Synopsis: The Division of Environmental Protection's mission is to preserve and enhance the environment of the state to protect public health, sustain healthy ecosystems and contribute to a vibrant economy. The division implements state and federal environmental laws; provides financial and technical assistance related to drinking water and wastewater systems; oversees clean-up of contaminated soil and water; administers the State Petroleum Fund; and provides public education programs. This budget account supports the administrative needs of the division and includes the administrator, deputy administrators, administrative assistants, the offices of Financial Management and Information Management, human resources, contract and grants management and publications and editing services, all within the Bureau of Administrative Services. These positions provide centralized management, accounting, information technology and other supportive services for the division. Statutory Authority: NRS 232.136, 278.335-.377, 444.440-.645, 444.010-.110, 445A.060-.730, 445B.100-.640, 459.380-.856, 486.010-.180, 519A.010-.280, 590.700-920, 618.775.

Synopsis: The Bureau of Industrial Site Cleanup (BISC) is responsible for regulatory oversight of assessment and corrective action at contaminated sites. The budget funds regulatory oversight of investigation and cleanup of hazardous substance releases from five major industrial sites near Henderson. In addition BISC oversees the Nevada Environmental Response Trust as well as the evaluation and cleanup of perchlorate and other hazardous substances released from the former Kerr-McGee Tronox site in southern Nevada. Statutory Authority: NRS 445A.425; NRS 459.425; NRS 459.537

Synopsis: The mission of the Bureaus of Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Planning is to achieve and maintain levels of air quality, which will protect human health and safety; prevent injury to plant and animal life; prevent damage to property; preserve visibility and scenic, aesthetic and historic values of the state; and implement provisions at the facility level to prevent accidental chemical releases in the state. To accomplish this mission, staff assigned to these bureaus plan, direct, coordinate and control air quality monitoring, permitting, and compliance assurance. This budget account is mainly funded by federal grants and fees. Statutory Authority: NRS 445B.100 - 445B.845, and 459.380 - 459.3874.

Synopsis: The Bureau of Water Pollution Control ensures compliance with water pollution control laws by issuing permits to discharge to surface and/or ground water, inspect facilities to ensure compliance and enforcement actions are taken when necessary and review the design of wastewater treatment plants and infrastructure to ensure subdivisions have adequate systems/infrastructures in place to treat wastewater. This budget account is funded by fees and federal grants. Statutory Authority: NRS 445A.300 to .730, portions of NRS 278.330 to .460.

Synopsis: This Budget Account includes the Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management, the Bureau of Corrective Actions and the Bureau of Federal Facilities. The Bureau of Corrective Actions is responsible for regulating the analysis and remediation of contaminated sites; the certification of environmental consultants; the regulation of underground storage tank compliance; regulating the remediation of leaking underground storage tanks; and the administration of the Petroleum Claims Fund. Statutory Authority NRS: 445A.226 - 445A.22755; 445C.010 - 445C.410; 459.970, 459.9743; and 459.9921 - 459.99923. The Bureau of Federal Facilities provides programmatic and regulatory oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy's operational activities, environmental restoration and waste management programs at the Nevada National Security Site, Tonopah Test Range, Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal Area in Nevada to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Statutory Authority: NRS 444.440 - 444.645; 445A.060 - 445A.955; 445C.010 - 445C.410; 459.400 -459.600; and 459.800 - 459.856. The Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management is responsible for ensuring safe management of hazardous waste by regulating its handling, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal; ensuring safe collection and disposal of solid waste; and encouraging businesses, institutions, and individuals to reduce the amount of waste generated, participate in recycling programs, and conserve natural resources. This budget account is funded by federal grants and fees. Statutory Authority: NRS 444.440 - 444.645; 444A.010 - 444A.120; 445A.300 - 445A.730; 445C.010 - 445C.120; and 459.400 - 459.600.

