Sloan Hills bill advances

A bill that would block plans for a gravel quarry at Sloan Hills outside Henderson advanced in the Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill without dissent after expanding the federal acreage that would be placed off limits from 640 acres to 800 acres.

The change was made at the suggestion of officials from the Bureau of Land Management, who testified last month that it would be easier to manage if the entire Sloan Hills area off Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas was withdrawn from mining leases.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was seeking the restriction after residents of Henderson housing developments protested plans to develop a quarry that would haul millions of tons of sand and rock from the site over a 20-year period.

In other action, the Senate committee approved a bill to extend contracts for power generated at Hoover Dam for 50 more years. The House passed the bill last month.