Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002
PL 107-282 (H.R.5200), enacted 11/06/2002

116 STAT. 1994 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
Public Law 107-282 
107th Congress 
Nov. 6, 2002 
[H.R. 5200] 
Clark County 
Conservation of 
Public Land and 
Natural 
Resources Act of 
2002. 
16 use 
460qqq note. 
An Act 
To establish wilderness areas, promote conservation, improve public land, and pro-
vide for high quality development in Clark County, Nevada, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Clark County Conservation 
of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002". 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents of this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE I—RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA LAND 
EXCHANGE AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT 
Sec. 101. Short title. 
Sec. 102. Definitions. 
Sec. 103. Findings and purposes. 
Sec. 104. Red Rock Canyon land exchange. 
Sec. 105. Status and management of lands. 
Sec. 106. General provisions. 
TITLE II—WILDERNESS AREAS 
Sec. 201. Findings. 
Sec. 202. Additions to National Wilderness Preservation System. 
Sec. 203. Administration. 
Sec. 204. Adjacent management. 
Sec. 205. Military overflights. 
Sec. 206. Native American cultural and religious uses. 
Sec. 207. Release of ^Milderness study areas. 
Sec. 208. Wildlife management. 
Sec. 209. Wildfire management. 
Sec. 210. Climatological data collection. 
Sec. 211. National Park Service lands. 
TITLE III—TRANSFERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION 
Sec. 301. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service. 
Sec. 302. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction to National Park Service. 
TITLE IV—AMENDMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN NEVADA PUBLIC LAND 
MANAGEMENT ACT 
Sec. 401. Disposal and exchange. 
TITLE V—IVANPAH CORRIDOR 
Sec. 501. Interstate Route 15 south corridor. 
Sec. 502. Area of Critical Environmental Concern segregation. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 1995 
TITLE VI—SLOAN CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA 
Sec. 601. Short title. 
Sec. 602. Purpose. 
Sec. 603. Definitions. 
Sec. 604. Establishment. 
Sec. 605. Management. 
Sec. 606. Sale of Federal parcel. 
Sec. 607. Right-of-way. 
TITLE VII—PUBLIC INTEREST CONVEYANCES 
Sec. 701. Definition of map. 
Sec. 702. Conveyance to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Research Founda-
tion. 
Sec. 703. Conveyance to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 
Sec. 704. Conveyance to the City of Henderson for the Nevada State College at 
Henderson. 
Sec. 705. Conveyance to the City of Las Vegas, Nevada. 
Sec. 706. Sale of Federal parcel. 
TITLE VIII—HUMBOLDT PROJECT CONVEYANCE 
Sec. 801. Short title. 
Sec. 802. Definitions. 
Sec. 803. Authority to convey title. 
Sec. 804. Payment. 
Sec. 805. Compliance with other laws. 
Sec. 806. Revocation of withdrawals. 
Sec. 807. Liability. 
Sec. 808. National Environmental Policy Act. 
Sec. 809. Future benefits. 
TITLE IX—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 901. Technical amendments to the Mesquite Lands Act 2001. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AGREEMENT.—The term "Agreement" means the Agree-
ment entitled "Interim Cooperative Management Agreement 
Between the United States of the Interior Bureau of Land 
Management and Clark County", dated November 4, 1992. 
(2) COUNTY.—The term "County" means Clark County, 
Nevada. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to land 
in the National Forest System; or 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to other 
Federal land. 
(4) STATE.—The term "State" means the State of Nevada. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this Act. 
T I T L E 
I — R E D 
R O C K 
C A N Y O N 
N A T I O N A L 
Red Rock canyon 
CONSERVATION 
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460qqq-l 
note. 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
16 USC 
460ccc—4 
This title may be cited as the "Red Rock Canyon National 
note. 
Conservation Area Protection and Enhancement Act of 2002". 
116 STAT. 1996 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
16 use 
460ccc-4 
note. 
16 use 
460ccc-4 
note. 
16 use 
460ccc-4 
note. 
Deadline. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this title: 
(1) CORPORATION.—The term "Corporation" means the 
Howard Hughes Corporation, an affiliate of the Rouse Com-
pany, with its principal place of business at 10000 West 
Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. 
(2) RED ROCK CANYON.—The term "Red Rock Canyon" 
means the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, con-
sisting of approximately 195,780 acres of public lands in Clark 
County, Nevada, specially designated for protection in the Red 
Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act 
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460CCC et seq.), as depicted on the Red 
Rock Canyon Map. 
(3) RED ROCK CANYON MAP.—The term "Red Rock Canyon 
Map" means the map entitled "Southern Nevada Public Land 
Management Act", dated October 1, 2002. 
SEC. 103. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Red Rock Canyon is a natural resource of major signifi-
cance to the people of Nevada and the United States. It must 
be protected in its natural state for the enjoyment of future 
generations of Nevadans and Americans, and enhanced wher-
ever possible. 
(2) In 1998, the Congress enacted the Southern Nevada 
Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263), 
which provided among other things for the protection and 
enhancement of Red Rock Canyon. 
(3) The Corporation owns much of the private land on 
Red Rock Canyon's eastern boundary, and is engaged in devel-
oping a large-scale master-planned community. 
(4) Included in the Corporation's land holdings are 1,071 
acres of high-ground lands at the eastern edge of Red Rock 
Canyon. These lands were intended to be included in Red 
Rock, but to date have not been acquired by the United States. 
The protection of this high-ground acreage would preserve an 
important element of the western Las Vegas Valley viewshed. 
(5) The Corporation has volunteered to forgo development 
of the high-ground lands, and proposes that the United States 
acquire title to the lands so that they can be preserved in 
perpetuity to protect and expand Red Rock Canyon. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this title are: 
(1) To accomplish an exchange of lands between the United 
States and the Corporation that would transfer certain high-
ground lands to the United States in exchange for the transfer 
of other lands of approximately equal value to the Corporation. 
(2) To protect Red Rock Canyon and to expand its bound-
aries as contemplated by the Bureau of Land Management, 
as depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map. 
(3) To further fulfill the purposes of the Southern Nevada 
Public Lands Management Act of 1998 and the Red Rock 
Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990. 
SEC. 104. RED ROCK CANYON LAND EXCHANGE. 
(a) ACQUISITION REQUIREMENT.—If the Corporation offers to 
convey to the United States all right, title, and interest in and 
to the approximately 1,082 acres of non-Federal land owned by 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 1997 
the Corporation and depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as 
"Offered Lands proposed addition to the Red Rock Canyon NCA", 
the Secretary shall accept such offer on behalf of the United States, 
and not later than 90 days after the date of the offer, except 
as otherwise provided in this title, shall make the following convey-
ances: 
(1) To the Corporation, the approximately 998 acres of 
Federal lands depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as "Public 
land selected for exchange". 
