April 18, 2019 – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today presented Friends of Nevada Wilderness with a framed copy of her April 4 Congressional Record statement recognizing the designation of the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Friends partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to conduct the field work and prepare the detailed application for the elusive designation. The International Dark Sky Association notified Friends on March 18th that the application had been approved. There are only eight other Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world.

“Designating the Massacre Rim as our first Dark Sky sanctuary will honor our collective past as well as protect the Silver State’s important treasures for future generations to enjoy,” said Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to join Friends of Nevada Wilderness to protect our beautiful starry nights from light pollution, ensuring residents and visitors can enjoy Nevada’s natural wonders for years to come.”

“We are so grateful to our senior senator for taking the time and effort to submit these comments for the Congressional Record,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “Our federally-managed public lands in Nevada are a treasure for us all and we are so encouraged by Senator Cortez Masto’s recognition of the value of places like Massacre Rim.”

Friends has already received a number of inquiries from people in other parts of the country who want to travel to one of the darkest places in the world to experience a night sky that very few people today even know is out there.

“Outdoor recreation is a booming industry in Nevada,” Netherton added. “This is yet asnother way people visiting our state can experience the adventure and wonder to be found when exploring our public lands.”

Read the full text of the Congressional Record statement here: https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2019/04/04/CREC-2019-04-04-pt1-PgS2266-4.pdf

See more information on the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area Dark Sky Sanctuary here:
https://www.nevadawilderness.org/dark_sky_areas

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Senator Catherine Cortez Masto presents a copy of her statement for the Congressional Record to
Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness