Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Legislation to Enhance Southern Nevada’s Water Security

WASHINGTON – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced her Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act . This legislation would enhance water security for Southern Nevada by conveying approximately 250 acres of federal land underlying the Flamingo Water Resource and Desert Breeze Centers to the Clark County Water Reclamation District. “By giving the Clark County Water Reclamation District flexibility to adapt the sites of the Flamingo Water Resource and Desert Breeze Centers, I am ensuring they are able to continue providing reliable wastewater services to the more than 265,000 customers and 40 million annual visitors who depend on them,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “I have always been a strong champion for keeping our infrastructure strong and resilient. Just this year, I helped secure over $1.1 million for the Flamingo Water Resource Center to manage power outages and avoid incursions of wastewater.” The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to convey approximately 250 acres of federal land to the District for public purposes. This land underlies two of the District’s core wastewater facilities. This legislation is necessary to remove restrictions in the District’s current federal land tenure that limit how these facilities can be operated, modernized, and repurposed to meet the community’s evolving wastewater and infrastructure needs. "We thank Congresswoman Dina Titus for championing this important legislation. The Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act allows the District to  secure resources that ensure the continued and uninterrupted operations of some of Nevada’s most critical infrastructure.  This legislation helps enhance reliability of the operations at our facilities and enables us to responsibly plan for the future while continuing to provide essential wastewater services to the residents, businesses, and visitors who depend on them every day. This is a practical, forward-looking solution that supports the long-term reliability of Southern Nevada's infrastructure," said Tom Minwegen, General Manager of Clark County Water Reclamation District. Key provisions of the legislation include: Directed conveyance. The Secretary shall convey the land within 180 days of receiving a request from the District, notwithstanding the land-use planning requirements of Sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and subject to valid existing rights. Public-purpose use. The land is to be used for public purposes at District facilities, including the construction, operation, and management of infrastructure supporting critical wastewater services. District pays costs. As a condition of conveyance, the District pays all costs of land surveys and other associated conveyance costs. Maps and legal descriptions. The Secretary prepares the legal descriptions of the parcels, may correct minor errors, and keeps the maps and descriptions on file for public inspection. Acquisition of reversionary interest. The District may request to acquire the federal reversionary interest; the Secretary would appraise that interest consistent with FLPMA, the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Full bill text can be found at: https://titus.house.gov/uploadedfiles/titus_340_xml.pdf