(2) To Clark County, Nevada, the approximately 1,221 acres 
of Federal lands depicted on the Red Rock Canyon Map as 
"Proposed BLM transfer for county park". 
(b) SIMULTANEOUS CONVEYANCES.—Title to the private property 
and the Federal property to be conveyed pursuant to this section 
shall be conveyed at the same time. 
(c) MAP.—The Secretary shall keep the Red Rock Canyon Map 
on file and available for public inspection in the Las Vegas District 
Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, and the 
State Office of the Bureau of Land Management, Reno, Nevada. 
(d) CONDITIONS.— 
(1) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.—^As a condition of the convey-
ance under —subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall require that 
the Corporation be responsible for removal of and remediation 
related to any hazardous materials that are present on the 
property conveyed to the United States under subsection (a). 
(2) SURVEY.—As a condition of the conveyance under sub- Deadline, 
section (a)(1), the Secretary shall require that not later than 
90 days after the date of the offer referred to in subsection 
(a), the Corporation shall provide a metes and bounds survey, 
that is acceptable to the Corporation, Clark County, and the 
Secretary, of the common boundary between the parcels of 
land to be conveyed under subsection (a). 
(3) LANDS CONVEYED TO CLARK COUNTY.—^As a condition 
of the conveyance under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall 
require that— 
(A) the lands transferred to Clark County by the 
United States must be held in perpetuity by the County 
for use only as a public park or as part of a public regional 
trail system; and 
(B) if the County attempts to transfer the lands or 
to undertake a use on the lands that is inconsistent with 
their preservation and use as described in subparagraph 
(A), such lands shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, 
revert to the United States. 
(e) VALUATION.— 
(1) EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGE.—The values of the Federal 
parcel and the non-Federal parcel, as determined under para-
graph (2)— 
(A) shall be equal; or 
(B) if the values are not equal, shall be equalized 
in accordance with paragraph (3). 
(2) APPRAISAL.—The values of the Federal parcel and the 
non-Federal parcel shall be determined by an appraisal, to 
be approved by the Secretary, that complies with the Uniform 
Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions. 
(3) EQUALIZATION.— 
116 STAT. 1998 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
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460CCC-4 
note. 
Effective date. 
16 use 
460ccc-4 
note. 
Deadline. 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the value of the non-Federal parcel 
is less than the value of the Federal parcel— 
(i) the Corporation shall make a cash equalization 
payment to the Secretary; or 
(ii) the Secretary shall, as determined to be appro-
priate by the Secretary and the Corporation, reduce 
the acreage of the Federal parcel. 
(B) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—The Secretary shall 
deposit any cash equalization payments received under 
subparagraph (A)(i) in accordance with section 4(e)(1)(C) 
of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 
1998 (112 Stat. 2345). 
SEC. 
1
0
5
. 
STATUS 
AND 
MANAGEMENT 
OF 
LANDS. 
(a) INCLUSION AND MANAGEMENT OF LANDS.—Upon the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall administer the 
lands depicted on the Red Rock Map as "Public Lands-proposed 
addition to the Red Rock Canyon NCA", exclusive of those lands 
used for the Corps of Engineers R-4 Detention Basin, as part 
of Red Rock and in accordance with the Red Rock Canyon National 
Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460ccc 
et seq.) and all other applicable laws. 
(b) INCLUSION OF ACQUIRED LANDS.—^Upon acquisition by the 
United States of lands under this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) administer the lands as part of Red Rock and in accord-
ance with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 
Establishment Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460ccc et seq.), the 
Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 (Public 
Law 105-263), and all other applicable laws; and 
(2) create new maps showing the boundaries of Red Rock 
as modified or pursuant to this Act, and make such maps 
available for review at the Las Vegas District Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management and the State Office of the Bureau 
of Land Management, Reno, Nevada. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3(a)(2) of the Red Rock 
Canyon National Conservation Area Establishment Act of 1990 
(16 U.S.C. 460ccc-l(a)(2)) is amended by inserting before the period 
the following: ", and such additional areas as are included in the 
conservation area pursuant to the Red Rock Canyon National Con-
servation Area Protection and Enhancement Act of 2002". 
SEC. 106. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
(a) REVIEW OF APPRAISAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete 
a review of the appraisal entitled, "Complete Self-Contained 
Appraisal Red Rock Exchange, Las Vegas, Nevada", completed on 
or about June 3, 2002. The difference in appraisal values shall 
be reimbursed to the Secretary by the Corporation in accordance 
with the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998. 
(b) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—The land exchange under this 
Act shall be subject to valid existing rights. Each party to which 
property is conveyed under this Act shall succeed to the rights 
and obligations of the conveying party with respect to any lease, 
right-of-way, permit, or other valid existing right to which the 
property is subject. 
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Nothing in this Act prohibits 
the parties to the conveyances under this Act from agreeing to 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 1999 
the correction of technical errors or omissions in the Red Rock 
Map. 
(d) WITHDRAWAL OF AFFECTED LANDS.—To the extent not 
already accomplished under law or administrative action, the Sec-
retary shall withdraw from operation of the public land and mining 
laws, subject to valid existing rights— 
(1) those Federal lands acquired by the United States under 
this Act; and 
(2) those Federal lands already owned by the United States 
on the date of enactment of this Act but included within the 
Red Rock National Conservation Area boundaries by this Act. 
TITLE II—WILDERNESS AREAS 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) public land in the County contains unique and spectac-
ular natural resources, including— 
(A) priceless habitat for numerous species of plants 
and wildlife; and 
(B) thousands of acres of pristine land that remain 
in a natural state; 
(2) continued preservation of those areas would benefit 
the County and all of the United States by— 
(A) ensuring the conservation of ecologically diverse 
habitat; 
(B) conserving primitive recreational resources; and 
(C) protecting air and water quality. 
SEC. 202. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION 
SYSTEM. 
(a) ADDITIONS.—The following land in the State is designated 
16 use 1132 
as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness note. 
Preservation System: 
(1) ARROW CANYON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising 
approximately 27,530 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "Arrow Canyon", dated October 1, 2002, which shall 
be known as the "Arrow Canyon Wilderness". 
(2) BLACK CANYON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management, comprising approximately 17,220 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", 
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Black 
Canyon Wilderness". 
(3) BRIDGE CANYON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising 
approximately 7,761 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", dated October 1, 2002, 
which shall be known as the "Bridge Canyon Wilderness". 
(4) ELDORADO WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land within 
the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 31,950 acres, as generally 
depicted on the map entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", dated 
116 STAT. 2000 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Eldorado Wilder-
ness". 
(5) IRETEBA PEAKS WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management, comprising approximately 32,745 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", 
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Ireteba 
Peaks Wilderness". 
