Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport EIS

What's New

Alternatives Working Paper

A Draft Alternatives Working Paper was prepared in support of the EIS for the proposed SNSA. The Draft Alternatives Working Paper rigorously explored and objectively evaluated a wide range of reasonable alternatives with the goal of meeting the Purpose and Need of the SNSA EIS. Reasonable alternatives considered in the Draft Alternatives Working Paper include:

Other Modes of Transportation (such as intercity bus, intercity rail, high-speed rail, and automobiles)

Air Traffic Demand Management Strategies (such as slot limits and de-peaking)

Airfield and Airspace Technologies (such as navigation, advanced weather system, surveillance, and communication technologies)

Expansion of McCarran International Airport, the existing commercial service airport in the Las Vegas region

Expansion of Other Airports in the Las Vegas region

Development of a New Airport in the Las Vegas region

Screening criteria used to evaluate the Candidate Alternatives were derived using FAA and BLM NEPA guidance documents (FAA Order 5050.4B - NEPA Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions; FAA Order 1050.1E - Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures; and BLM National Environmental Policy Act Handbook H-1790-1). Based on the results of the screening process, the proposed New Ivanpah Valley Airport Alternative, along with the No-Action Alternative as required by NEPA, will be evaluated further in the Draft EIS. The screening process will be documented in the Alternatives Section of the Draft EIS.

Purpose and Need Working Paper

A Draft Purpose and Need Working Paper was prepared in support of the EIS for the proposed SNSA. The Working Paper includes a separate Purpose and Need Statement for each lead agency, the FAA and BLM.

For the FAA, the purpose and need is to meet the need for sufficient capacity to accommodate future aviation demand in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area to reduce congestion and delays.

For the BLM, the purpose and need in granting land use authorizations for infrastructure and transferring land for the Overlay District, is to facilitate the construction of the proposed Ivanpah Valley Airport, if FAA approves its development.

The purpose and need for the SNSA EIS and background information will be documented in the Purpose and Need Section of the Draft EIS.

Public Coordination

Both the Draft Purpose and Need Working Paper and the Draft Alternatives Working Paper were made available for public review and comment, in compliance with Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, Title III: Aviation Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-176). Each document was made available at 40 local public libraries and 24 universities, community centers and recreation centers for at least 30 days. The Working Papers contain information that the FAA and BLM will include in the relevant sections of the Draft EIS. The FAA and BLM will consider all comments received, during the comment period for each Working Paper, in developing the Draft EIS.

A Notice of Availability of the Draft Purpose and Need Working Paper was published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2008.

A Notice of Availability of the Draft Alternatives Working Paper was published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2008. A revised version of the Notice was published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2008.

Legal Notice announcing the availability of the Draft Purpose and Need Working Paper were published in the following newspapers: The Business Press (January 28 & February 11, 2008), The Las Vegas Review Journal (January 25 & February 15, 2008), and El Mundo (January 25 & February 15, 2008).

Legal Notices announcing the availability of the Draft Alternatives Working Paper were published in the following newspapers: The Business Press (August 4 & 11, 2008), The Las Vegas Review Journal (August 4 & 11, 2008), and El Mundo (August 2 & 9, 2008).