This bill became law on 2026-05-19 as Public Law No. 119-91.
The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.
The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act updates the boundaries of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada, expanding its protected acreage from 48,438 to 57,728 acres. It directs the Interior Department to grant the Southern Nevada Water Authority a right-of-way, within one year, to build and operate a water pipeline along with related powerlines, facilities, and access roads, at no cost in rents or fees. The Water Authority may also dig up and use or dispose of sand, gravel, and other materials from pipeline tunneling without payment, under a separate agreement with the Bureau of Land Management on where those materials can go. The right-of-way cannot pass through any area designated as wilderness, and construction cannot permanently damage the conservation area's surface resources. Existing utility corridors and transmission rights-of-way inside the expanded boundary are preserved and remain subject to standard environmental review for any new facilities.
Environmental Concerns
- Protected acreage — Sloan Canyon Conservation Area expanded to 57,728 acres
- FLPMA right-of-way review — Waived for the Southern Nevada Water Authority pipeline grant
Congressional Summary
Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline ActThis act expands the boundaries of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County, Nevada, and grants rights-of-way through the conservation area and other land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the construction of a water transmission pipeline and related facilities.Specifically, the act requires the BLM to grant certain rights-of-way to the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) for the purposes of (1) performing geotechnical investigations within the rights-of-way, and (2) constructing and operating a water pipeline and related facilities. The rights-of-way may not be located through or under areas designated as wilderness, and construction of the pipeline may not permanently adversely affect surface resources within the conservation area. The BLM may place other reasonable terms and conditions on the issuance of rights-of-way as necessary to protect the conservation area’s resources.In tunneling the water pipeline, SNWA may excavate and dispose of sand, gravel, minerals, and other materials as needed. The BLM must enter into a memorandum of understanding with SNWA to identify federal land on which SNWA may dispose of such materials. The act also adds approximately 9,290 acres of land to the conservation area. This expansion of the conservation area is subject to valid existing rights (e.g., utility transmission rights), must not preclude authorized activities within existing rights-of-way or corridors, and must not preclude the BLM from authorizing new utility rights-of-way.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2026-05-19
- Date Added
- 2026-07-14
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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