Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act

Tribal Land Trust Transfers: The bill transfers approximately 44,950 acres to the Moapa Band of Paiutes (Section 101) and approximately 3,156 acres to the Lass Vegas Paiute Tribe (Section 103) to be held in trust, which supports tribal reservation and economic development.

Affordable Housing Prioritization: The Secretary is required to prioritize the review of applications from local government entities for land use intended for affordable housing (Section 203(c)).

Public Safety and Infrastructure: The bill authorizes land conveyances for various public needs, including a fire training facility for North Las Vegas (Section 405), public safety and wildfire response facilities for Clark County (Section 403), and water supply infrastructure for the Moapa Valley Water District (Section 404).

Recreation Opportunities: New off-highway vehicle recreation areas are established in Laughlin, Logandale Trails, Nelson Hills, and Sandy Valley (Section 701), and the bill provides for the completion of erosion control weirs on the lower Las Vegas Wash (Section 702).

Economic Development: The bill provides for the Clark County Job Creation Zone, allowing for nonresidential development (Section 210), and provides for the implementation of the Lower Virgin River watershed plan (Section 501).

Restrictions on Land Use: The establishment of several Special Management Areas (Section 204) and the designation of various Wilderness areas (Section 301) include prohibitions on motorized vehicles and withdrawals from certain forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws.

Tribal Land Use Limitations: Land taken into trust for the Moapa Band of Paiutes is explicitly ineligible for class II or class III gaming (Section 101(e)), and land taken into trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is similarly ineligible for such gaming (Section 103(f)).

Tribal Right-of-Way Requirements: As a condition of land transfer, the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe must grant a 300-foot-wide right-of-way to a qualified electric utility for high-voltage transmission facilities (Section 103(e)).

Potential Environmental/Public Safety Liabilities: Local government conveyances include provisions where, if land is returned to the United States due to a change in use, the local entity (City or County) may be responsible for the remediation of any hazardous waste contamination (Sections 401(d), 402(d), 403(d), 404(d), and 405(d)).