Synopsis: It is the mission of the Mining Regulation and Reclamation agency to ensure that Nevada's surface and groundwaters are not degraded by mining operations and that the lands disturbed by mining operations are reclaimed to safe and stable conditions to ensure a productive post-mining land use. Facilities utilizing chemicals for processing ores are generally required to meet a zero discharge performance standard. The Bureau works collaboratively with the mining industry and the public to achieve its mission. This budget account is fully funded by permitting fees and is comprised of three technical units: Regulation, Closure and Reclamation. These units perform a variety of plan reviews, permitting, inspection, compliance monitoring, and enforcement activities to ensure the design, construction, operation, closure and reclamation of mining and exploration operations. Operators must file a financial assurance/guarantee with the division or federal land manager to ensure that reclamation of the mine site will be completed should an operator default on a project. The regulation and closure branches regulate mining in Nevada under the authority of NRS 445A.300-NRS 445A.730 and NAC 445A.350-NAC 445A.447. The reclamation branch regulates mining in Nevada under the authority of NRS 519A.010 - NRS 519A.280 and NAC 519A.010 - NAC 519A.415.

Synopsis: This budget account provides staff and administrative support for the State Revolving Loan Program, which provides low cost financing for wastewater, storm water and drinking water infrastructure improvements that are needed to achieve compliance with applicable environmental standards. This budget account is funded by federal grants, Treasurer's interest income and loan origination fees. Statutory Authority: NRS 445A.060 through 445A.160 and 445A.200 through 445A.295.

Synopsis: The Bureau of Water Quality Planning is responsible for implementing programs to meet requirements of the Clean Water Act and Nevada water quality statutes and regulations that protect and/or improve the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of Nevada. Bureau staff conduct water quality testing; bio-assessment and physical habitat monitoring; develop and/or revise water quality standards for adoption by the State Environmental Commission; develop the impaired waters list; develop Total Maximum Daily Loads and/or watershed implementation plans to address water quality impairments; issue certifications to ensure that proposed discharges meet applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards; assist in the development and review of area-wide waste management plans; mitigate the adverse effects from nonpoint source pollution through implementation of water quality improvement and public education projects; promote intra and inter-agency program coordination; and provide technical assistance. This budget account is funded by federal grants. Fees collected through the Bureau of Water Pollution Control National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit programs are used as the state match to the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 106 grant. Statutory Authority: NRS 445A.300 through 445A.730.

Synopsis: The Bureau of Safe Drinking Water implements the Public Water System Supervision Program (PWSSP) and the Laboratory Certification Program (LCP). The PWSSP is authorized under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and maintains primacy for the State of Nevada. State implementation of the PWSSP ensures Nevada's public water systems comply with state and federal drinking water standards by enforcing the sampling, monitoring and National Primary Drinking Water standards, including requirements for water quality, surface water treatment and corrosion control. The program assesses water sources (including identification of potential contaminant sources); assists communities and water systems in developing and implementing source water protection strategies; conducts sanitary surveys; certifies the qualifications of public water system operators; and requires public notification when systems are out of compliance. The bureau also reviews engineering plans for public water systems and the subdivision of land. Additionally, PWSSP provides training, information transfer, and regulatory update presentations at meetings of water industry associations. This program is funded by federal grants and fees. The LCP produces data used in regulatory decision-making by division programs in Safe Drinking Water, Water Pollution Control, Mining Regulation and Reclamation, Waste Management, and Corrective Actions. Pursuant to NRS 445A.428, 445A.863, and NRS 459.501, laboratories that perform analyses to meet requirements of the Clean Water Act, SDWA, and the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act must be certified by the State of Nevada. The LCP program ensures that analyses are conducted according to Environmental Protection Agency and state approved methods with accurate and reproducible results. This program is funded by fees. Statutory Authority: NRS 445A.800 through 445A.955, 445A.300 through 445A.730, and 459.400 through 459.600.