(6) JiMBlLNAN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land within 
the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising approxi-
mately 18,879 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
"Muddy Mountains", dated October 1, 2002, which shall be 
known as the "Jimbilnan Wilderness". 
(7) JUMBO SPRINGS WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising 
approximately 4,631 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "Gold Butte", dated October 1, 2002, which shall be 
known as the "Jumbo Springs Wilderness". 
(8) LA MADRE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 47,180 acres, as generally 
depicted on the map entitled "Spring Mountains", dated October 
1, 2002, which shall be known as the "La Madre Mountain 
Wilderness". 
(9) LIME CANYON WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land man-
aged by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approxi-
mately 23,233 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
"Gold Butte", dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known 
as the "Lime Canyon Wilderness". 
(10) 
M T . CHARLESTON WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.—Certain 
Federal land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management, comprising approximately 13,598 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled "Spring Mountains", dated 
October 1, 2002, which shall be included in the Mt. Charleston 
Wilderness. 
(11) MUDDY MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an 
adjacent portion of land managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management, comprising approximately 48,019 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled "Muddy Mountains", dated 
October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Muddy Moun-
tains Wilderness". 
(12) NELLIS WASH WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising 
approximately 16,423 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", dated October 1, 2002, 
which shall be known as the "Nellis Wash Wilderness". 
(13) 
NORTH MCCULLOUGH WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising 
approximately 14,763 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "McCulloughs", dated October 1, 2002, which shall 
be known as the "North McCullough Wilderness". 
(14) PINTO VALLEY WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, comprising 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2001 
approximately 39,173 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "Muddy Mountains", dated October 1, 2002, which 
shall be known as the "Pinto Valley Wilderness". 
(15) RAINBOW MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land within the Toiyabe National Forest and an adjacent por-
tion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, comprising approximately 24,997 acres, as generally 
depicted on the map entitled "Spring Mountains", dated October 
1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Rainbow Mountain 
Wilderness". 
(16) SOUTH MCCULLOUGH WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal 
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, comprising 
approximately 44,245 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
entitled "McCulloughs", dated October 1, 2002, which shall 
be known as the "South McCullough Wilderness". 
(17) SPIRIT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS.—Certain Federal land 
within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and an adja-
cent portion of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management, comprising approximately 33,518 acres, as gen-
erally depicted on the map entitled "Eldorado/Spirit Mountain", 
dated October 1, 2002, which shall be known as the "Spirit 
Mountain Wilderness". 
(18) WEE THUMP JOSHUA TREE WILDERNESS.—Certain Fed-
eral land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, com-
prising approximately 6,050 acres, as generally depicted on 
the map entitled "McCulloughs", dated October 1, 2002, which 
shall be known as the "Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness". 
(b) BOUNDARY.— 
(1) LAKE OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of a wilder-
ness area designated by subsection (a) that is bordered by 
Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, or the Colorado River shall be 300 
feet inland from the high water line. 
(2) ROAD OFFSET.—The boundary of any portion of a wilder-
ness area designated by subsection (a) that is bordered by 
a road shall be at least 100 feet from the edge of the road 
to allow public access. 
(c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^As soon as practicable after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and 
legal description of each wilderness area designated by sub-
section (a) with the Committee on Resources of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate. 
(2) EFFECT.—Each map and legal description shall have 
the same force and effect as if included in this section, except 
that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors 
in the map or legal description. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—Each map and legal description shall Public inspection. 
be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
offices of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park 
Service, or Forest Service, as applicable. 
(d) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, the wilder-
ness areas designated in this section are withdrawn from— 
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under 
the public land laws; 
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; 
and 
116 STAT. 2002 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, 
and geothermal leasing laws. 
SEC. 203. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, each area 
designated as wilderness by this title shall be administered by 
the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131 et seq.), except that— 
(1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall 
be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(2) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the 
Interior with respect to lands administered by the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
(b) LIVESTOCK.—Within the wilderness areas designated under 
this title that are administered by the Bureau of Land Management, 
the grazing of livestock in areas in which grazing is established 
as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be allowed to continue, 
subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices that 
the Secretary considers necessary, consistent with section 4(d)(4) 
of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), including the guide-
lines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101-405. 
(c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LANDS AND INTERESTS.—^Any 
land or interest in land within the boundaries of an area designated 
as wilderness by this title that is acquired by the United States 
after the date of enactment of this Act shall be added to and 
administered as part of the wilderness area within which the 
acquired land or interest is located. 
(d) WATER RIGHTS.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress fmds that— 
(A) the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act 
are within the Mojave Desert, are arid in nature, and 
include ephemeral streams; 
(B) the hydrology of the lands designated as wilderness 
by this Act is locally characterized by complex flow patterns 
and alluvial fans with impermanent channels; 
(C) the subsurface hydrogeology of the region is 
characterized by ground water subject to local and regional 
flow gradients and artesian aquifers; 
(D) the lands designated as wilderness by this Act 
are generally not suitable for use or development of new 
water resource facilities and there are no actual or proposed 
water resource facilities and no opportunities for diversion, 
storage, or other uses of water occurring outside such lands 
that would adversely affect the wilderness or other values 
of such lands; and 
(E) because of the unique nature and hydrology of 
these desert lands designated as wilderness by this Act 
and the existence of the Clark County Multi-Species 
Habitat Conservation Plan it is possible to provide for 
proper management and protection of the wilderness, 
perennial springs and other values of such lands in ways 
different from those used in other legislation. 
(2) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
(A) Nothing in this Act shall constitute or be construed 
to constitute either an express or implied reservation by 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2003 
the United States of any water or water rights with respect 
to the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act. 
(B) Nothing in this Act shall affect any water rights 
in the State of Nevada existing on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, including any water rights held by the United 
States. 
(C) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as 
establishing a precedent with regard to any future wilder-
ness designations. 
(D) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting, 
altering, modifying, or amending any of the interstate com-
pacts or equitable apportionment decrees that apportion 
water among and between the State of Nevada and other 
States. 
(E) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as 
limiting, altering, modifying, or amending the Clark County 
Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) with 
respect to the lands designated as Wilderness by this Act 
including the MSHCP's specific management actions for 
the conservation of perennial springs. 
(3) NEVADA WATER LAW.—The Secretary shall follow the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the law of the 
State of Nevada in order to obtain and hold any water rights 
not in existence on the date of enactment of this Act with 
respect to the wilderness areas designated by this Act. 
(4) NEW PROJECTS.— 
(A) As used in this paragraph, the term "water 
resource" facility means irrigation and pumping facilities, 
reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals, 
ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, and trans-
mission and other ancillary facilities, and other water diver-
sion, storage, and carriage structures. The term "water 
resource" facility does not include wildlife guzzlers. 
