July '07 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Declares State of Emergency
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS issued the following executive order [July 18, 2007] declaring a state of emergency for Nevada due to the numerous wildfires that exist throughout the state and the need for resources and funding to protect the health and safety of residents.

"The State of Nevada remains committed to providing fire support to the fullest extent possible during this exceptionally challenging fire season. High winds and dry conditions allow wildfires to spread rapidly across Nevada's vast expanse," said Governor Gibbons. "The State of Nevada remains dedicated to protecting the livelihood and safety of those residents affected by the fires. Our fire crews and first responders are working day and night to contain fires and prevent loss of infrastructure and land critical to our agricultural industries."

Governor Gibbons today participated in a morning fire briefing and tour of the Hawken Fire burning in southwest Reno. Fires in Elko County have consumed over 300,000 acres and evacuations are being called for the following communities in Elko County: Jarbidge, Star Valley, Lucky Nugget

The executive order provides continued assistance to the Nevada Division of Forestry and political subdivisions that anticipate continued economic obligations resulting in financial hardship for the long-term recovery of the affected fire areas.

Included below: Executive Order issued by Governor Jim Gibbons 7-18-07

STATE OF NEVADA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER

WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article 5 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada provides "The supreme executive power of this State, shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate who shall be Governor of the State of Nevada";

WHEREAS, Section 7 of Article 5 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada provides that the Governor "shall see that the laws are faithfully executed"; and

WHEREAS, Nevada Revised Statutes 414.070 authorizes the Governor, pursuant to his proclamation, to declare a state of emergency if an attack upon the United States has occurred or is anticipated in the immediate future, or that a natural, technological or man-made disaster of major proportions has actually occurred within this state, and that the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this state warrants the invocation of the Governor's emergency powers set forth in Chapter 414 of the Nevada Revised Statutes; and

WHEREAS, Nevada Revised Statute 414.0345 provides '''Emergency' means an occurrence or threatened occurrence for which, in the determination of the governor, the assistance of state agencies is needed to supplement the efforts and capabilities of political subdivisions to save lives, protect property and protect the health and safety of persons in this state, or to avert the threat of damage to property or injury to or the death of persons in this state;"

WHEREAS, numerous wildfires exist throughout the State of Nevada, and with a continued threat of future wildfire activity, this situation has created an emergency for the State, specifically, but not limited to, the Nevada Division of Forestry, due to a lack of financial and physical resources; and

WHEREAS, the State of Nevada and the affected political subdivisions have experienced a significant economic impact in meeting the needs of the current 2007 fire season, based upon fuel loads throughout the State; and,

WHEREAS, all of the subdivisions and the State anticipate continuing economic obligations resulting in financial hardship for the long-term recovery of the affected areas;

THEREFORE, I, Jim Gibbons, Governor of the State of Nevada, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Nevada, hereby declare a state of emergency for the State of Nevada and direct all state agencies to supplement the efforts and capabilities of political subdivisions to save lives, protect property and protect the health and safety of persons in this state, or to avert the threat of damage to property or injury to or the death of persons in this state.

[Download Executive Order issued by Governor Jim Gibbons 7-18-07 in PDF format.]

Gibbons to Attend Two Health Care Merger Hearings
Governor Encourages Public Participation

GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS' office today [July 18, 2007] announced that the Governor will attend two of the three scheduled hearings into the proposed United/Sierra health care merger. The hearings are designed to elicit testimony from health care experts, business owners, public policy analysts and regular citizens who have insights into or concerns about the potential impact of this dramatic change to health care in Nevada.

"This could be the largest health care event in Nevada history, and the Insurance Commissioner needs to hear from all concerned citizens before making a decision on whether it would be prudent to allow it to proceed," Gibbons said. "State and federal regulators who are making this decision should be provided with a thorough overview of expert testimony from hospitals, doctors, and, in some cases, Nevada residents who have significant opinions and experience regarding this merger."

The Governor's Office also announced that those who have testified in previous hearings will be allowed to return as long as they bring new information to the deliberations. Out of respect for those who have not yet had an opportunity to address the panel, testimony already put into the official record will not be allowed.

The times, dates and locations of the three hearings are below. The Governor will attend the hearing in Reno.