Synopsis: The mission of the Nevada Division of Natural Heritage (NRS 232.1369) is to maintain comprehensive data management systems on the locations, biology and conservation status of all endangered, threatened, sensitive and at-risk plant and animal (including invertebrates) species. The Division manages data on rare and at-risk species, including data collection, data input and quality control. These data are provided to other state agencies, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, consultants and the public to inform conservation planning and land-use planning decisions, facilitate federally mandated environmental review, minimize future resource conflicts, protect biodiversity and help prevent species from becoming threatened or endangered. The Division maintains botanical expertise per NAC 527.200 and serves as scientific advisor to the State Forester/Firewarden for topics related to rare plants. The Division also manages the Nevada Wetland Program with the goals of stakeholder and interagency collaboration, understanding the extent, quality and stressors of the state's wetland resources and protecting and restoring wetlands as a carbon sequestration mechanism to address climate change.

Synopsis: The Nevada State Environmental Commission (SEC) serves as the primary rule-making, variance and appeal body for environmental regulations in Nevada. The Commission is an 11 member body that meets to establish regulations and resolve appeal actions for the Division of Environmental Protection. Expenses of the SEC are supported by fees. The SEC was originally established in the Air Pollution Control statutes (NRS 445B.200). Other statutes establish the jurisdiction of the SEC to adopt environmental regulations, set fees and hear appeals. Statutory Authority: NRS 444.560, 444A.020, 445A.270, 445A.425, 445A,860, 459.3818, 459.485, 459.656, 459.826, and 519A.160.

Synopsis: The Director's Office provides administrative, technical, budgetary, policy and supervisory support to the Divisions of Environmental Protection, Forestry, Water Resources, State Parks, State Lands, Historic Preservation, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Heritage. The office also includes the state conservation districts, sagebrush ecosystem and off-highway vehicles programs, as well as boards, commissions and councils. Statutory Authority: NRS 232.010-232.070.

Synopsis: The Conservation Districts Program and the State Conservation Commission regulate the activities of Nevada's 28 locally elected conservation districts. Conservation districts work for the proper development and conservation of the state's renewable natural resources by using available technical, financial and educational resources and coordinating these resources so they meet the needs of landowners and the general public. The program works in cooperation with local jurisdictions, federal agencies, other state agencies, non-profit organizations and the public for conservation of soil, water and other natural resources. Statutory Authority: NRS 548 and 232.090.

Synopsis: This budget account provides administrative support for the Capital Improvement Grants Program, which awards grants for capital improvement projects to small public water systems for qualifying water conservation projects and to defray costs associated with connecting individual septic systems to community sewer systems. This budget account is funded by grant application fees and bond proceeds. Statutory Authority: NRS 349.982.

Synopsis: The 2013 Legislature approved AB 461 on June 11, 2013 and established the account to restore the sagebrush ecosystem per NRS 232.161. The account is administered in a manner consistent with polices and priorities established by the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council created by NRS 232.162. The director may apply for and accept any gift, donation, bequest, grant or other source of money and any money so received must be deposited in the account. The interest and income earned on the money in the account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the account. Money that remains in the account at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the general fund and the balance in the account must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The money in the account may only be used to establish and carry out programs to preserve, restore and enhance sagebrush ecosystems pursuant to NRS 321.592 and 321.594.

Synopsis: This budget account is established as an environmental quality improvement account (EQIA) with funds collected through the Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) program as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as, "environmentally beneficial projects which a defendant/respondent agrees to undertake in a settlement of an enforcement action, but which the defendant/respondent is not otherwise legally required to perform." The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's approach to SEPs is modeled after US EPA's program. Funds related to the SEP program and other enforcement actions that result in penalties with specific uses of the funds outlined in the enforcement action for use through the EQIA, will be held in this account and transferred to another Department of Conservation and Natural Resources budget account for expenditure upon identification of an appropriate related project.

Synopsis: The Division of State Parks' mission is to develop and manage Nevada's diverse system of parks and recreation areas while protecting scenic, historic and scientific resources and providing access to outdoor recreation opportunities in support of a vibrant economy and a healthy populace. Major programs include: operations, planning, development, grant administration, safety, resource protection and management, maintenance, administration, law enforcement and interpretation of cultural and natural resources. The division headquarters are located in Carson City, with regional offices in Fallon, Panaca and Las Vegas. The division is comprised of 27 park units located throughout the state, which includes 133 permanent and 145 seasonal staff. The division administers the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trails Programs, which provide grants to urban and rural communities for the development of trails and parks and for the acquisition of land and water for outdoor recreation opportunities. The division operates under the philosophy of doing the right thing for the visitor and the resource.