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, on and 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, neither the 
President nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the 
United States shall fund, assist, authorize, or issue a 
license or permit for the development of any new water 
resource facility within the wilderness areas designated 
by this Act. 
SEC. 204. ADJACENT MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Congress does not intend for the designation 
of wilderness in the State pursuant to this title to lead to the 
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around any such 
wilderness area. 
(b) NONWILDERNESS ACTIVITIES.—The fact that rionwilderness 
activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a wilder-
ness designated under this title shall not preclude the conduct 
of those activities or uses outside the boundary of the wilderness 
area. 
SEC. 205. MILITARY OVERFLIGHTS. 
Nothing in this title restricts or precludes— 
(1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the areas 
designated as wilderness by this title, including military over-
flights that can be seen or heard within the wilderness areas; 
(2) flight testing and evaluation; or 
116 STAT. 2004 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
(3) the designation or creation of new units of special 
use airspace, or the estabhshment of miUtary flight training 
routes, over the wilderness areas. 
SEC. 206. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS USES. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the rights 
of any Indian Tribe. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
diminish tribal rights regarding access to Federal lands for tribal 
activities, including spiritual, cultural, and traditional food-gath-
ering activities. 
SEC. 
207. 
RELEASE 
OF 
WILDERNESS 
STUDY 
AREAS. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 
603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1782), the public land in the County administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the following 
areas have been adequately studied for wilderness designation: 
(1) The Garrett Buttes Wilderness Study Area. 
(2) The Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area. 
(3) The Nellis A, B, C Wilderness Study Area. 
(4) Any portion of the wilderness study areas— 
(A) not designated as wilderness by section 202(a); 
and 
(B) designated for release on— 
(i) the map entitled "Muddy Mountains" and dated 
October 1, 2002; 
(ii) the map entitled "Spring Mountains" and dated 
October 1, 2002; 
(iii) the map entitled "Arrow Canyon" and dated 
October 1, 2002; 
(iv) the map entitled "Gold Butte" and dated 
October 1, 2002; 
(v) the map entitled "McCullough Mountains" and 
dated October 1, 2002; 
(vi) the map entitled "El Dorado/Spirit Mountain" 
and dated October 1, 2002; or 
(vii) the map entitled "Southern Nevada Public 
Land Management Act" and dated October 1, 2002. 
(b) RELEASE.—Except as provided in subsection (c), any public 
land described in subsection (a) that is not designated as wilderness 
by this title— 
(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); 
and 
(2) shall be managed in accordance with— 
(A) land management plans adopted under section 202 
of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712); and 
(B) existing cooperative conservation agreements. 
(c) RIGHT-OF-WAY GRANT.—The Secretary shall issue to the 
State-regulated sponsor of the Centennial Project the right-of-way 
for the construction and maintenance of two 500-kilovolt electrical 
transmission lines. The construction shall occur within a 500-foot-
wide corridor that is released from the Sunrise Mountains Instant 
Study Area in the County as depicted on the Southern Nevada 
Public Land Management Act map, dated October 1, 2002. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2005 
SEC. 208. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects 
or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish 
and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, 
fishing, and trapping, in the wilderness areas designated by this 
title. 
(b) MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.—In furtherance of the purposes 
and principles of the Wilderness Act, management activities to 
maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and the habitats 
to support such populations may be carried out within wilderness 
areas designated by this title where consistent with relevant wilder-
ness management plans, in accordance with appropriate policies 
such as those set forth in Appendix B of House Report 101-405, 
including the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles, 
if such use, as determined by the Secretary, would promote healthy, 
viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations that 
would enhance wilderness values and accomplish those purposes 
with the minimum impact necessary to reasonably accomplish the 
task. 
(c) EXISTING ACTIVITIES.—Consistent with section 4(d)(1) of the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)) and in accordance with appro-
priate policies such as those set forth in Appendix B of House 
Report 101-405, the State may continue to use aircraft, including 
helicopters, to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide 
water for wildlife populations, including bighorn sheep, and feral 
stock, horses, and burros. 
(d) WILDLIFE WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.—Subject to sub-
section (f), the Secretary shall, authorize structures and facilities, 
including existing structures and facilities, for wildlife water 
development projects, including guzzlers, in the wilderness areas 
designated by this title if— 
(1) the structures and facilities will, as determined by 
the Secretary, enhance wilderness values by promoting healthy, 
viable and more naturally distributed wildlife populations; and 
(2) the visual impacts of the structures and facilities on 
the wilderness areas can reasonably be minimized. 
(e) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.—The Secretary may des-
ignate by regulation areas in consultation with the appropriate 
State agency (except in emergencies), in which, and establish 
periods during which, for reasons of public safety, administration, 
or compliance with applicable laws, no hunting, fishing, or trapping 
will be permitted in the wilderness areas designated by this title. 
(f) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—No later than one year after Deadline, 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into 
a cooperative agreement with the State of Nevada. The cooperative 
agreement shall specify the terms and conditions under which the 
State (including a designee of the State) may use wildlife manage-
ment activities in the wilderness areas designated by this title. 
SEC. 209. WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT. 
Consistent with section 4 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1133), nothing in this title precludes a Federal, State, or local 
agency from conducting wildfire management operations (including 
operations using aircraft or mechanized equipment) to manage 
wildfires in the wilderness areas designated by this title. 
116 STAT. 2006 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
SEC. 210. CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION. 
Subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
prescribe, nothing in this title precludes the installation and mainte-
nance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection devices 
in the wilderness areas designated by this title if the facilities 
and access to the facilities are essential to flood warning, flood 
control, and water reservoir operation activities. 
SEC. 211. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LANDS. 
To the extent any of the provisions of this title are in conflict 
with laws, regulations, or management policies applicable to the 
National Park Service for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 
those laws, regulations, or policies shall control. 
TITLE III—TRANSFERS OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION 
16USC668dd 
SEC. 301. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION TO THE 
note. 
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^Administrative jurisdiction over the land 
described in subsection (b) is transferred from the Bureau of Land 
Management to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for 
inclusion in the Desert National Wildlife Range. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of land referred to in 
subsection (a) is the approximately 26,433 acres of land adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted 
on the map entitled "Arrow Canyon" and dated October 1, 2002. 
(c) WILDERNESS RELEASE.— 
(1) Congress finds that the parcel of land described in 
subsection (b) has been adequately studied for wilderness des-
ignation for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)). 
(2) The parcel of land described in subsection (b)— 
(A) shall not be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1782(c)); and 
(B) shall be managed in accordance with 
(i) the National Wildlife Refuge System Adminis-
tration Act, as amended by the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 
668dd-668ee); and 
(ii) existing cooperative conservation agreements. 
16 u s e 460n-l 
SEC. 302. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION TO NATIONAL 
note. 
