Legislation for heliport land will wait until next year

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- An attempt to transfer federal land to Clark County for a tourism helicopter pad did not get off the ground in Congress this year.

Nevada lawmakers made several attempts to pass legislation that would establish a new heliport to replace the one at McCarran International Airport used by Grand Canyon tour operators. Residents near McCarran have complained about daily helicopter noise.

One bill would have conveyed 229 acres of Bureau of Land Management land south of Sloan to the county. Environmental groups objected, saying the heliport would ruin the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.

The BLM objected, as well. The agency opposed giving away millions of dollars worth of public land for free to helicopter business.

A 45-acre site off Interstate 15 at Sloan had been identified by the Clark County Aviation Department as a good option, but residents of Henderson's Anthem community complained about potential noise.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., proposed an alternative site near the Sunrise landfill on the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, but Senate action was not taken. Now it is unlikely any heliport legislation could be revived this year.

Congress is mostly done for the year, although lawmakers could return next month for a few days to deal with a bill that would reform the U.S. intelligence system.

"We just ran out of time," Amy Spanbauer, spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said.

New heliport legislation likely will be introduced next year, she said.