Synopsis: The Nevada Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (NTRPA) assures that all establishments housing gaming in the Lake Tahoe Basin are in compliance with the provisions of the Tahoe Compact. As such, the NTRPA reviews all proposals to modify or remodel structures housing gaming in the Tahoe Basin to ensure compliance. Federal and state law requires that the NTRPA Board meet at least once annually to select the at-large member of the board. Statutory Authority: NRS 227.190-227.220

Synopsis: The mission of the Division of Water Resources is to conserve, protect, manage and enhance the state's water resources for Nevada's citizens through the appropriation and reallocation of public waters. In addition, the division is responsible for quantifying existing rights; monitoring water use; distributing water in accordance with court decrees; reviewing water availability for new subdivisions and condominiums; reviewing the design, construction and operation of dams; appropriating geothermal water; licensing and regulating well drillers and water right surveyors; reviewing flood control projects; collecting and monitoring water resource data and records and providing technical assistance to the public and governmental agencies. The division also provides technical assistance and information to governmental agencies and the public concerning state, regional and local water resource planning and provides floodplain management, planning and mitigation assistance to communities throughout the state. Statutory Authority: NRS chapters 532, 533, 534, 534A, 535, 536, 538, 540, and 543.

Synopsis: The Division of State Lands holds title to over 304,000 acres of state-owned land and acquires land and land interests for state agencies to carry out their missions. State Lands ensures the state is compensated for any use, occupancy or disposal of state-owned lands and maintains state land records. The agency is home to the State Land Use Planning Agency (SLUPA), which provides land-use planning services, administers the Nevada State Clearinghouse (a central location for coordinating state comments on federal land activities), coordinates the Nevada Joint Military Affairs Committee and serves as staff to the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council. The agency houses the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team (NTRT) who coordinates various state conservation and environmental protection programs at Lake Tahoe. Finally, State Lands is a participating agency with the Sagebrush Ecosystem Program and has a representative on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team.

Synopsis: Assembly Bill 486 of the 2019 Legislature was an act relating to outdoor recreation; creating the Division of Outdoor Recreation within the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; providing for the appointment and duties of the Administrator of the Division; creating the Advisory Board on Outdoor Recreation to advise the Administrator of the Division on any matter concerning outdoor recreation in this State; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Synopsis: The division manages the Wildland Fire Protection Program (WFPP), a cooperative arrangement established in the 2014-2015 biennium to provide wildland fire management services to participating entities. Counties and/or individual cooperators voluntarily opt-in to the WFPP. Doing so allows local governments to focus limited resources on local needs, while the division focuses on wildland fire protection. The WFPP educates and prepares landowners for fire, mitigates existing wildfire risk and provides rapid response to fire events with a specially trained and equipped suppression force. The WFPP also participates in rehabilitation efforts to damaged lands after a fire. Statutory Authority: NRS 472.

Synopsis: The core mission of the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) is to protect, conserve and enhance the state's natural resources and provide protection from wildfire. To accomplish this mission, NDF manages and coordinates all forestry, nursery, endangered plant species and watershed resource activities on qualified public, state and private lands. NDF also cooperates with other state agencies to coordinate and respond to natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Statutory Authority: NRS chapters 40, 193, 205, 206, 232, 472, 474, 475, 476, 527 and 528.

Synopsis: The Forest Fire Suppression Account funds protection of life, property and natural resources from fire, flood and other natural or human caused emergencies. The program is funded with a combination of: General Fund appropriations, reimbursements paid to the Nevada Division of Forestry for firefighting efforts made on behalf of others and Federal Emergency Management Agency - Fire Management Assistance grants and sub-grants. The agency has access to the Interim Finance Contingency Fund, the Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account and the Disaster Relief Account when the volume or severity of fire incidents result in insufficient funds to meet state obligations. Statutory Authority: NRS 472.

