John Hansen: “I am happy to note that we recently reached a compromise with the minority to add these en bloc amendments to the bill.…”

“I am happy to note that we recently reached a compromise with the minority to add these en bloc amendments to the bill. The amendments would make fairly technical changes to the environmental review requirements and the revisionary clause in the bill. The original reversionary clause of this bill in section 2(d) gave a lengthy period of time before the Secretary of the Interior could assess the development and progress of land and determine whether it should be given back to the United States. Under the amendment, Clark County and the FAA would determine whether the airport could be constructed on the conveyed lands through the NEPA process. If it was determined that the airport could not be constructed, the title to the land would immediately revert to the United States and the Secretary of the Interior must refund to the county all payments made for the land. This language is agreed to by the majority and the minority as well as the airport authority. The second major change is a complete rewrite of section 5 dealing with compliance of the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969. Under the amendment, NEPA compliance must occur prior to the initial planning and construction of the airport.”