1. The Sagebrush Ecosystem Council is hereby created in the Department. The Council consists of:

(a) The following nine voting members appointed by the Governor:

(1) One member who represents agricultural interests;

(2) One member who represents the energy industry;

(3) One member who represents the general public;

(4) One member who represents conservation and environmental interests;

(5) One member who represents mining interests;

(6) One member who represents ranching interests;

(7) One member who represents local government;

(8) One member who acts as a liaison for Native American tribes; and

(9) One member of the Board of Wildlife Commissioners or his or her designee.

(b) In addition to the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (a), the following nonvoting members:

(1) The Director of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;

(2) The Director of the Department of Wildlife;

(3) The Director of the State Department of Agriculture;

(4) The State Director of the Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management;

(5) The State Supervisor of the Nevada State Office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

(6) The Forest Supervisor for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; and

(7) Any other members appointed by the Governor as nonvoting members.

2. The provisions of subsection 6 of NRS 232A.020 do not apply to the appointment by the Governor of the members of the Council.

3. After the initial terms, each member of the Council appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of paragraph (a) of subsection 1 and subparagraph (7) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1 serves a term of 4 years, commencing on July 1.

4. A vacancy in the membership of the Council must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. A member may be reappointed.

5. While engaged in the business of the Council, each voting member is entitled to receive a salary of not more than $80 per day, as established by the Council, and the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.

6. The Council may:

(a) Adopt regulations to govern the management and operation of the Council;

(b) Establish subcommittees consisting of members of the Council to assist the Council in the performance of its duties; and

(c) Consider and require the recovery of costs related to activities prescribed by paragraph (d) of subsection 2 of NRS 321.594 pursuant to NRS 701.600 to 701.640, inclusive, or any other authorized method of recovering those costs.

7. The Council shall:

(a) Consider the best science available in its determinations regarding and conservation of the greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and sagebrush ecosystems in this State;

(b) Establish and carry out strategies for:

(1) The conservation of the greater sage grouse and sagebrush ecosystems in this State; and

(2) Managing land which includes those sagebrush ecosystems, taking into consideration the importance of those sagebrush ecosystems and the interests of the State;

(c) Establish and carry out a long-term system for carrying out strategies to manage sagebrush ecosystems in this State using an adaptive management framework and providing for input from interested persons and governmental entities;

(d) Oversee any team within the Division of State Lands of the Department which provides technical services concerning sagebrush ecosystems;

(e) Establish a program to mitigate damage to sagebrush ecosystems in this State by authorizing a system that awards credits to persons, federal and state agencies, local governments and nonprofit organizations to protect, enhance or restore sagebrush ecosystems;

(f) Solicit suggestions and information and, if necessary, prioritize projects concerning the enhancement of the landscape, the restoration of habitat, the reduction of nonnative grasses and plants and the mitigation of damage to or the expansion of scientific knowledge of sagebrush ecosystems;

(g) If requested, provide advice for the resolution of any conflict concerning the management of the greater sage grouse or a sagebrush ecosystem in this State;

(h) Coordinate and facilitate discussion among persons, federal and state agencies and local governments concerning the maintenance of sagebrush ecosystems and the conservation of the greater sage grouse;

(i) Provide information and advice to persons, federal and state agencies and local governments concerning any strategy, system, program or project carried out pursuant to this section or NRS 321.592 or 321.594; and

(j) Provide direction to state agencies concerning any strategy, system, program or project carried out pursuant to this section or NRS 321.592 or 321.594 and resolve any conflict with any direction given by another state board, commission or department jointly with that board, commission or department, as applicable.

8. On or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, the Council shall submit a written report to the Governor. The report must include, without limitation:

(a) Information concerning the overall health and population of the greater sage grouse within this State and in the United States and the overall health of sagebrush ecosystems within this State, including, without limitation, information concerning any threats to the population of sage grouse and any sagebrush ecosystems within this State;

(b) Information concerning all strategies, systems, programs and projects carried out pursuant to this section and NRS 321.592 and 321.594, including, without limitation, information concerning the costs, sources of funding and results of those strategies, systems, programs and projects; and

(c) Any other information specified by the Council.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 3383)