Synopsis: The Conservation Camp Program coordinates, directs and supervises the work performed by inmates of the Department of Corrections who reside in Forestry Conservation Camps located throughout the State of Nevada. The Conservation Camp Program provides the work force for labor-intensive forestry and conservation work projects, wildfire management and other emergency activities. The Program consists of 74 Conservation Crew Supervisors, ten Camp Supervisors, three Camp Area Supervisors, one Training Officer, one Administrative Officer, three Mechanics, one Program Manager and anywhere from 600-800 Crew members. Conservation Camps use approximately 161 pieces of equipment and vehicles. Personnel and vehicles are located at nine facilities across the state in: Carson City, Winnemucca, Carlin, Wells, Ely, Pioche, Tonopah, Las Vegas and Jean. Each camp fields both fire and conservation project crews. Every Crew Supervisor is assigned 6-12 Crew members for project and emergency response. Crew members are inmates that are certified as fire fighters with the national industry standardized training. In addition to fielding project and fire crews, some camps support nursery operations and/or mobile kitchen units.

Synopsis: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) was jointly created by Nevada, California and the United States Congress. The TRPA leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe region. TRPA's vision is to have a lake environment that is sustainable, healthy and safe for the community and future generations. Under the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, requests for state funds by the TRPA must be apportioned two-thirds from California and one-third from Nevada. As a planning agency, TRPA has the power to exercise effective environmental controls and perform other essential functions over the water, land, air, wildlife and development of the Lake Tahoe region. Starting in 1997, with the Nevada and California Governors' Memorandum of Understanding and the Presidential forum, TRPA has led the cooperative efforts of funding the Environmental Improvement Program. Statutory Authority: NRS 277.190-277.220.

Synopsis: The State Historic Preservation Office's mandate is to encourage preservation, documentation and use of cultural resources through state and federal programs. Office programs support preservation of buildings and archaeological sites through grant distribution and management, project reviews for federal tax credits, the National and State Registers of Historic Places, review of federal undertakings in the state and planning of preservation projects and public education. The office also manages almost 300 historical markers to interpret sites throughout the state, which benefit both local and out-of-state travelers. Through these activities, the State Historic Preservation Office encourages tourism, economic growth and education. Statutory Authority: NRS 383.

Synopsis: This enterprise account contains three distinct programs administered by the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF). The Nursery, Seedbank and Forest Products Utilization programs are rooted in the agency's overall mission and are an integral part of both the natural resources and fire suppression programs operated by the agency. The Nursery Program, under the oversight of the NDF Natural Resource Program, was established in 1957 to provide technical assistance and conservation plant materials (tree seedlings, shrubs, forbs, and seeds) to meet the conservation needs of Nevada's private landowners and public land management agencies. The nurseries also offer custom growing services for conservation plants native to, or adapted to, the Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert and Sierra Nevada. They produce low-cost native or adapted plant species acclimated to Nevada's environmental conditions for conservation purposes, including windbreaks, green-strips, stream bank stabilization, wetland and riparian restoration, mine reclamation, reforestation, wildlife habitat enhancement and rehabilitation of wildfire damaged lands or other disturbed sites. The Nursery Program is comprised of two facilities, one in Washoe Valley and one in the Las Vegas Valley. The Seedbank was established in 1995 to provide seed, equipment and other materials to rehabilitate wildland fire and fire suppression related damages. The Seedbank assists private landowners and public agencies with conservation treatments on their lands to reduce soil erosion, increase plant diversity, improve wildlife habitat and reduce the threat of wildland fire. The Seedbank facility is co-located with the nursery in Washoe Valley. The Forest Products Utilization Program was established in 2012 to focus on adding value to cut wood that occurs from the agency's normal fuel reduction and forest health enhancement projects. Prior to the initiation of the program, much of the wood that was cut was piled and burned in place as the most expedient method of disposal. The acquisition of harvesting and processing equipment allows the agency to extract the wood from the forest, process it into a useful end product and transport it out of the forest. The value added products, typically wood chips, fuel wood and saw logs are sold from the nursery/seedbank facility in Washoe Valley. All of these enterprise programs receive operating funds based on the sale of conservation plant materials and forest products. Statutory Authority: NRS 472, 527, & 528.

