[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Bryan):
  S. 1964. A bill to provide for the sale of certain public land in the 
Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to the Clark County Department of Aviation; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          the ivanpah valley airport public lands transfer act

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to introduce The Ivanpah Valley 
Airport Public Lands Transfer Act for myself and Senator Bryan, which 
provides for the sale of public lands in the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to 
the Clark County Department of Aviation.
  Mr. President, Las Vegas Valley has the fastest growing population in 
the United States. Fifty percent of the visitors to Las Vegas come 
through McCarran Airport. This percentage is increasing as Las Vegas 
grows and increases in importance as an international travel 
destination.
  Mr. President, Las Vegas Valley needs to begin developing other 
airports to accommodate passenger, air cargo, and charter flights. It 
is inevitable that McCarran Airport is reaching its capacity.
  Mr. President, Las Vegas Valley has a unique opportunity to combine 
6,650 acres of public land with up to $400 million in private capital 
to provide a new publicly-owned and operated airport for Clark County. 
The Ivanpah Valley Airport site is located about 30 miles south of Las 
Vegas and would provide a secondary, southern gateway to the Las Vegas 
metropolitan area. Of the total acreage, about 2,000 acres will be 
developed for the airport and the balance will be developed as an 
industrial center. The Ivanpah Valley Airport will be integrated into a 
global air cargo distribution network.
  Mr. President, let me assure you that this is not a giveaway of 
public lands. My bill requires Clark County to pay fair market value 
for the land. Additionally, even though private dollars will be used to 
help develop this complex, the airport will remain publicly-owned and 
managed.
  Mr. President, I request unanimous consent that the Ivanpah Valley 
Airport Public Lands Transfer Act be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1964

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Ivanpah Valley Airport 
     Public Land Transfer Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE TO CLARK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of 
     the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
     1712, 1713), the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, 
     under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate, all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the public land identified for disposition 
     on the map entitled ``Ivanpah Valley, Nevada-Airport 
     Selections'', numbered ___, and dated _____, to the 
     Department of Aviation of Clark County, Nevada, for the 
     purpose of developing an airport facility and infrastructure.
       (b) Availability of Map.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     the map described in subsection (a) is on file and available 
     for public inspection in the offices of the Director, and the 
     Las Vegas District, of the Bureau of Land Management.
       (c) Phased Conveyance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall convey the public land 
     described in subsection (a) in small parcels over a period of 
     up to 20 years, as is required to carry out the phased 
     construction and development of the airport facility and 
     infrastructure.
       (2) Appraisal.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that an 
     appraisal of the fair market value is conducted for each 
     parcel of public land to be conveyed.
       (3) Payment of fair market value.--A parcel shall be 
     conveyed by the Secretary on payment by the Department of 
     Aviation of Clark County, Nevada, to the Secretary, of the 
     fair market value of the parcel, as determined under 
     paragraph (2).
       (d) Withdrawal.--The public land described in subsection 
     (a) is withdrawn from the operation of the mining and mineral 
     leasing laws of the United States.

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