this section.
Reversion
In general
If the Federal land or any portion of the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1) ceases to be used for the System, the Federal land, or any portion of the Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
If the System fails to complete the first building or show progression toward development of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on the applicable parcels of Federal land by the date that is 50 years after the date of receipt of certification of acceptable remediation of environmental conditions, the parcels of the Federal land described in section 3(3)(B) shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Southern Nevada Higher Education Land
Act of 2009
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Board of regents
The term Board of Regents means the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Campuses
The term Campuses means the Great Basin College, College of Southern Nevada, and University of Las Vegas, Nevada, campuses.
Federal land
The term Federal land means each of the 3
parcels of Bureau of Land Management land identified on the maps as
Parcel to be Conveyed
, of which—
approximately 40 acres is to be conveyed for the College of Southern Nevada;
approximately 2,085 acres is to be conveyed for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and
approximately 285 acres is to be conveyed for the Great Basin College.
Map
The
term Map means each of the 3 maps entitled Southern Nevada
Higher Education Land Act
, dated July 11, 2008, and on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of
Land Management.
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
State
The term State means the State of Nevada.
System
The term System means the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Conveyances of Federal land to the System
Conveyances
In general
Notwithstanding
section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1712) and section 1(c) of the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the
Recreation and Public Purposes Act
) (43 U.S.C. 869(c)), and
subject to all valid existing rights, the Secretary shall—
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, convey to the System, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land for the Great Basin College and the College of Southern Nevada; and
on the receipt of certification of acceptable remediation of environmental conditions existing on the parcel to be conveyed for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, convey to the System, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Phases
The Secretary may phase the conveyance of the Federal land under paragraph (1)(B) as remediation is completed.
Conditions
In general
As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a)(1), the Board of Regents shall agree in writing—
to pay any administrative costs associated with the conveyance, including the costs of any environmental, wildlife, cultural, or historical resources studies;
to use the Federal land conveyed for educational and recreational purposes;
to release and indemnify the United States from any claims or liabilities that may arise from uses carried out on the Federal land on or before the date of enactment of this Act by the United States or any person;
as soon as practicable after the date of the conveyance under subsection (a)(1), to erect at each of the Campuses an appropriate and centrally located monument that acknowledges the conveyance of the Federal land by the United States for the purpose of furthering the higher education of the citizens in the State; and
to assist the Bureau of Land Management in providing information to the students of the System and the citizens of the State on—
public land (including the management of public land) in the Nation; and
the role of the Bureau of Land Management in managing, preserving, and protecting the public land in the State.
Nellis air force base
In general
The Federal land conveyed to the System under this Act
shall be used in accordance with the agreement entitled the Cooperative
Interlocal Agreement between the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of
Higher Education, on Behalf of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the
99th Air Base Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
and dated June 19,
2009.
Modifications
Any modifications to the interlocal agreement described in subparagraph (A) and any related master plan shall require the mutual assent of the parties to the agreement.
Limitation
In no case shall the use of the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1)(B) compromise the national security mission or avigation rights of Nellis Air Force Base.
Use of Federal land
In general
The System may use the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1) for—
any educational or public purpose relating to the establishment, operation, growth, and maintenance of the System, including—
educational facilities;
housing for students, employees of the System, and educators;
student life and recreational facilities, public parks, and open space;
university and college medical and health facilities; and
research facilities; and
any other public purpose
that would generally be associated with an institution of higher education,
consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the
Recreation and Public Purposes Act
) (43 U.S.C. 869 et
seq.).
Other entities
The System may—
consistent with Federal and State law, lease, or otherwise provide property or space at, the Campuses, with or without consideration, to religious, public interest, community, or other groups for services and events that are of interest to the System or to any community located in southern Nevada;
allow any other communities in southern Nevada to use facilities of the Campuses for educational and recreational programs of the community; and
in conjunction with the city of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Pahrump or Clark or Nye County plan, finance (including through the provision of cost-share assistance), construct, and operate facilities for the city of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Pahrump or Clark or Nye County on the Federal land conveyed for educational or recreational purposes consistent with this section.
Reversion
If the Federal land or any portion of the Federal land conveyed under subsection (a)(1) ceases to be used for the System in accordance with the Act, the Federal land, or any portion of the Federal land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
March 2, 2010
Reported with an amendment