PARK SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^Administrative jurisdiction over the parcel 
of land described in subsection (b) is transferred from the Bureau 
of Land Management to the National Park Service for inclusion 
in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of land referred to in 
subsection (a) is the approximately 10 acres of Bureau of Land 
Management land, as depicted on the map entitled "Eldorado/Spirit 
Mountain" and dated October 1, 2002. 
(c) USE OF LAND.—The parcel of land described in subsection 
(b) shall be used by the National Park Service for administrative 
facilities. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282-NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2007 
TITLE 
IV-AMENDMENTS 
TO THE 
SOUTHERN NEVADA PUBLIC LAND 
MANAGEMENT ACT 
SEC. 401. DISPOSAL AND EXCHANGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Southern Nevada PubHc 
Land Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2344) is amended-
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking "enti-
tled Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, Land Disposal Map, dated 
April 10, 1997" and inserting "entitled Southern Nevada Public 
Land Management Act, dated October 1, 2002"; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(3)(A)— 
(A) in clause (iv)— 
(i) by inserting "or regional governmental entity" 
after "local government"; and 
(ii) by striking "and" at the end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (iv) the following: 
"(v) up to 10 percent of amounts available, to be 
used for conservation initiatives on Federal land in 
Clark County, Nevada, administered by the Depart-
ment of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture; 
and". 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) take effect on January 31, 2003. 
(c) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, the land 
designated for disposal in this section is withdrawn from entry 
and appropriation under the public land laws, location and entry, 
under the mining laws, and from operation under the mineral 
leasing and geothermal leasing laws until such times as the Sec-
retary terminates the withdrawal or the lands are patented. 
TITLE V-IVANPAH CORRIDOR 
SEC. 501. INTERSTATE ROUTE 15 SOUTH CORRIDOR. 
(a) MANAGEMENT OF INTERSTATE ROUTE 15 CORRIDOR LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage the land 
located along the Interstate Route 15 corridor south of the 
Las Vegas Valley to the border between the States of California 
and Nevada, generally depicted as Interstate 15 South Corridor 
on the map entitled "Clark County Conservation of Public Land 
and Natural Resources Act of 2002" and dated October 1, 
2002, in accordance with the Southern Nevada Public Land 
Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2343) and this section. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map described in paragraph 
(1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the 
appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(3) MULTIPLE USE MANAGEMENT.—Subject to any land 
management designations under the 1998 Las Vegas District 
Resource Management Plan or the Clark County Multi-Species 
Conservation Plan, land depicted on the map described in para-
graph (1) shall be managed for multiple use purposes. 
116 STAT. 2008 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
(4) TERMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL.—The 
administrative withdrawal of the land identified as the Inter-
state 15 South Corridor on the map entitled "Clark County 
Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 
2002" and dated October 1, 2002, from mineral entry dated 
July 23, 1997, and as amended March 9, 1998, as further 
amended July 2, 2002, is terminated. 
(5) WITHDRAWAL OF LAND.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
the corridor described in subsection (b) and the land described 
in subsection (c)(1) are withdrawn from location and entry 
under the mining laws, and from operation under the mineral 
leasing and geothermal leasing laws, until such time as— 
(A) the Secretary terminates the withdrawal; or 
(B) the corridor or land, respectively, is patented. 
(b) 
TRANSPORTATION 
AND 
UTILITIES 
CORRIDOR.—Notwith-
standing sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713), the Secretary, 
in consultation with the City of Henderson and the County, and 
in accordance with this section and other applicable laws and sub-
ject to valid existing rights, shall establish a 2,640-foot-wide corridor 
between the Las Vegas valley and the proposed Ivanpah Airport 
for the placement, on a nonexclusive basis, of utilities and transpor-
tation. 
(c) 
IVANPAH 
AIRPORT 
ENVIRONS 
OVERLAY DISTRICT 
LAND 
TRANSFER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and valid 
existing rights, on request by the County, the Secretary shall 
transfer to the County, without consideration, all right, title, 
and interest of the United States in and to the land identified 
as Ivanpah Airport noise compatibility area on the map entitled 
"Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural 
Resources Act of 2002" and dated October 1, 2002. 
(2) CONDITIONS FOR TRANSFER.—^As a condition of the 
transfer under paragraph (1), the County shall agree— 
(A) to manage the transferred land in accordance with 
section 47504 of title 49, United States Code (including 
regulations promulgated under that section); and 
(B) that if any portion of the transferred land is sold, 
leased, or otherwise conveyed or leased by the County— 
(i) the sale, lease, or other conveyance shall be— 
(I) subject to a limitation that requires that 
any use of the transferred land be consistent with 
the Agreement and section 47504 of title 49, 
United States Code (including regulations promul-
gated under that section); and 
(II) for fair market value; and 
(ii) of any gross proceeds received by the County 
from the sale, lease, or other conveyance of the land, 
the County shall— 
(I) contribute 85 percent to the special account 
established by section 4(e)(1)(C) of the Southern 
Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (112 
Stat. 2345); 
(II) contribute 5 percent to the State for use 
in the general education program of the State; 
and 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2009 
(III) reserve 10 percent for use by the Clark 
County Department of Aviation for airport develop-
ment and noise compatibility programs. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (b) and (c) shall not take 
effect until construction of the Ivanpah Valley Airport is approved 
in accordance with Public Law 106-362. 
SEC. 502. AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN SEGREGA-
TION. 
(a) TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
any Federal land in an Area of Critical Environmental Concern 
that is designated for withdrawal under the 1998 Las Vegas 
Resource Management Plan, and which is not already withdrawn 
by the effect of this or any other Act, is hereby withdrawn from 
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws for a period 
not to exceed five years. The withdrawal shall lapse at the earlier— 
(1) five years; or 
(2) when the Secretary issues a final decision on each 
proposed withdrawal. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL.—The Secretary shall make 
final decisions on each of the temporary withdrawals described 
in subsection (a) within five years of the date of enactment of 
this Act. Such decisions shall be made consistent with the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1714), and in accord-
ance with the 1998 Las Vegas Resource Management Plan. 
(c) MINERAL REPORT.—The mineral reports required by section 
204(c)(12) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act shall 
be the responsibility of the United States Geological Survey and 
shall be completed for each of the temporary withdrawals described 
in subsection (a) within four years of the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
TITLE VI—SLOAN CANYON NATIONAL 
CONSERVATION AREA 
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Sloan Canyon National Conserva-
tion Area Act". 
SEC. 602. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this title is to establish the Sloan Canyon 
National Conservation Area to conserve, protect, and enhance for 
the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the 
cultural, archaeological, natural, wilderness, scientific, geological, 
historical, biological, wildlife, educational, and scenic resources of 
the Conservation Area. 
SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CONSERVATION AREA.—The term "Conservation Area" 
means the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area estab-
lished by section 604(a). 
