Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) this week introduced H.R. 6236, the Fernley Economic Self-Determination Act, which would give the City of Fernley the opportunity to purchase Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation lands within the city boundaries at fair market value for the purpose of multi-use development.

"As is the case in many of Nevada's communities, Fernley is a complicated checkerboard of public lands controlled by different federal land managers, which can make planning and economic development a difficult proposition," said Amodei. "This bill would enable the local community to determine its own economic future in a way not previously available."

Amodei, who was sent to the House in a special election in September 2011, is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. H.R. 6236 is the ninth bill he has introduced designed to give Nevada greater local control over its public lands. More than 85 percent of Nevada is controlled by the federal government.