The federal government’s Bureau of Reclamation last month requested to purchase 52,000 rounds of ammunition to be used by law enforcement officials ensuring the "protection" of employees and visitors at the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
The Las Vegas Sun reported that the bureau, which maintains dams, power plants, and waterways of the West, made a request in June for 41,600 rounds of hollow-point ammunition in addition to 10,400 rounds of shotgun ammunition.
"We want to limit the amount of information any bad guys might have about our protection capabilities," explained Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Rose Davis, insisting that law enforcement officers are "there for the protection of employees, visitors and the dam."
Davis did not, however, provide specific information about the number of armed officials positioned at the dam, but as of 2008 there were 21 officers policing the area for the bureau, according to a Department of Justice review. Rep. Mark Amodei (R, Nev.) plans to further investigate the ammunition request and the size of law enforcement presence at the dam.
Davis also alleged that the ammunition will be paid for with revenue gained from utility companies purchasing electricity from the dam and not with taxpayer money.
The bureau, which works together with Department of Homeland Security to ensure the security of the dam, has requested to purchase ammunition no fewer than 19 times since 2008, most recently making a large quantity demand in 2013.