Housing was not mentioned in the June 20 article.
A link to the offending material was not provided so you can’t be sure what they’re whining about.
But you get the impression that the federal government will be selling off vast amounts of public lands with few if any limitations if an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill drafted by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee becomes law.
The story may be related to a section in a bill titled “MANDATORY DISPOSAL OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND AND NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND FOR HOUSING,” which starts on page 30.
It was linked to a news release dated June 11.
The measure calls for the disposal of not less than 0.50 percent and not more than 0.75 percent of Bureau of Land Management land and not less than 0.50 percent and not more than 0.75 percent of National Forest System land.
Said lands are to be suitable for residential housing, have access to existing infrastructure and are adjacent to developed areas.
Large parcels in remote areas, such as the Fifteenmile HA and overlapping allotments, would not be nominated for sale.
Small islands of public lands that can’t be accessed without crossing private property are likely candidates.
For example, APN 004-251-06, just inside the Storey County line and slightly north of the Jumbo Allotment, is in a developed area on the Virginia Range.
It’s designated as a single-family residence but owned by the BLM.
The 40-acre parcel has a seasonal pond, is mostly level, and power lines are about a half mile away.
Would probably fetch around $200,000.
Federally protected lands are not eligible for sale.
Unfortunately, the list of protected lands on page 31 does not include areas identified for wild horses and burros.
Western Horse Watchers Association 