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Frequently Asked Questions As the Project progresses, the Federal Aviation Administration and Bureau of Land Management will periodically post those frequently asked questions and their responses here. Please check back often.
Topics General
1. What is the NEPA process?
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, is our basic national charter for protection of the environment. The NEPA ensures that high quality, accurate scientific analysis and environmental information are available to Federal agencies, public officials, and citizens before decisions are made and before Federal actions are taken. The NEPA process is intended to help Federal agencies make decisions that are based on a thorough understanding of environmental consequences. FAA's Environmental Orders for implementing NEPA and BLM’s NEPA Handbook require the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project. NEPA requires FAA and BLM to measure the impacts the Proposed Action, or any other feasible alternatives, will have on existing conditions and on future conditions.
2. How will the Project impact my community?
The purpose of an Environmental Impact Statement is to determine the nature and extent of the impacts of a project on the natural and human environment. FAA and BLM are collecting information from a variety of sources and will be analyzing it to determine the potential impacts to the surrounding communities. This information will initially be reported in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared for this project, which will be made available to the public for review and comment upon its completion.
3. How long will the Draft Environmental Impact Statement take to finish?
The Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be released for public review in the second quarter of 2011.
4. Who is proposing to build the Ivanpah Valley Airport?
The Clark County Department of Aviation (CCDOA), which owns and operates McCarran International Airport (LAS), is proposing to develop and would manage the Ivanpah Valley Airport.
5. How can I be involved in the EIS?
Interested citizens can get involved in the EIS by viewing project information and updates on the project website at: http://www.snvairporteis.com/ and by providing comments on documents that are distributed to the public for review. When the FAA and BLM are soliciting comments on a document, they will post a notice on the website and in the Federal Register. You can also be included on the project’s mailing list. To be added to the project mailing list, click here. Comments and questions on the project can be made submitted via this website. Click here to submit a comment. Comments may also be made during the public review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
6. Is McCarran International Airport going to close?
No. The Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport would operate in addition to McCarran, not replace the Airport.
7. Why can’t we just expand McCarran?
The most optimum expansion area for LAS would be on the south side of the airport. However, an expansion of LAS in this area to accommodate the Purpose and Need for the Proposed Project would require the relocation of approximately 2.5 miles of I-215, the I 15/I 215 interchange, approximately 14,000 residents in over 5,000 housing units, 1,300 businesses, and various public facilities (such as fire stations, schools, and U.S. Post Office buildings). The extent of the relocations required for such an expansion would prevent the timely implementation of the improvements, and result in extraordinary community disruption. FAA and BLM will include a detailed alternatives analysis in the Draft EIS
8. What is the Environmental Streamlining Process?
The Environmental Streamlining Process is a cooperative process among the Joint Lead Agencies (the FAA and the BLM), Clark County, and 12 Federal, State, and regional/local environmental review agencies established to anticipate and avoid surprises and delays through openness, collaboration and planning. Streamlining is not rushing through the environmental review process and it does not short-cut any existing environmental requirements. Environmental Streamlining for this project is conducted in connection with this project per the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Vision 100 – Century of Reauthorization Act, Title III: Aviation Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2003.
9. Will you be doing a Section 106 review during the EIS Process?
Yes, a Section 106 review will be conducted in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, once the FAA and BLM have determined the alternatives that will be carried for further analysis in the Draft EIS.
10. Will you be considering a rail system as an alternative to the proposed supplemental airport?
The FAA and the BLM will consider all reasonable alternatives that achieve the purpose and need for the proposed action.
11. When is the Project expected to be constructed?
At this time, the FAA and BLM estimate that a supplemental airport would be constructed by 2018. Environmental Concerns
12. What impacts will these projects have on the air quality in the surrounding communities?
Potential air quality impacts will be analyzed and addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The FAA is required to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards established by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. The FAA is coordinating with the U.S. EPA and with the Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management.
13. What will the Airport do to reduce the noise impacts?
Appropriate mitigation measures will be proposed for noise impacts, if necessary. Airport Operations
14. How many flights a day use each runway at McCarran International Airport?
McCarran International Airport accommodated more than 1,700 operations a day in 2006. An operation is a takeoff or a landing.
15. What measures (i.e. airline scheduling) can be taken to reduce congestion during peak hours? Why can’t the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator just tell the airlines to reduce their peak traffic?
Neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor McCarran International Airport can impose schedule changes on an airline. In addition, airlines cannot coordinate with each other to set or adjust their schedules at an airport – even at airports with severe delays during peak periods – due to provisions of Federal anti-trust laws. The FAA has made exceptions in rare cases, such as at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport, where the FAA and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation specifically requested the airlines operating there adjust their schedules to move flights out of the peak periods. However, Chicago-O’Hare is the only airport in the nation where the FAA has initiated this process. Airport Delays
16. What causes delays at McCarran International Airport?
The primary cause of delay at McCarran International Airport is the capacity limitation of the runway system.
17. Can the Airport reduce the number of planes that arrive and depart at the Airport to help alleviate delays, such as through controlling airline scheduling?
No. Under the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act (Public Law 95-904), once an airline is certified and licensed, its schedules, fares, destinations, and types of aircraft flown are subject only to limited Federal Aviation Administration approval for amending an air carrier’s operating specifications for new aircraft and/or routes. Domestic U.S. airlines can establish and drop routes, start or end service at any airport, and charge whatever fares they desire. Any airport that has received FAA funding (including McCarran International Airport) must be available without discrimination to all users. Carriers or private aircraft users decide which airports to use. The FAA and other government agencies are prohibited by law from interfering with the free activities of these users. |
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