WHAT: Hearing to be held in Elko County

WHERE: Elko County Commission Chambers, 511 Idaho Street, Room 105, Elko, NV 89801

DATE: Wednesday, July 25, 2007

TIME: 9:30 a.m. PDT

WHAT: Hearing to be held in Reno

WHERE: Reno City Hall, City Council Chambers, 1 East First Street, Reno, NV 89501

DATE: Thursday, July 26, 2007

TIME: 9:30 a.m. PDT

WHAT: Hearing to be held in Las Vegas

WHERE: Grant Sawyer Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Room 4412, Las Vegas, NV 89101

DATE: Friday, July 27, 2007

TIME: 9:30 a.m. PDT

Governor Jim Gibbons Announces His Decision to Support the State Water Engineer's Efforts to Halt Drilling at Yucca Mountain

AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC of the use of Yucca Mountain as a dump site for the nation's nuclear waste, Governor Jim Gibbons today [July 17, 2007] announced his support of the State Water Engineer's decision to ask the U.S. Department of Energy to suspend their unauthorized use of Nevada water for drilling at Yucca Mountain.

"The DOE's continued mismanagement and lack of quality control measures at the high-risk Yucca Mountain project has earned a zero confidence grade in the minds of Nevadans. The unauthorized use of water for drilling is further evidence that the DOE continues to rush it to completion regardless of Nevada's rights and concerns," said Governor Gibbons.

Since 2003, the State Water Engineer has consistently refused to grant the DOE permission to use water for a drilling program at Yucca Mountain, and Governor Gibbons fully supports this action. "Senate Bill 274, which I recently signed into law, gives injunctive relief and permits fines for violations of Nevada Water Law," Governor Gibbons added. "I am fully supporting the right of the State Engineer to apply this law to prevent the further abuse of Nevada's rights."

The license application process for Yucca Mountain has been put on hold by the Federal District Court, and some view the DOE's actions as circumventing the restrictions imposed while the case progresses.

"This is yet another red flag that raises concerns about the ongoing efforts at Yucca Mountain and the DOE's desire to expedite a project that has been deemed 'broken' by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman himself," Governor Gibbons concluded.

During the ten years that Gibbons was a member of Congress, he spoke against the Yucca Mountain project and strongly questioned the science, which was found to contain serious inaccuracies and flaws.

Image courtesy of: United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Governor Jim Gibbons' 2007 Summer Tour Schedule
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS will begin his 2007 statewide summer tour of all 17 counties on Monday, July 30, 2007. Governor Gibbons will be accompanied on the tour by cabinet members and local elected officials. In a series of stops during the five day tour, the Governor will have the opportunity to discuss with Nevadans many of the new policies passed in the 2007 legislative session and local issues of most importance in each part of the state.

"I look forward to meeting with Nevadans where they work and live throughout the state to discuss the many important issues we addressed this year to improve quality of life for all Nevadans," said Governor Gibbons.

The second half of Governor Gibbons' summer tour will begin on September 10th and will include the southern Nevada counties not visited during the July tour.

SCHEDULE:

MONDAY July 30th:

8:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m.: Carson City—Launch on Capitol steps

9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Tour Bently Biofuels, 1300 Buckeye Road, Minden, Nevada

12:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Meet and Greet @ Senior Center, 117 Tilson Way, Yerington, Nevada

2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Open House Day Zimmerman Hawthorne Corporation, Building 3 Main Base, Hawthorne, Nevada

5:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: Ribbon Cutting @ Waste Treatment Facility, 1 Mile West of Cemetery Road, Tonopah, Nevada

6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.: Farmers Market—Wild Wild West, Down Town, Tonopah, Nevada

TUESDAY July 31st:

9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Tour Park Monte Cristo's Castel State Park, 35 Miles North of Tonopah on US Highway 95, Blair Junction, Nevada

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Tour Round Mountain Gold, Round Mountain, Nevada

3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.: Tour Mormon Crickets Habitats, Eureka, Nevada

7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.: Community BBQ @ County Park, 800 Clark Street, Ely, Nevada

WEDNESDAY August 1st:

7:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m.: Tour Prison, 4569 N State Route 490, Ely, Nevada

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Elko Chamber Event, TBA

4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.: Tour Wildlife Habitat, Battle Mountain Nevada

6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.: Town Hall BBQ—Vesco Park, Winnemucca, Nevada

THURSDAY August 2nd:

9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Coffee with the Governor—Sturgeons, 1420 Cornell Ave, Lovelock, Nevada

12:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Meet and Greet @ Senior Center, 310 Court St, Fallon, Nevada

3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.: Tour Amazon, 1600 Newlands Dr East, Fernley, Nevada

5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.: Farmers Market, Victorian Avenue, Sparks, Nevada

FRIDAY August 3rd:

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Meet and Greet @ Senior Center, Virginia City, Nevada

[Download Governor Jim Gibbons' 2007 Summer Tour Schedule in PDF format.]