(2) FEDERAL PARCEL.—The term "Federal parcel" means 
the parcel of Federal land consisting of approximately 500 
acres that is identified as Tract A on the map entitled "Southern 
Sloan Canyon 
National 
Conservation 
Area Act. 
16 u s e 460qqq 
note. 
16 u s e 460qqq. 
16 use 
460qqq-l. 
116 STAT. 2010 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
Nevada Public Land Management Act" and dated October 1, 
2002. 
(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term "management plan" 
means the management plan for the Conservation Area devel-
oped under section 605(b). 
(4) MAP.—The term "map" means the map entitled 
"Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act" and dated 
October 1, 2002. 
16 use 
SEC. 604. ESTABLISHMENT. 
^'^^~ • 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose described in section 602, 
there is established in the State a conservation area to be known 
as the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. 
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The Conservation Area shall consist of 
approximately 48,438 acres of public land in the County, as gen-
erally depicted on the map. 
(c) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^As soon as practicable after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a map and legal description of the Conservation Area. 
(2) EFFECT.—The map and legal description shall have 
the same force and effect as if included in this section, except 
that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the map or 
legal description. 
(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—A copy of the map and legal 
description shall be on file and available for public inspection 
in the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management. 
16 use 
SEC. 605. MANAGEMENT. 
^^^~ ' 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Director 
of the Bureau of Land Management, shall manage the Conservation 
Area— 
(1) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances 
the resources of the Conservation Area; and 
(2) in accordance with— 
(A) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 
(B) other applicable law, including this Act. 
(b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
Deadline. 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
the State, the city of Henderson, the County, and any other 
interested persons, shall develop a management plan for the 
Conservation Area. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan shall— 
(A) describe the appropriate uses and management 
of the Conservation Area; 
(B)(i) authorize the use of motorized vehicles in the 
Conservation Area— 
(I) for installing, repairing, maintaining, and 
reconstructing water development projects, including 
guzzlers, that would enhance the Conservation Area 
by promoting healthy, viable, and more naturally 
distributed wildlife populations; and 
(II) subject to any limitations that are not more 
restrictive than the limitations on such uses authorized 
in wilderness areas under section 208; and 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2011 
(ii) include or provide recommendations on ways of 
minimizing the visual impacts of such activities on the 
Conservation Area; 
(C) include a plan for litter cleanup and public lands 
awareness campaign on public lands in and around the 
Conservation Area; and 
(D) include a recommendation on the location for a 
right-of-way for a rural roadway to provide the city of 
Henderson with access to the Conservation Area, in accord-
ance with the application numbered N-65874. 
(c) USES.—The Secretary shall allow only such uses of the 
Conservation Area that the Secretary determines will further the 
purpose described in section 602. 
(d) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.—Except as needed for administrative 
purposes or to respond to an emergency, the use of motorized 
vehicles in the Conservation Area shall be permitted only on roads 
and trails designated for the use of motorized vehicles by the 
management plan developed under subsection (b). 
(e) WITHDRAWAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, all public 
land in the Conservation Area is withdrawn from— 
(A) all forms of entry and appropriation under the 
public land laws; 
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; 
and 
(C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, 
and geothermal leasing laws. 
(2) ADDITIONAL LAND.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, if the Secretary acquires mineral or other interests 
in a parcel of land within the Conservation Area after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the parcel is withdrawn from 
operation of the laws referred to in paragraph (1) on the date 
of acquisition of the land. 
(f) HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this title affects the jurisdic-
tion of the State with respect to fish and wildlife, including 
hunting, fishing, and trapping in the Conservation Area. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may designate by 
regulation areas in which, and establish periods during 
which, for reasons of pulDlic safety, administration, or 
compliance with applicable laws, no hunting, fishing, or 
trapping will be permitted in the Conservation Area. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—Except in emergencies, the Sec-
retary shall consult with the appropriate State agency 
before promulgating regulations under subparagraph (A) 
that close a portion of the Conservation Area to hunting, 
fishing, or trapping. 
(g) No BUFFER ZONES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The establishment of the Conservation 
Area shall not create an express or implied protective perimeter 
or buffer zone around the Conservation Area. 
(2) PRIVATE LAND.—If the use of, or conduct of an activity 
on, private land that shares a boundary with the Conservation 
Area is consistent with applicable law, nothing in this title 
concerning the establishment of the Conservation Area shall 
prohibit or limit the use or conduct of the activity. 
116 STAT. 2012 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
16 use 
460qqq-4. 
Deadline. 
16 use 
460qqq-5. 
Deadline. 
SEC. 606. SALE OF FEDERAL PARCEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of 
the Federal Land PoHcy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1712, 1713) and subject to vaHd existing rights, not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
convey to the highest qualified bidder all right, title, and interest 
of the United States in and to the Federal parcel. 
(b) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—Of the gross proceeds from 
the conveyance of land under subsection (a)— 
(1) 5 percent shall be available to the State for use in 
the general education program of the State; and 
(2) the remainder shall be deposited in the special account 
established under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Manage-
ment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-263; 112 Stat. 2345), to 
be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation 
for— 
(A) the construction and operation of facilities to sup-
port the management of the Conservation Area; 
(B) the construction and repair of trails and roads 
in the Conservation Area authorized under the manage-
ment plan; 
(C) research on and interpretation of the archaeological 
and geological resources of the Conservation Area; 
(D) conservation and research relating to the Conserva-
tion Area; and 
(E) any other purpose that the Secretary determines 
to be consistent with the purpose described in section 602. 
SEC. 607. RIGHT-OF-WAY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall convey to the City of Henderson the public 
right-of-way requested for public trail purposes under the applica-
tion numbered N-76312 and the public right-of-way requested for 
public trail purposes under the application numbered N-65874. 
TITLE VII—PUBLIC INTEREST 
CONVEYANCES 
SEC. 701. DEFINITION OF MAP. 
In this title, the term "map" means the map entitled "Southern 
Nevada Public Land Management Act" and dated October 1, 2002. 
SEC. 702. CONVEYANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA AT LAS VEGAS 
RESEARCH FOUNDATION. 
(a) FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—-
(A) the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, needs land 
in the greater Las Vegas area to provide for the future 
growth of the university; 
(B) the proposal by the University of Nevada, Las 
Vegas, for construction of a research park and technology 
center in the greater Las Vegas area would enhance the 
high tech industry and entrepreneurship in the State; and 
(C) the land transferred to the Clark County Depart-
ment of Aviation under section 4(g) of the Southern Nevada 
Public Land Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2346) 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2013 
is the best location for the research park and technology 
center. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(A) to provide a suitable location for the construction 
of a research park and technology center in the greater 
Las Vegas area; 
(B) to provide the public with opportunities for edu-
cation and research in the field of high technology; and 
(C) to provide the State with opportunities for competi-
tion and economic development in the field of high tech-
nology. 
