Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act

House Bill

H.R. 972

119th Congress

Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)

Introduced:Feb 26, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Dina Titus

D - NV

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary

This bill expands the protected Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas by nearly 9,300 acres while simultaneously granting permission to the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a water pipeline through the area. It balances conservation goals with infrastructure needs by allowing underground tunnel construction for the pipeline while protecting wilderness areas and surface resources from permanent damage.

Latest Action

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)

Introduced2/26/2026

StatusPassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)

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Data from Congress.gov

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This bill expands the protected Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas by nearly 9,300 acres while simultaneously granting permission to the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a water pipeline through the area. It balances conservation goals with infrastructure needs by allowing underground tunnel construction for the pipeline while protecting wilderness areas and surface resources from permanent damage.

Bill Number: 972
Introduced: 2/26/2026
Status: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)
Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act
Bill Number: 972
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)
Introduced: 2/26/2026
Summary: This bill expands the protected Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas by nearly 9,300 acres while simultaneously granting permission to the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a water pipeline through the area. It balances conservation goals with infrastructure needs by allowin

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill expands the protected Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas by nearly 9,300 acres while simultaneously granting permission to the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a water pipeline through the area. It balances conservation goals with infrastructure needs by allowing underground tunnel construction for the pipeline while protecting wilderness areas and surface resources from permanent damage.

Last updated: 2/28/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline ActThis bill 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 bill 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.  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 bill 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.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Adds approximately 9,290 acres of public land to the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County, Nevada, increasing protection for desert ecosystems near Las Vegas
Authorizes construction of a water transmission pipeline beneath the conservation area to serve Southern Nevada's growing water infrastructure needs
Prohibits pipeline routes through designated wilderness areas and requires that construction avoid permanent damage to surface resources
Allows the water authority to excavate and dispose of materials during tunneling, with federal oversight on where disposal can occur
Passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support, including unanimous consent in the Senate

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Southern Nevada residents will benefit from improved water infrastructure capacity while gaining additional protected public lands for recreation and conservation. The Las Vegas area, facing ongoing water supply challenges, gets critical pipeline infrastructure without sacrificing environmental protections. Outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists gain nearly 9,300 additional acres of protected desert habitat, while utility companies retain their existing rights and the ability to seek new authorizations in the expanded area.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

972, 119th Congress (2026). "Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-972