Federal bill seeks to protect land around Carson City CARSON CITY, NV (KUNR) - The government would transfer thousands of

acres of federal land to Carson City for open space and recreation,

and would permanently withdraw another 20,000 acres of federal land

near the city from development if federal legislation is approved.

The bill introduced last week by U.S. Sens. Harry Reid and John

Ensign is patterned after land management acts that Congress has

approved for Clark, Lincoln and White Pine counties.

The legislation would give Carson City more than 5,000 acres of

U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, including the 3,500-acre

Silver Saddle Ranch, and about 1,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service

land.

Nearly 20,000 acres of BLM land on the city's east side would be

permanently withdrawn from development to protect open space and

public access.

The bill also calls for the city to transfer more than 2,200

acres of high-elevation, forested land to the Forest Service, and

for the city to get roughly 150 acres of federal land mostly along

U.S. Highway 50 for economic development.

Supporters say the bill is in line with the city's master plan

and resulted from substantial public input.

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