By Suzanne POTTER

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Protection of public lands is a top issue for a large majority of Nevada voters, according to a new report from the conservation and energy advocacy organization the Center for Western Priorities.

Researchers aggregated multiple polls and found most voters oppose the sale of public land and the rollback of environmental protections.

Aaron Weiss, executive director of the center, pointed to the Colorado College Conservation in the West poll, which found 82% of Nevada voters oppose the Trump administration’s funding cuts to agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.

“Western voters see public lands, waters, and wildlife as a motivating factor in how they vote and is worth everyone across the political spectrum keeping in mind as we head into this election season,” Weiss explained.

Last year, proposals from Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to sell off public lands were abandoned after they drew a big backlash. Environmental advocates said the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 is a better model, because it established a process to identify land suitable for development while giving permanent protection to hundreds of thousands of acres of public land.

Weiss pointed out the federal government has now thrown support behind the data center boom.

“We see them rushing to try to hand over public lands to build data centers over the objection of local and neighboring communities. The way that this process played out near Boulder City exemplifies that,” Weiss contended.

Recently, the interior secretary slashed the boundaries of two national monuments in Utah. Conservation groups are concerned the federal government will target other national monuments next, including Gold Butte outside of Las Vegas.

Original article:  thisisreno.com