S.J.R. 2
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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2–SENATOR HANSEN
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources
SUMMARY—Urges Congress to require the United States Board
on Geographic Names to consider renaming the
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as the E. R. Sans
National Wildlife Refuge. (BDR R-170)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION—Urging Congress to require the
United States Board on Geographic Names to consider
renaming the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as the E.
R. Sans National Wildlife Refuge.
WHEREAS, The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, also known 1
as the Charles Sheldon Antelope Range, was established on 2
January 26, 1931, by United States President Herbert Hoover; and 3
WHEREAS, The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 4
approximately 572,896 acres of land located in portions of Washoe 5
and Humboldt Counties, Nevada and Lake County, Oregon; and 6
WHEREAS, The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge was 7
originally established as a refuge and breeding ground for wild 8
animals and birds; and 9
WHEREAS, The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge currently 10
represents one of the last intact examples of a sagebrush-steppe 11
ecosystem in the Great Basin and provides a variety of critical 12
habitats for many endemic species, including, without limitation, 13
pronghorn antelope, mule deer, greater sage-grouse, pygmy rabbit, 14
migratory birds, desert fish and various rare plants and 15
invertebrates; and 16
WHEREAS, The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge was named 17
after Charles Sheldon, who was a long-time member of the Boone 18
and Crockett Club; and 19
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WHEREAS, The Boone and Crockett Club and the National 1
Audubon Society made the initial purchase of land that was 2
included in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge; and 3
WHEREAS, E. R. Sans was employed as a biological assistant by 4
the Bureau of Biological Survey of the United States Department of 5
Agriculture in Reno, Nevada; and 6
WHEREAS, E. R. Sans was actively involved in the control of 7
coyotes and other predators for the Bureau during the early part of 8
the 20th century; and 9
WHEREAS, E. R. Sans often conducted a census of antelope and 10
made determinations of the amount of forage and water available for 11
antelope in various areas; and 12
WHEREAS, E. R. Sans also worked with hunters to reduce the 13
number of coyotes and other predators in those areas, thereby 14
increasing the population of antelope in Nevada; and 15
WHEREAS, A program for raising young antelope to replenish 16
depleted herds of antelope in Nevada and other areas of the West 17
was successfully conducted in 1924 under the leadership of E. R. 18
Sans; and 19
WHEREAS, E. R. Sans approached the Boone and Crockett Club 20
and the National Audubon Society about creating a wildlife refuge 21
for antelope; and 22
WHEREAS, The efforts of E. R. Sans in the reduction of 23
predators and the protection of antelope contributed significantly to 24
the establishment of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge; now, 25
therefore, be it 26
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 27
NEVADA, JOINTLY, That the members of the 82nd Session of the 28
Nevada Legislature hereby urge Congress to require the United 29
States Board on Geographic Names to consider renaming the 30
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as the E. R. Sans National 31
Wildlife Refuge; and be it further 32
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and 33
transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of the United 34
States as the presiding officer of the United States Senate, the 35
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 36
Secretary of the Interior, the United States Board on Geographic 37
Names and each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; 38
and be it further 39
RESOLVED, That this resolution becomes effective upon 40
passage. 41
H