Nevada’s wildlife commission and its mining commission don’t reflect the state’s diversity and are dominated by industry insiders who profit from the decisions they render, say critics who want them revamped and funded in a more democratic manner.
Patrick Donnelly, state director of the Center for Biological Diversity, characterized the regulatory scheme as “pay to play” Friday at a hearing of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources.
“Ultimately, I think it’s appropriate these commissions are overseeing the regulatory agencies, but as such, they really need to have independence from the regulated industries,” he said.