(b) TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER.— 
(1) CONVEYANCE.—Notwithstanding section 4(g)(4) of the 
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (112 
Stat. 2347), the Clark County Department of Aviation may 
convey, without consideration, all right, title, and interest in 
and to the parcel of land described in paragraph (3) to the 
University of Nevada at Las Vegas Research Foundation 
(referred to in this section as "Foundation") for the development 
of a technology research center. 
(2) CONDITION.—The conveyance under paragraph (1) shall 
be subject to the condition that the Foundation enter into 
an agreement that if the land described in paragraph (3) is 
sold, leased, or otherwise conveyed by the Foundation. 
(A) the Foundation shall sell, lease, or otherwise convey 
the land for fair market value; 
(B) the Foundation shall contribute 85 percent of the 
gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of the 
land to the special account; 
(C) with respect to land identified on the map entitled 
"Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, Land Sales Map", numbered 
7306A, and dated May 1980, the proceeds from the sale, 
lease, or conveyance of the land identified on the map 
contributed to the special account by the Foundation under 
subparagraph (B) shall be used by the Secretary of Agri-
culture to acquire environmentally sensitive land in the 
Lake Tahoe Basin under section 3 of Public Law 96-586 
(94 Stat. 3383); 
(D) the Foundation shall contribute 5 percent of the 
gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of the 
land to the State of Nevada for use in the general education 
program of the State; and 
(E) the remainder of the gross proceeds from the sale, 
lease, or conveyance of the land shall be available for 
use by the Foundation. 
(3) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of land referred 
to in paragraph (1) is the parcel of Clark County Department 
of Aviation land— 
(A) consisting of approximately 115 acres; and 
(B) located in the SAWy4 of section 33, T 21 S., R. 
60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. 
SEC. 
7
0
3
. 
CONVEYANCE 
TO 
THE 
LAS 
VEGAS 
METROPOLITAN 
POLICE 
DEPARTMENT. 
The Secretary shall convey to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police 
Department, without consideration, all right, title, and interest 
116 STAT. 2014 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
in and to the parcel of land identified as "Tract F" on the map 
for use as a shooting range. 
SEC. 7
0
4
. 
CONVEYANCE TO THE CITY OF HENDERSON FOR THE 
NEVADA 
STATE 
COLLEGE 
AT 
HENDERSON. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CHANCELLOR.—The term "Chancellor" means the Chan-
cellor of the University system. 
(2) CITY.—The term "City" means the city of Henderson, 
Nevada. 
(3) COLLEGE.—The term "College" means the Nevada State 
College at Henderson. 
(4) SURVEY.—The term "survey" means the land survey 
required under Federal law to define the official metes and 
bounds of the parcel of Federal land identified as "Tract H" 
on the map. 
- 
(5) UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.—The term "University system" 
means the University and Community College System of 
Nevada. 
(b) CONVEYANCE.— 
Deadline. 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) 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)), 
not later than 180 days after the date on which the survey 
is approved, the Secretary shall convey to the City, without 
consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to the parcel of Federal land identified as "Tract H" 
on the map for use as a campus for the College. 
(2) CONDITIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—^As a condition of the conveyance 
under paragraph (1), the Chancellor and the City shall 
agree in writing— 
(i) to pay any administrative costs associated with 
the conveyance, including the costs of any environ-
mental, wildlife, 
cultural, or historical 
resources 
studies; 
(ii) to use the Federal land conveyed for edu-
cational and recreational purposes; 
(iii) to release and indemnify the United States 
from any claims or liabilities which may arise from 
uses that are carried out on the Federal land on or 
before the date of enactment of this Act by the United 
States or any person; 
(iv) as soon as practicable after the date of the 
conveyance under paragraph (1), to erect at the College 
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 citizens in the State; and 
(v) to assist the Bureau of Land Management in 
providing information to the students of the College 
and the citizens of the State on— 
(I) public land in the State; and 
(II) the role of the Bureau of Land Memage-
ment in managing, preserving, and protecting the 
public land. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2015 
(B) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—The conveyance under 
paragraph (1) shall be subject to all valid existing rights. 
(3) USE OF FEDERAL LAND.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The College and the City may use 
the land conveyed under paragraph (1) for— 
(i) any purpose relating to the establishment, oper-
ation, growth, and maintenance of the College; and 
(ii) any uses relating to such purposes, including 
residential and commercial development that would 
generally be associated with an institution of higher 
education. 
(B) OTHER ENTITIES.—The College and the City may— 
(i) consistent with Federal and State law, lease 
or otherwise provide property or space at the College, 
with or without consideration, to religious, public 
interest, community, or other groups for services and 
events that are of interest to the College, the City, 
or any community located in the Las Vegas Valley; 
(ii) allow the City or any other community in the 
Las Vegas Valley to use facilities of the College for 
educational and recreational programs of the City or 
community; and 
(iii) in conjunction with the City, plan, finance, 
(including the provision of cost-share assistance), con-
struct, and operate facilities for the City on the Federal 
land conveyed for educational or recreational purposes 
consistent with this section. 
(4) REVERSION.—If the Federal land or any portion of the 
Federal land conveyed under paragraph (1) ceases to be used 
for the College, the Federal land or any portion of the Federal 
land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the 
United States. 
SEC. 
7
0
5
. 
CONVEYANCE 
TO 
THE 
CITY 
OF 
LAS 
VEGAS, 
NEVADA. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CITY.—The term "City" means the city of Las Vegas, 
Nevada. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Secretary 
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau 
of Land Management. 
(b) CONVEYANCE.—The Secretary shall convey to the City, with-
out consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to the parcels of land identified as "Tract C" and "Tract 
D" on the map. 
(c) REVERSION.—If a parcel of land conveyed to the City under 
subsection (b) ceases to be used for affordable housing or for a 
purpose related to affordable housing, the parcel shall, at the discre-
tion of the Secretary, revert to the United States. 
SEC. 
7
0
6
. 
SALE 
OF 
FEDERAL 
PARCEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1712, 1713) and subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary 
shall convey as a single parcel to the highest qualified bidder 
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to approxi-
mately 360 acres that is identified as the North Half (NV2) of 
Section 7, Township 23 South, Range 61 East, M.D.B.&M., Clark 
County, Nevada and the Northeast Quarter (NEy4) of the Southeast 
116 STAT. 2016 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
Humboldt Project 
Conveyance Act. 
Quarter (SEi/t) of Section 7, Township 23 South, Range 61 East, 
M.D.M., Clark County, Nevada. 
(b) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—The proceeds from the convey-
ance of the lands described in subsection (a) shall be deposited 
in accordance with section 4(e)(1) of the Southern Nevada Public 
Land Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2345). 
