Lawmaker calls plan to yank mines’ eminent domain rights “a good bill”

Sen. Elizabeth Halseth, R-Las Vegas, says she's supportive of S.B. 86, a bill in the Legislature that would strip from state law provisions that allow mine owners to exercise the right of eminent domain.

With her remarks Halseth, a conservative freshman lawmaker, joins bill sponsor Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, one of the Legislature's most liberal members, in opposition to provisions giving mining eminent domain rights that date back to around 1875.

"It is a good bill," Halseth said of SB86. "There are a lot of people who now maybe may be losing their property just so people can mine."

Halseth made the comments shortly after writing a blog post that accused mining industry lobbyists of not taking southern Nevada Republican lawmakers seriously.

Halseth, who ousted incumbent Republican and caucus-backed Sen. Dennis Nolan in the primary, said industry officials didn't return her calls during the campaign when she was seeking to learn more about the mining business.

She isn't the only Republican newcomer who is critical of the politically entrenched industry. On Monday Sen. Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas, during a committee hearing about the eminent domain bill asked several questions about mining taxes to Tim Crowley, president of the Nevada Mining Association.

Roberson was unhappy with the responses and later accused Crowley of dodging the questions. He also said legislators who signed anti-tax pledges could increase taxes on mining without violating the pledge if other taxes were cut to offset the increase.

During the hearing landowners, environmentalists and historians testified about the use of eminent domain by mining companies, which until the 1950s represented the bulk of economic activity in Nevada.

The landowners, mostly from communities in the historic Comstock District, said they are fearful their homes and property could be in danger from future mining activity.