Sloan Canyon Bill Expands Conservation Area, Mandates Free Pipeline Access for Water Authority

The newly titled Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act is a classic example of a policy two-step: expanding protected land while simultaneously fast-tracking major infrastructure development right next door. For busy folks, the takeaway is that a significant chunk of desert land is getting new protections, but a major water pipeline project is getting a massive, cost-free green light to make it happen.

The Land Swap: More Protection, More Pipeline

The most immediate change is the boundary adjustment for the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The official map is changing, and the Conservation Area is growing from about 48,438 acres to 57,728 acres (SEC. 3). That’s a win for conservationists, adding nearly 9,300 acres of protected land. But the bill isn’t just about boundaries; it’s about water.

The legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Interior—specifically through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—grant the Southern Nevada Water Authority rights-of-way within one year. This permission is for building and operating a water pipeline, associated power lines, and access roads (SEC. 3). Critically, this infrastructure is generally required to be built outside the newly expanded Conservation Area boundaries, and the construction cannot cause "permanent negative effects on the surface resources" within the protected land.

The Free Pass: Who Pays for the Pipeline?

Here’s where the bill hands out a serious subsidy. The Southern Nevada Water Authority will not have to pay any rent or other charges for these temporary or permanent rights-of-way (SEC. 3). Think of it this way: the federal government is essentially giving away the use of public land for a major, long-term utility project without charging the utility a dime. For taxpayers, this is a direct transfer of value from the public estate to the Water Authority.

It gets better for the Authority. They are also allowed to excavate and use any sand, gravel, minerals, or other materials found during tunneling for the project, also without paying for them (SEC. 3). If you’re a construction worker or run a small aggregate company, you know those materials are valuable. The bill allows the Authority to use or dispose of these resources for free, only requiring an agreement (a memorandum of understanding, or MOU) with the BLM within 30 days to figure out where to dump the excess material.

The Real-World Trade-Off

This bill sets up a clear trade-off. On one hand, you have the expansion of a national conservation area, which is great for protecting natural resources. On the other, you have the mandated, expedited, and essentially free construction of major water infrastructure. The mandate to grant the rights-of-way within one year puts a tight deadline on the BLM, limiting the time they have for administrative review, even though they can add "reasonable conditions" to protect the Conservation Area.

For the average person in Southern Nevada, this bill means a smoother path for securing water infrastructure, which is vital for growth and stability. However, it also means that the public is footing the bill for the land use and the materials through waived fees, representing a significant financial benefit to the Water Authority, which will ultimately be reflected in how the project is financed and paid for.