Synopsis: The Nevada Commission on Off-Highway Vehicles was established on July 1, 2011, to promote the responsible use of recreational off-highway vehicles (OHV) pursuant to NRS 490. The Commission has granting authority for OHV registration fee proceeds with grants awarded in accordance with approved regulations. Grants are provided for law enforcement, education/public awareness and OHV trail management and development. The Nevada Commission on Off-Highway Vehicles was placed within the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in May 2016. This was done in part through an Interim Finance Committee action that created an initial Executive Budget for the OHV Commission within DCNR fiscal structure as agency 703. Assembly Bill 29 of the 2017 Legislature officially created the Off-Highway Vehicles Program within DCNR.

Synopsis: The Director's Office is responsible for policy development and implementation; ensuring compliance with the law; fulfilling public record requests; acting as legislative liaison; providing fiscal business management and human resource support; providing support to the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, County Advisory Boards and wildlife division administrators; and providing scientific input on intergovernmental levels.

Synopsis: The Data and Technology Services Division manages the hunting, fishing and trapping licensing program through department offices, license agent, and online sales; special licensing and permitting; vessel registration and titling; hunt applications and the random tag draw; information technology; geographic information systems and data management.

Synopsis: The Conservation Education Division oversees public affairs and outreach, hunter/angler education, recruitment and retention of hunters and anglers, wildlife education, the volunteer program, publications and website administration.

Synopsis: The Law Enforcement Division's mission is to: oversee wildlife protection; boating safety enforcement and education; implement the Operation Game Thief Program; investigate major wildlife crimes; provide law enforcement dispatch services and radio communications for the department; mediate human-wildlife conflicts; administer guide licensing; investigate wildlife attacks on humans; and investigate hunting-related shooting incidents.

Synopsis: The Game Management Division is responsible for management, protection, research, and monitoring of wildlife classified as game mammals, upland and migratory game birds and furbearing mammals. The division oversees: the avian and terrestrial game species management; air operations; landowner programs for game species incentive tags, depredation control, and compensation; predator management; and wildlife health and disease monitoring.

Synopsis: The mission of the Fisheries Division is to manage, protect and enhance Nevada's native aquatic species; promote fishing in Nevada through a system of strategically located hatcheries and by managing Nevada's waters to their highest end use for anglers; provide anglers with information essential to the sport; prevent the introduction of additional aquatic invasive species to Nevada; and minimize the impacts to established fisheries and aquatic habitats.

Synopsis: The Wildlife Diversity Division is dedicated to the protection, preservation, management, and restoration of Nevada's diverse wildlife heritage. Through sound science, data management, and synergistic partnerships, the division will maintain healthy wildlife populations and habitats, thereby fulfilling Nevada's responsibility to maintain local, regional and global species diversity. Through the division's efforts, the scientific, educational, recreational, and economic values of Nevada's wildlife will be enhanced and preserved for future generations. The Wildlife Diversity Division is responsible for sensitive species management and surveying; Endangered Species Act consultation and recovery work; implementation of the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan; habitat restoration; and the Department of Wildlife's portion of the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

Synopsis: The Habitat Division provides consultation and reviews land use plans; oversees the state's Wildlife Management Areas, natural and artificial water developments; habitat rehabilitation and restoration; wetlands acquisition and restoration; the mining assessment and reclamation program; and bond funded habitat enhancement projects.

Synopsis: The Colorado River Commission is empowered to acquire, manage and protect all of Nevada's allocation of water and hydropower resources from the Colorado River (allocated to Nevada from the federal government) for the residents of Nevada. In addition, it is to provide electric power resources to certain customers from any available source for needs over and above the hydropower allocations. These resources are primarily centered in and benefit Southern Nevada. The Colorado River Commission Fund acts as the general fund for all commission activities. All personnel costs for commission staff and all of the basic activities and functions performed in fulfilling the commission's legislative mandate are recorded in this account. The commission is entirely funded by its customers and receives no state or federal funds in carrying out its activities. The Colorado River Basin states are in constant contact regarding the issues of the lower basin; the bulk of commission travel occurs in California and Arizona. In addition, the commission has extensive involvement with a number of agencies of the federal government, including the Department of Interior, Department of Energy, Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and others. Statutory Authority: NRS 538.

