BLM, Forest Service and Nevada Ranchers

[ismith]

The land would be much better off as a Chinese solar farm. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/31/us-usa-china-reid-solar-idUSBRE87U06D20120831

 

[BuzzH]

Maybe the Chinese would actually pay for the lease...

 

[ismith]

Maybe the Chinese would actually pay for the lease...

That I don't doubt, but who will profit? Plenty of money going to Harry Reid's son and reelection fund. Certainly cant allow hunting around solar panels either.

 

[BuzzH]

So, where does it say that Bundy's BLM leases are going to be bought out for the solar farm?

In December, Clark County commissioners voted unanimously to sell up to 9,000 acres of public land to the subsidiary at pennies on the dollar.

Last I checked the Clark County commissioners dont have the authority to sell BLM lands to Chinese investors.

 

[BuzzH]

ismith...the cat got your tongue?

I'd suspect the land in question for the Solar project is State Land, or more than likely County property...what do you think?

Just out of curiosity, do you know where Bundy's BLM leases are? Are they right outside Laughlin? I was thinking they were more around the Mesquite/Virgin River area myself.

 

[ismith]

So, where does it say that Bundy's BLM leases are going to be bought out for the solar farm?

In December, Clark County commissioners voted unanimously to sell up to 9,000 acres of public land to the subsidiary at pennies on the dollar.

Last I checked the Clark County commissioners dont have the authority to sell BLM lands to Chinese investors.

Not sure how you could build a solar farm in Nevada and not in some way effect BLM land. Hell they even have a casino built on federal land in Boulder, NV.
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/en...newable_Energy_Projects_Approved_to_Date.html

 

[BuzzH]

Still doesnt answer the question of how the Clark County Commission has come up with the authority to sell BLM land.

I'm still wondering how a solar farm near Laughlin is linked to Bundy's BLM leases near Mesquite and the Virgin River?

Sounds like your conspiracy theory is a bunch of Faux news/ tea party bullchit...

 

[ismith]

ismith...the cat got your tongue?

I'd suspect the land in question for the Solar project is State Land, or more than likely County property...what do you think?

Just out of curiosity, do you know where Bundy's BLM leases are? Are they right outside Laughlin? I was thinking they were more around the Mesquite/Virgin River area myself.

No the cat doesn't have my tongue, I was playing with my 3 month old son. Why the overt venom? Is that the new norm on this site?

 

[BuzzH]

That last link you provided...where are the solar projects on the Bundy BLM leases?

Just curious.

BTW, I've seen and worked near most all of the solar projects in your link in Clark County. You couldnt graze cattle on most of it, unless they could get fat on creosote bush and pack their own water.

Big difference in habitat between Laughlin and the Virgin River areas.

 

[ismith]

That last link you provided...where are the solar projects on the Bundy BLM leases?

Just curious.

BTW, I've seen and worked near most all of the solar projects in your link. You couldnt graze cattle on most of it, unless they could get fat on creosote bush and pack their own water.

Big difference in habitat between Laughlin and the Virgin River areas.

Seems to me that a 600,000 acre parcel of land that can only handle 150 AUM is a desert wasteland to begin with. Perhaps the improvements made to the land over the last 100+ years are the difference? I don't know or even care if there is a "green energy" farm planned for the Bundy ranch. I just find it curious that those screaming the loudest about a rancher stealing graze from the .gov don't have a problem with the BLM and crooked politicians doing the same on a much larger scale. Wasteland or not, at least the ranchers improve the ground for wildlife, can you say that about wind and solar farms? Work for the BLM maybe? If so, can you please tell me when BLM rangers became storm troopers? I wish I was that well equipped when I was in Iraq back in 2003.

 

[mixedbag]

The guys a criminal.Its that simple.Hes been trespassing on our land and not paying for it.Who cares what else the gov't may want to use the land for really.The guy was asked to reduce his herd,didn't and on top of that doesn't pay to graze them there.If they want to lease to Chinese to put windmills up go right ahead as long as they pay.Plus, I don't have to run into cows around every corner if hunting there.I can't see why this guys making a stand when he has no leg to stand on!!!I guess these cattlemen think they own the land now.Who cares how long his family has been doing it.Things change in my business and if I don't follow the rules,I have no more business.What makes this guy think he's any different????

 

[dainer]

So...I understand that rules are rules, and he needed to pay his allotment fees. You don't get to pick and choose whether you pay them at a federal or county level.

What I do not understand is why have they not arrested him? People are arrested for delinquent taxes, yes?? For less than 1.1million owed?? Why has the federal government ignored this for 20 years?? Seems to me that with the courts ruling in the Feds favor, this whole standoff could have been avoided. If I am leaking water all over the floor, please correct me.

