[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 849 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 849
To provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County,
Nevada, for use as a heliport.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2005
Mr. Gibbons (for himself, Mr. Porter, and Ms. Berkley) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County,
Nevada, for use as a heliport.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Las Vegas Valley in the State of Nevada is the
fastest growing community in the United States;
(2) helicopter tour operations are conflicting with the
needs of long-established residential communities in the
Valley; and
(3) the designation of a public heliport in the Valley that
would reduce conflicts between helicopter tour operators and
residential communities is in the public interest.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide a suitable
location for the establishment of a commercial service heliport
facility to serve the Las Vegas Valley in the State of Nevada while
minimizing and mitigating the impact of air tours on the Sloan Canyon
National Conservation Area and North McCullough Mountains Wilderness.
(c) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Conservation area.--The term ``Conservation Area''
means the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area established
by section 604(a) of the Clark County Conservation of Public
Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (116 Stat. 2010).
(2) County.--The term ``County'' means Clark County,
Nevada.
(3) Helicopter tour.--
(A) In general.--The term ``helicopter tour'' means
a commercial helicopter tour operated for profit.
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``helicopter tour'' does
not include a helicopter tour that is carried out to
assist a Federal, State, or local agency.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(5) Wilderness.--The term ``Wilderness'' means the North
McCullough Mountains Wilderness established by section
202(a)(13) of the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and
Natural Resources Act of 2002 (116 Stat. 2000).
(d) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the County, subject to valid
existing rights, for no consideration, all right, title, and interest
of the United States in and to the parcel of land described in
subsection (e).
(e) Description of Land.--The parcel of land to be conveyed under
subsection (d) is the parcel of approximately 229 acres of land
depicted as tract A on the map entitled ``Clark County Public Heliport
Facility'' and dated May 3, 2004.
(f) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--The parcel of land conveyed under
subsection (d)--
(A) shall be used by the County for the operation
of a heliport facility under the conditions stated in
paragraphs (2) and (3); and
(B) shall not be disposed of by the County.
(2) Imposition of fees.--
(A) In general.--Any operator of a helicopter tour
originating from or concluding at the parcel of land
described in subsection (e) shall pay to the Clark
County Department of Aviation a $3 conservation fee for
each passenger on the helicopter tour if any portion of
the helicopter tour occurs over the Conservation Area.
(B) Disposition of funds.--Any amounts collected
under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited in a special
account in the Treasury of the United States, which
shall be available to the Secretary, without further
appropriation, for the management of cultural,
wildlife, and wilderness resources on public land in
the State of Nevada.
(3) Flight path.--Except for safety reasons, any helicopter
tour originating or concluding at the parcel of land described
in subsection (e) that flies over the Conservation Area shall
not fly--
(A) over any area in the Conservation Area except
the area that is between 3 and 5 miles north of the
latitude of the southernmost boundary of the
Conservation Area;
(B) lower than 1,000 feet over the eastern segments
of the boundary of the Conservation Area; or
(C) lower than 500 feet over the western segments
of the boundary of the Conservation Area.
(4) Reversion.--If the County ceases to use any of the land
described in subsection (d) for the purpose described in
paragraph (1)(A) and under the conditions stated in paragraphs
(2) and (3)--
(A) title to the parcel shall revert to the United
States, at the option of the United States; and
(B) the County shall be responsible for any
reclamation necessary to revert the parcel to the
United States.
(g) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary shall require, as a
condition of the conveyance under subsection (d), that the County pay
the administrative costs of the conveyance, including survey costs and
any other costs associated with the transfer of title.
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