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Natural Resources Committee passes Yerington bill

June 7, 2012
I want to thank Chairman Hastings and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their thoughtful consideration and support of this bill, which is of vital importance to the people of Yerington, Lyon County, and Northern Nevada.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

June 7, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The House Natural Resources Committee today passed, with bipartisan support, H.R. 4039, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act, which was introduced by Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2)

Amodei: "I want to thank Chairman Hastings and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their thoughtful consideration and support of this bill, which is of vital importance to the people of Yerington, Lyon County, and Northern Nevada.

"I will continue to work with my fellow Nevadans and original cosponsors, Representatives Berkley and Heck, as well as Majority Leader Cantor, to bring the bill up for a timely vote before the full House of Representatives. I am grateful for the attention the committee has given to the legislation to facilitate its movement. I look forward to the bill's final passage in the House and its arrival in the Senate where I trust it will encounter the same display of bipartisanship. Go Harry Reid and Dean Heller."

H.R. 4039, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act

The bill would convey approximately 11,000 acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the City of Yerington for economic, recreational, and cultural development. The city and Lyon County are seeking to leverage the substantial infrastructure investments being made by Nevada Copper at its nearby Pumpkin Hollow project.

Nevada Copper, which broke ground on the Pumpkin Hollow project in February, invested nearly $50 million in exploration to justify the $1 billion investment necessary to fully develop the mine. The mine will produce 250 to 300 million pounds of copper per year. The initial shaft sinking is already producing economic benefits with the creation of 30 to 40 jobs. An additional 250 to 500 construction jobs could start in 2013 if the land transfer is successful. At full operation in 2015-2016, Pumpkin Hollow is projected to employ 750 to 800 people directly.

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