The potential destruction of ice age fossils in a Southern Nevada national monument by a proposed energy transmission line is due to a decade-old mapping error, according to federal employees, but at least one government accountability group isn’t buying it.
“We are not aware of a mapping error, and we are not aware of any official attempt to correct the supposed error,” said Jeff Ruch, PEER Pacific director and an attorney. “The motivation for crossing the monument is for NV’s (NV Energy) benefit, not for any reason that geography demands. Arguably, eminent domain could be used. But people don’t want to do that. It’s easier from the point of view of some, particularly NV (Energy), to go through the monument.”