TITLE VIII—HUMBOLDT PROJECT 
CONVEYANCE 
SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Humboldt Project Conveyance 
Act". 
SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this title: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
(2) STATE.—The term "State" means the State of Nevada. 
(3) PCWCD.—The term "PCWCD" means the Pershing 
County Water Conservation District, a public entity organized 
under the laws of the State of Nevada. 
(4) PERSHING COUNTY.—The term "Pershing County" means 
the Pershing County government, a political subunit of the 
State of Nevada. 
(5) LANDER COUNTY.—The term "Lander County" means 
the Lander County government, a political subunit of the State 
of Nevada. 
SEC. 803. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TITLE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^As soon as practicable after the date of enact-
ment of this Act and in accordance with all applicable law, the 
Secretary shall convey all right, title, and interest in and to the 
lands and features of the Humboldt Project, as generally depicted 
on the map entitled the "Humboldt Project Conveyance Act", and 
dated July 3, 2002, including all water rights for storage and 
diversion, to PCWCD, the State, Pershing County, and Lander 
County, consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the 
Memorandum of Agreement between PCWCD and Lander County 
dated January 24, 2000, the Conceptual Agreement between 
PCWCD and the State dated October 18, 2001, the Letter of Agree-
ment between Pershing County and the State dated April 16, 2002, 
and any agreements between the Bureau of Reclamation and 
PCWCD. 
(b) MAP.—^As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a map of the 
Humboldt Project Conveyance. In case of a conflict between the 
map referred to in subsection (a) and the map submitted by the 
Secretary, the map referred to in subsection (b) shall control. The 
map shall have the same force and effect as if included in this 
Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical 
errors in such map and legal description. Copies of the map shall 
be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the 
Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation and in the Office 
of the Area Manager of the Bureau of Reclamation in Carson 
City, Nevada. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2017 
\i 
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH AGREEMENTS.—All parties to the convey-
ance under subsection (a) shall comply with the terms and condi-
tions of the agreements cited in subsection (a). 
(d) REPORT.—If the conveyance required by this section has Deadline, 
not been completed within 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee 
on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate that describes— 
(1) the status of the conveyance; 
(2) any obstacles to completion of the conveyance; and 
(3) the anticipated date for completion of the conveyance. 
SEC. 804. PAYMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^As consideration for any conveyance required 
by section 803, PCWCD shall pay to the United States the net 
present value of miscellaneous revenues associated with the lands 
and facilities to be conveyed. 
(b) WITHDRAWN LANDS.—^As consideration for any conveyance 
of withdrawn lands required by section 803, the entity receiving 
title shall pay the United States (in addition to amounts paid 
under subsection (a)) the fair market value for any such lands 
conveyed that were withdrawn from the public domain pursuant 
to the Secretarial Orders dated March 16, 1934, and April 6, 1956. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—^Administrative costs for convey-
ance of any land or facility under this title shall be paid in equal 
shares by the Secretary and the entity receiving title to the land 
or facility, except costs identified in subsections (d) and (e). 
(d) REAL ESTATE TRANSFER COSTS.—^As a condition of any 
conveyance of any land or facility required by section 803, costs 
of all boundary 
surveys, 
title 
searches, 
cadastral 
surveys, 
appraisals, maps, and other real estate transactions required for 
the conveyance shall be paid by the entity receiving title to the 
land or facility. 
(e) NEPA COSTS.—Costs associated with any review required 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 tJ.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) for conveyance of any land or facility under section 
803 shall be paid in equal shares by the Secretary and the entity 
receiving title to the land or facility. 
(f) STATE OF NEVADA.—The State shall not be responsible for 
any payments under this section. Any proposal by the State to 
reconvey to another entity land conveyed by the Secretary under 
this title shall be pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary 
providing for fair market value to the United States for the lands, 
and for continued management of the lands for recreation, wildlife 
habitat, wetlands, or resource conservation. 
SEC. 805. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. 
Following the conveyance required by section 803, the district, 
the State, Pershing County, and Lander County shall, with respect 
to the interests conveyed, comply with all requirements of Federal, 
State, and local law applicable to non-Federal water distribution 
systems. 
SEC. 806. REVOCATION OF WITHDRAWALS. 
Effective on the date of the conveyance required by section 
Effective date. 
803, the Secretarial Orders dated March 16, 1934, and April 6, 
1956, that withdrew public lands for the Rye Patch Reservoir and 
the Humboldt Sink, are hereby revoked. 
116 STAT. 2018 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
SEC. 807. LIABILITY. 
Effective date. 
Effective on the date of the conveyance required by section 
803, the United States shall not be held liable by any court for 
damages of any kind arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence 
relating to the Humboldt Project, except for damages caused by 
acts of negligence committed by the United States or by its 
employees or agents prior to the date of conveyance. Nothing in 
this section shall be considered to increase the liability of the 
United States beyond that currently provided in chapter 171 of 
title 28, United States Code, popularly known as the "Federal 
Tort Claims Act". 
SEC. 808. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT. 
Prior to any conveyance under this title, the Secretary shall 
complete all actions as may be required under the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and all other applicable 
laws. 
SEC. 809. FUTURE BENEFITS. 
Upon conveyance of the lands and facilities by the Secretary 
under this title, the Humboldt Project shall no longer be a Federal 
reclamation project and the district shall not be entitled to receive 
any future reclamation benefits with respect to that project, except 
those benefits that would be available to other nonreclamation 
districts. 
TITLE IX—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
Deadline. 
SEC. 901. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE MESQUITE LANDS ACT 
2001. 
Section 3 of Public Law 99-548 (100 Stat. 3061; 110 Stat. 
3009-202) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: 
"(3) USE OF PROCEEDS.—The proceeds of the sale of each 
parcel completed after the date of enactment of this subsection 
shall be deposited in the special account established under 
section 4(e)(1)(C) of the Southern Nevada Public Land Manage-
ment Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2345); and shall be available 
for use by the Secretary— 
"(A) to reimburse costs incurred by the local offices 
of the Bureau of Land Management in arranging the land 
conveyances directed by this section; 
"(B) for the development of a multispecies habitat con-
servation plan for the Virgin River in Clark County, 
Nevada, including any associated groundwater monitoring 
plan; and 
"(C) as provided in section 4(e)(3) of that Act (112 
Stat. 2346). 
"(4) TIMING.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall complete the 
sale of any parcel authorized to be conveyed pursuant to this 
section and for which the Secretary has received notification 
from the city under paragraph (1)."; and 
PUBLIC LAW 107-282—NOV. 6, 2002 
116 STAT. 2019 
(2) in subsection (f)(2)(B), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
"(v) Sec. 7.". 
Approved November 6, 2002. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5200 (S. 2612): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-750 (Comm. on Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002): 
Oct. 16, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 17, considered and passed Senate.