The turtle issue is a dead one....The conservation center plans to kill the tortoise....In a HuffPo article outing this fact, I think I may have found were the BLM comes up with their ridiculous $1 million claim:
"The Bureau of Land Management has paid for the holding and research facility with fees imposed on developers who disturb tortoise habitat on public land. As the housing boom swept through southern Nevada in the 2000s, the tortoise budget swelled. But when the recession hit, the housing market contracted, and
the bureau and its local government partners began struggling to meet the center's $1 million annual budget."
Desert Tortoise Faces Threat From Conservation Center
This may be as simple as a good old fashioned shakedown...
And yes there are legitimate purposes for eminent domain, as laid out in the constitution as well. So, tell me Ditto, is there a road going through there? A hospital being proposed? A school? No....Also under eminent domain those being harmed by the grab are supposed to be compensated....What was offered Bundy for his loss of grazing rights that up to that point he happily complied with?