I am seeing everyone militarize, including my local law enforcement(small town) and I don't like it. Lots of people getting high on presumed power lately.

 

[big28hunter]

I'm bewildered why the federal government is sending such an outragious amount of money and resources to go after a cattle rancher. I guess they want another Waco! With that said I am not siding with him. Just wondering why the feds don't put this much money and resources into the millions of illegals coming into our country. That cost us tax payers a hell of a lot more than 1.1 million dollars!

 

[Elkmagnet]

Wasteland or not, at least the ranchers improve the ground for wildlife.

So ranching does more good than harm to wildlife?
Any sheep hunters on this site have thoughts on that?

 

[Elkmagnet]

I'm bewildered why the federal government is sending such an outragious amount of money and resources to go after a cattle rancher. I guess they want another Waco! With that said I am not siding with him. Just wondering why the feds don't put this much money and resources into the millions of illegals coming into our country. That cost us tax payers a hell of a lot more than 1.1 million dollars!

What will it cost when all of the other ranchers stop paying because they don't feel like it?

 

[HighWildFree]

So ranching does more good than harm to wildlife?
Any sheep hunters on this site have thoughts on that?

I believe Jack O'Conner said in his sheep hunting book that ranchers in the SW were overgrazing/ trespass grazing back in the 70's and that desert bighorns would never be what they were as long as a blind eye was turned. Looks like little has changed.

 

[ringer]

I could care less about the Paiute indians. The man did not pay his fees for 20 years and all of a sudden a couple hundred steroid pumping wannabe soldiers show up fully armed and sick the hounds on him? Yes I am willing to let my blood flow Buzz and yours too if it stops the insanity of Amerika's swat team hysteria. The government has no right to put protestors in a 200 x 200 square and limit them to 25 people at a time. It also has no right to confiscate weapons from people just because they are afraid of violence maybe starting. It is not about the tortoise or the grazing or the money. It is about how the government is militarizing it's control of the people.

Remember last year during the government shutdown? Every boat ramp, campground and forest road was shut down. I saw armed USFS cops at every ramp. Never saw one of those lazy asses in 50 years here. Was that to save money? No, that was to step the boot on the neck of the citizens to exact pain and compliance. You carry on.

 

[ismith]

So ranching does more good than harm to wildlife?
Any sheep hunters on this site have thoughts on that?

I'm willing to bet yes, ranching in the SW is more beneficial for wildlife than wind and solar farms and oil fields.

 

[Dave N]

Wow, glad I don't live by ringer! I don't live anywhere near that area and our farming/ranching here is all on private land with fences, so I'm not really up to speed on all the rules these folks have. From what I've read, this guy has been to court more than once, and has LOST every time. He voluntarily stopped paying the range fees that his father evidently had been paying before him. It sounds like the fees are pretty reasonable from what I've seen posted, and they are no doubt a LOT cheaper than hauling in feed and water to those cattle if they were in a fenced area. His story about being there X amount of years gives him the right to do things just doesn't fly these days. Now that the government is catching up to him, AFTER 20 PLUS YEARS AND SEVERAL COURT CASES, he's crying foul and calling for help. We don't know exactly how this all led up to where he is now, all we have is his story. One sided at that. Myself, I wonder why he just wasn't arrested for non-payment. Maybe he was at one point and that's where he went to court. In the long run, he had his cattle grazing on property HE DID NOT LEGALLY OWN and was not paying the grazing fee for them to do so. He is in the wrong. Arming himself and having militia groups come to his aid was just ASKING for an armed response. I don't feel sorry for him.

 

[Bulldog0156]

I could care less about the Paiute indians. The man did not pay his fees for 20 years and all of a sudden a couple hundred steroid pumping wannabe soldiers show up fully armed and sick the hounds on him? Yes I am willing to let my blood flow Buzz and yours too if it stops the insanity of Amerika's swat team hysteria. The government has no right to put protestors in a 200 x 200 square and limit them to 25 people at a time. It also has no right to confiscate weapons from people just because they are afraid of violence maybe starting. It is not about the tortoise or the grazing or the money. It is about how the government is militarizing it's control of the people.

Remember last year during the government shutdown? Every boat ramp, campground and forest road was shut down. I saw armed USFS cops at every ramp. Never saw one of those lazy asses in 50 years here. Was that to save money? No, that was to step the boot on the neck of the citizens to exact pain and compliance. You carry on.

Do you maybe have US Forest Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges) confused? There is a difference.