WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior member of the House Resources Committee, Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) and his colleagues Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) and Jon Porter (R-Nev.) today re-introduced legislation that would convey federal land to build a new heliport in Clark County.

“As the tourism industry continues to grow, additional stress is placed upon McCarran International Airport and our air tour facilities.  This legislation will ensure that our air tour operators have a quality site to conduct their business that will not adversely affect our environment or residential areas,” said Gibbons.  

“This bill represents long-term relief from helicopter noise for tens of thousands of residents of the Las Vegas Valley. This is not a perfect solution but there is no perfect solution,” said Reid.  “A new heliport will be good for our local economy and good for our quality of life, and I will work hard to ensure that it passes Congress this year.” 

“This legislation balances the interests of Las Vegas’ air tour operators, the residents of southern Nevada, and the thousands of visitors who take advantage of helicopter tours every year,” Ensign stated.  “With this bill we are able to accommodate a booming Nevada business and protect our natural resources.” 

“Helicopter tours are a fun and exciting way to glimpse southern Nevada’s natural beauty, but the noise from these flights is impacting the quality of life for too many residents of the Las Vegas Valley. Moving the heliport to a new location and establishing flight patterns to protect Sloan Canyon are both important compromises needed to protect the environment, reduce noise pollution and to ensure that southern Nevada's air tour operators can continue providing service to our many visitors from around the world,” said Berkley.

"Our thriving tourism industry in Southern Nevada depends upon many of the services that air tour operators provide, which attract many visitors domestically and abroad,” added Porter.  “This legislation will protects those businesses while at the same time, preserve our precious environment and quality of life enjoyed by our residents.  I look forward to working with my Nevada colleagues to see this legislation become law.”

The bill directs the Bureau of Land Management to convey 229 acres for a new Clark County Public Heliport Facility.  It seeks to prevent helicopter flights over the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, except between certain boundaries. 
Fees paid for tours within the established area over the Conservation area from the new heliport will be made available to the Secretary of Interior for management of cultural, wildlife, and wilderness resources on public lands in Nevada.

The Nevada delegation noted that the bill has earned the strong support of Randy Walker, Director of Aviation for Clark County, and they are hopeful it will move expeditiously through Congress.

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