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National park advocates want NV Energy lines limited
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FILE PHOTO
Ice Age fossils have been recovered near Tule Springs.
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
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In 2007, Jill DeStefano of the Protectors of Tule Springs discusses Tule, the baby mammoth fossil that was discovered in the Tule Springs area of the Las Vegas Valley. JIM MILLER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Sep. 5, 2010 | 11:43 p.m.
The hard work that's gone into proposing a new national park to protect Ice Age fossils and rare plants in northwest Las Vegas might be erased if more power lines are allowed to cross the park area, backers of the park said Thursday.
They're worried about NV Energy's desire for right of way in an area that's being considered for national monument status, which would protect fossils of mammoths, North American jaguars and other creatures as well as plant species such as buckwheat and bearpoppy.
"We are asking NV Energy to come up with some alternatives that would be more acceptable," North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck said. "We've worked hard on this national park monument, and we don't want transmission lines going across the monument."
Officials from the cities of North Las Vegas and Las Vegas have joined with Clark County, the Paiute tribe, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Air Force and a group called Protectors of Tule Springs to champion the proposal.
It calls for designating 11,000 acres bordering the Desert National Wildlife Refuge and the Sheep Mountain Range. The area is rich with fossilized animals that roamed the valley 200,000 years ago, and it's viewed as a potential bonanza for scientific research, as well as a unique tourist draw.
"Imagine power lines running through Red Rock," Buck said. "Nobody would've stood for that."
"You're going to unravel this entire coalition if there is legislation for a right of way there," said Jill DeStefano, founder of Protectors of Tule Springs. "It just makes me sick to my stomach."
Backers visited with Nevada's congressional delegation last week to alert them to the power line proposal.
The new transmission line will be necessary to deliver power from Amargosa Valley solar projects, NV Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Schuricht said in a statement.
The line also would support expansion of the electrical system in the north end of the valley and at the Apex industrial park.
There are power lines running across the monument area already at Moccasin Road, and the new lines would parallel those, Schuricht said. At Decatur Boulevard, the new lines would occupy a new transmission corridor running along the north edge of the proposed monument's boundary.
The existing lines are "egregious," said Lynn Davis, who manages the Nevada field office of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Ironically, though, their installation led to the excavation of thousands of fossils.
"It's something everybody's going to live with," she said.
Adding more lines there, however, could make what's supposed to be a natural area into something resembling Hoover Dam, with its crisscross network of power lines.
"That's very appropriate for Hoover Dam," Davis said. "It's not appropriate for a fossil site."
And with the additional lines, she added, "the assumption would be that the park service might be less interested."
The Air Force prefers preservation, because it would protect military flight paths from encroaching development between Nellis and Creech Air Force bases and training ranges.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said the idea is promising, but a spokesman also cautioned that "we'll have to take this one step at a time." His office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
No legislation to establish the monument has been introduced.
Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@review journal.com or 702-229-6435.
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It needs to be noted that it is an honor and a rare priviledge to have a national park - especially so close to urban areas. The National Park Service has rigorous criteria on what they will even consider. The fact the park service is interested in this area is, in itself, a big deal. What make the park service interested in this area is its scientific potential. Imagine Las Vegas attracting scientists from around the world ... and the international public headed to the site to see scientists at work. Diversification of the economy? You bet!
Is there another area in which the same goals of scientific studay can be achieved? No. Are there other areas where NVEnergy can achieve their goals to transmit green energy? Yes, several. For NVEnergy to claim this as their only alternative is outright deceptive.
Harry Reid is the key culprit in this poorly conceived power line issue. We have seen Harry be the puppet master for special interests before. Most recently with the CCSP (aka CCMP-Clark County Money Pit), where Senator Reid came to the NRA’s alter cash in hand with $61 million in SNPLMA funds and was the key driving force in giving the NRA their money losing trophy gift.
When he was called on by his constituents surrounding the park to help with their environmental impact concerns, he told them to speak with the local county officials, denying he could be of any help to them from a national level with a County project.
Harry now comes with stimulus money in hand to deliver an expensive gift to the alter of Nevada Energy for the poorly conceived idea of placing power lines over a historic paleontological site. Next step for Harry will be to shift the blame solely to Nevada Energy and to deny his ability to intercede.
That is why a good puppet master like Harry needs a curtain so no one knows who's pulling the strings for the special interests. Unfortunately for Harry, with good investigative journalism people can see behind the curtain and Harry will be held accountable in this upcoming election for his actions.
That "garbage dump" Otis175 is full of fossils as well as endangered species of animals and plants. It is only a garbage dump because people are too lazy to put their garbage out in the front of their houses to be hauled away, or too cheap to pay the dumping fee if they are a business (lawn maintenance for example). We are not against a power line, just not through the middle of this proposed park. Moving it north - run it along the gun club. The desert is beautiful, and yes, there are people who would be interested in a "fossil" national park. There are several already located around the U.S. and it would be great to have one here. Let's protect those fossils.
environuts will do anything and everything to make energy costs unbearable
NV Energy needs a new plan for their greedy Company
Imagine power lines running through Red Rock," Buck said. "Nobody would've stood for that."
How in the world can you compare this garbage dump with Red Rock Canyon?!?!?! This is going to do nothing for tourism. The only reason this National Park is proposed is because all of the NIMBY's in Aliante. If they had done some research prior to purchasing their homes, they would have noticed that the northern valley was Master Planned for development. You people need to stop whining about the fossils and tell everyone the real reason you don't want development behind your neighborhoods.
Any development in this area would be an incredible opportunity to preserve the fossil beds out there. Projects such as this would require an on-site archaeologist to ensure the fossils are preserved, removed and curated for future generations to study. Furthermore, all of this would be paid for by NV Energy and not taxpayers. When NV Energy placed the existing poles out there, they were able to unearth almost 10,000 fossils which are currently housed in a museum in San Bernandino. They didn't bulldoze them over or destroy them during construction as Jill DeStefano is suggesting will happen.
GIVE IT UP POTS...YOUR ARGUMENT IS RIDICULOUS!!!
I can't believe that when the cities, county, tribe, air force, citizens, and even environmental groups agree on something that our elected leaders would give preference to one company.
Renewable energy will get down here along eastern and western nevada. No reason to traipse across the middle.
Shame on NV Energy for this tactic.
Shame on any official that supports it.
As long as the building continues new power lines will be needed.
Didn't see this one coming, did we? Hahaha