Synopsis: The Research and Development Fund provides engineering studies, analyses, negotiations and other efforts in protecting the interests of the state in the development of any of the resources under the control of the Colorado River Commission. The fund is currently utilized as a pass-through account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program costs. The program is a 50-year program to address the biological needs of mammals, birds, fish amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and plants to comply with the Endangered Species Act. Funding is provided to the commission by its water and power contractors in accordance with the multi-species funding contracts. The Federal Bureau of Reclamation is the implementing agency for the program and the commission staff participate on the steering committee that provide oversight and input to reclamation regarding the implementation of the program. The program assures continuation of the Colorado River operations, including Nevada's diversions of Colorado River water from Lake Mead and continued generation of power at the federal hydropower generating facilities while complying with the Endangered Species Act. Statutory Authority: NRS 538.191

Synopsis: The Power Delivery Project (PDP) budget accounts for all of the costs associated with the Colorado River Commission's high voltage transmission, transformer and distribution system designed and tied into the Southern Nevada Water Authority's (SNWA) water delivery system (PDP). The system provides a power transmission system from the Lake Mead substation at Hoover Dam to the SNWA water treatment facility. This fund accounts for power market related power purchases for any commission customer as requested and needed for load requirements. The funding for all activities related to this budget account are provided by the SNWA and other customers under funding contracts. The contracts related to the operation of the PDP require detailed line item budget projections at the beginning of each year which must be approved by the SNWA. In addition, this fund provides for activity related to the Silver State Energy Association (SSEA) of which the commission is a member. The SSEA provides market electric power resources to its members and, through the commission, to certain customers. The commission provides most of the required personnel resources to the SSEA under contract. SSEA activity is also subject to annual budget approval by the SSEA board. Statutory Authority: NRS 538.

Synopsis: The Power Marketing fund was created to comply with the requirements of the bond resolution authorizing the financing of Nevada's share of the cost of upgrading the generating facilities at Hoover Dam. It is used to record purchases and sales of hydroelectric power, debt service related to all Hoover Powerplant Bonds and operational costs of the Basic Substation project. This fund accounts for all hydropower related activities dedicated to the Southern Nevada Water Authority system and all other hydropower customers. All transactions related to the customers of the Colorado River Commission, including the new Hoover Dam schedule "D" customers, are recorded in this account. All hydropower allocations to the State of Nevada, administered by the commission are recorded in this account. Statutory Authority: NRS 538.

Synopsis: The Nevada Department of Transportation is governed by Article 9, Section 5, of the Nevada Constitution: "The proceeds from the imposition of any license or registration fee and other charge with respect to the operation of any motor vehicle upon any public highway in this state and the proceeds from the imposition of any excise tax on gasoline or other motor vehicle fuel shall, except costs of administration, be used exclusively for the construction, maintenance, and repair of the public highways of this state."

Synopsis: Authority is requested for budget account 4663 to accept and expend bond proceeds to fund the construction of project NEON in Clark County as a design-build project. Bond principal payments are planned to be reimbursed with federal funds at 95% and 5% state match. Per NRS 408.273 Transportation Board and Board of Finance approval is required to complete the bond sales. The issuance of bonds will allow the Department of Transportation to accelerate the delivery of project NEON in the most cost-effective manner.

Synopsis: The Comstock Historic District Commission's mandate is to encourage preservation of the Comstock Historic District, one of the nation's largest and most significant historic landmarks. It is also one of the most visited historic sites in the state, second to Hoover Dam. The commission issues construction permits, educates the public and promotes special programs. The commission considers requests for Certificates of Appropriateness, which property owners are required by statute to obtain before initiating exterior changes to existing structures or constructing new ones. The commission gives guidance to federal agencies working within the district and provides public education focused on historic resources. Statutory Authority: NRS 384.