Reid asks for federal land for proposed heliport

Suzanne Struglinski

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 10:18 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Clark County could gain 229 acres of federal land for a new heliport based on legislation set to be introduced today by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The Clark County Commission agreed to try to get a tract of Bureau of Land Management property just south of Sloan to serve as a new base for helicopter tour operators. Now Reid must work with Congress to allow the county to use the land.

The site was not one of the 13 originally evaluated by the County Aviation Department. It was considered later after area residents expressed concern about noise from the helicopter tours flying near their homes. The site is farther south along Interstate 15 than the initial site that was the top choice.

The bill would not prohibit flights over the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area or the North McCullough Mountain Wilderness but would require helicopter flights to avoid of sensitive areas like petroglyph sites or bighorn sheep habitat.

Flights could not occur farther than five miles north of the conservation area's southern boundary and at least 500 feet to 1,000 feet up the ground. Each flight would also have a $3-per-passenger fee to go to a fund designed to protect cultural and wildlife resources.

The heliport is expected to open by 2008 after going through environmental assessments.

Reid's bill would need to be approved the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before moving on for consideration by the full Senate. A Reid aide said the senator was confident he could get it passed this year.