(Thomas Mitchell) – Rep. Cresent Hardy has posted an editorial on his website blasting a plan by Obama to designate as a national monument 700,000 acres of land in Hardy’s district straddling the Lincoln and Nye county line, which would block productive use and jeopardize Air Force training air space. Most locals oppose the move, which is being pushed by Sen. Harry Reid, D-East Coast environmentalists.
Hardy writes:
“According to a draft proclamation my office obtained, the president is quietly planning to establish a national monument – dubbed the “Basin and Range National Monument” – directly under the airspace of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).
“I am appalled and deeply concerned about the national security implications of President Obama’s politically motivated effort to permanently tie up more than 700,000 acres of land, most of which is under one of the most heavily used Military Operating Areas in the United States, and all of which is in Nevada’s 4th Congressional district.”
The land surrounds a so-called art project called “City,” which is mounds of bulldozed earth that is supposed to resemble ancient ruins. That project is on private land.
“Sen. Reid believes this area deserves protection — that is why he introduced legislation to do so in 2014,” A Reid mouthpiece has been quoted as saying. “But in lieu of legislation, Sen.Reid fully supports President Obama if he decides to designate this area, which he has the legal authority to do so. No area is as uniquely Nevada as is the Basin and Range.”
Hardy accused Obama and Reid of ignoring local residents and hurting chances of future generations to choose how to grow economically, as well as hampering military training.
“The personal, economic and national security costs are just too much to trade. The president should shelve this awful plan,” Hardy wrote.
The original version of this column, click here.
Mr. Mitchell publishes the 4TH ST8 Blog at www.4thst8.wordpress.com.
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