FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ENR
MARCH 14, 1996                                     (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                        LATE NIGHT (202) 514-5000

  COURT REAFFIRMS U.S. OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS

           RULES FOR U.S. IN NYE COUNTY, NEVADA LAWSUIT


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A U.S. District Court in Las Vegas reaffirmed
the rule of law tonight upholding the United States' ownership
and management authority over public lands by striking down a
controversial Nye County, Nevada resolution challenging this
authority.

     The United States filed suit against Nye County on March 8,
1995 following Nye County's challenges to the government's
ownership of and management authority over public lands there. 
The United States sought to make clear that national parks,
forests and other public lands belong to all Americans and to
protect federal employees from threats and intimidation.  

     Administration officials praised the court's decision and
once again extended an offer of cooperation and participation in
the land management process to Nye County and other local
governments.    

     Attorney General Janet Reno said that the government will
continue to protect its employees and that public lands are
"owned by all Americans, to be managed by the United States. 
That's the rule of law.  The court made it clear that Nye and
other counties are no exception to this rule.  Now it's time to
come together and address our differences."

     Jack Ward Thomas, Chief of the Forest Service, called the
decision "a great example of the way our system resolves
disagreements.  Some people will disagree and we respect their
right to disagree.  However, we must go forward and work with
local residents, state and local governments and all Americans in
managing their lands in the most sensible manner possible."

     
     Mike Dombeck, Director of the Bureau of Land Management, was
"pleased that this issue was settled in the proper forum--in the
courtroom before a judge.  Now we can look ahead to continuing
and rebuilding positive relations with counties and constituents
across the West.  It is time to find common ground."

     In 1993, Nye County Commissioners approved a resolution that
claimed the State of Nevada, not the United States, owned
national forests and other public lands.  The court rejected this
claim and Nye County's assertion that it had the authority to
manage these lands.  Another resolution claimed Nye County
ownership of virtually every past, present or future road and
trail on public lands within the county boundaries.    
     
     Assistant Attorney General Lois J. Schiffer added, "We will
continue to work with Nye and other counties and encourage their
participation in land management decisions.  Cooperation, not
confrontation, is an approach we can all agree on."

     United States Attorney Kathryn E. Landreth applauded the
decision.  "This decision reaffirms the United States' ownership
of public lands and sends an unmistakably clear message that the
United States has the right to manage those lands.  This decision
should lead to increased cooperation between the federal land
management agencies, counties and other public land users and
should decrease the confrontational, threatening actions that
caused the United States to file this suit."

     Using its resolutions for shelter, Nye County has threatened
United States employees with criminal prosecution and other legal
action for implementing federal laws.  In addition, the county
has bulldozed open National Forest roads closed by the Forest
Service, and damaged natural and archaeological resources. 
     
     From the beginning, the United States argued that its
ownership and ability to manage public lands for all Americans
was well-established and backed up by 150 years of "unbroken"
Supreme Court precedent.  The U.S. also declared that Nye
County's arguments -- specifically that the Constitution's Equal
Footing Doctrine authorized its actions -- had no legal merit and
in effect asked the court to "redraw the map of the United
States, and to rewrite 150 years of American history." 

     Nye County is one of dozens of counties, mainly in the West,
that have challenged federal control of public lands.  This
movement is often referred to as the "County Supremacy" or
"Sagebrush Rebellion II" or "Home Rule" movement.  

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