Las Vegas NowBLM studying land transfer for heliport near Vegas
Associated Press - August 10, 2009 7:05 AM ET
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The federal government is considering transferring 229 acres of public land to Clark County for a heliport about 20 miles south of Las Vegas.
The Bureau of Land Management says an environmental analysis is available for review and public comments are being accepted until Sept. 18.
Officials say the proposed Southern Nevada Regional Heliport near Sloan Road and Interstate 15 would relieve helicopter tour flight congestion at McCarran International Airport and reduce helicopter flights over residential areas.
Clark County commissioners have budgeted $114 million for the project.
Planners and proponents say it will divert daily helicopter traffic for aerial tours to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and other sites away from McCarran, the nation's seventh-busiest passenger airport.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
