BLM: Questions remain on FRTC expansion

A discussion on the Bureau of Land Management’s plans with the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act and Fallon Range Training Complex occurred at the Feb. 15 Churchill County Commission meeting.

Mark Mazza, the Stillwater acting field office manager, presented commissioners with a review on the bureau’s involvement with the range expansion. This was his first meeting before the commissioners.

The FRTC will add 558,535 acres for military training that’s crucial for the country’s national security and designate more than 581,887 acres of conservation, wilderness and other protected areas. According to the bill’s language, 18,170 acres of land will be held in trust for the Walker River Paiute and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone tribes and provide the tribes with vital funding to preserve their history, knowledge and culture.

Mazza said the BLM is compiling a list of unanswered questions that were presented in the NDAA. He said BM is determining what position the agency needs to take.

“We are having our attorneys in the Solicitor’s Office in combination with attorneys for the Department of Defense look over legislation and determine what some of the interpretations are and what that means to the BLM and the work we have in front of us,” Mazza said.

According to Mazza, the BLM has focused on three areas.

Mazza said the first concern centers on the wildness areas being released from the Wilderness Study Areas, and he knows a wilderness study plan will be needed. He said the Numu Newe is a special management area in Mineral and Churchill counties, and BLM will develop a plan for this areas. Finally, Mazza added the Numunaa Nobe National Conservation Area around Grimes Point in Churchill County will require its own special plan.

Mazza added the BLM will work through unanswered questions on the grazing land that will be transferred.

“Some of the areas may not be active until seven years for fencing is up,” he said.

That last point brought a quick response from Churchill County Manager Jim Barbee.

“Who’s going to be in charge of implementation here,” Barbee asked. “Is this going to be through the district manager, is this going to be the assistant at Stillwater or is this going to be at the state office?”

Barbee said some preliminary meetings have be held on those concerns. The county manager then changed his focus on priorities.

“None of the bombing ranges cane be developed until all these commitments are met,” Barbee said. “So my concern is your priorities tend to be the wilderness.”

Barbee discussed the management area at Grimes Point and the priorities on the transfer and conveyance of the land.

Another area of concern deals with grazing areas and what the checkerboard areas of land ownership looks like.

Commission Chairman Bus Scharmann said he and Barbee recently met with Nevada’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. He said their concerns are with the Navy and the Churchill County Lands Bill.

“I would like to see a strategy for the checkerboard and how that’s going to be turned over to Churchill County,” Scharmann said.

Additionally, Scharmann said the commissioners want to find out the Navy’s strategy for implementing their plan. He said the commission doesn’t want to see the expansion “die on the vine.”

“We want this thing to move forward now,” Scharmann said.

In other action, commissioners took action on the following agenda items:

• Listened to John Oceguera, executive vice president of Strategies 360, the county's lobbying firm, update the board on the 2023 Legislative Session.

• Approved Cashman Service Agreement for maintenance of the county-owned and operated for $14,360.

• Approved an agreement between Churchill County Social Services and the State of Nevada, Aging and Disabilities Services Division, amending the award from $70,238.79 to $155,688.32 for equipment purchase.

• Approved a purchasing agreement for Property located at 101-131 N. Maine Street, APN: 001-134-12, with a purchase price of $780,000.

• Approved to reclassify one position from Resource Liaison to Caseworker I for Churchill County Social Services effective February 20, 2023, for a total fiscal year 2023 impact of $2,772 and fiscal year 2024 of $8,387.

• Approved an Advanced Step appointment of Colin Utterback as an IT Professional for Churchill County with an annual impact of approximately $4,500.

• Approved for six months on a 2-1 vote the appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for temporary quarters and for general purposes filed by Ruth Miller. This is for property located at 4810 Schindler Road, Assessor's Parcel Number 006-292-48, consisting of 5.03 acres in the A-5 zoning district. The appellant proposes to have some people live in an RV on her property because they are homeless.

March 2 meeting: 8:15 a.m. Churchill Cunty Commissioners chambers, 155 N. Taylor St.

• Application for continued support funding for the Churchill Art's Council in the amount of $8,000 to be considered in the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, with an update on activities.

• A Parcel Map Application filed by Nathan Zarowny of Idaho Asphalt Supply, on property owned by Bravo Foxtrot NV, located at 22297 Bango Road, Assessor's Parcel Number 007- 071-82, consisting of 55.56 acres in the Industrial zoning district, whereby the Applicant proposes to divide the property into two industrial parcels with potential rail access.

•Reporting and use of Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds (LATCF)/(ARPA) for $3,464,223.86.

•Approval of a five-month extension request by Hiatt Land & Development, LLC to complete the road improvements to record the Parcel Map for APN: 007-311-42 as required by the conditions of approval.

• Approval of class specifications and pay ranges for the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD).

• Approval for upgrades to equipment in the Commission Chambers for the A/V rack, microphones, livestream and services with SoSu TV in the amount of $92,680.

• Adoption of Resolution 3-2023 authorizing the Clerk/Treasurer to sell property held in trust because of unpaid taxes, directing publication of the Notice of the Tax Sale as provided in statutes, and other matters properly relating thereto.

• Update on the 2023 Nevada Legislature and directing staff to provide letters and/or testimony in support and opposition to any bills affecting Churchill County.