109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 849
AN ACT
To provide for the conveyance of certain public land
in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a heliport.
109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 849
AN ACT
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUN-
TY, NEVADA.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the Las Vegas Valley in the State of Ne-
vada is the fastest growing community in the United
States;
(2) helicopter tour operations are conflicting
with the needs of long-established residential com-
munities 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 Con-
servation Area and North McCullough Mountains Wilder-
ness.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act:
(1) CONSERVATION
AREA.—The term ‘‘Con-
servation 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 oper-
ated 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 Coun-
ty Conservation of Public Land and Natural Re-
sources 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 con-
sideration, 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 approxi-
mately 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 op-
eration of a heliport facility under the condi-
tions 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 heli-
copter 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 pas-
senger 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 Treas-
ury of the United States, which shall be avail-
able to the Secretary, without further appro-
priation, for the management of cultural, wild-