Clark County is taking critical steps towards constructing a second major airport in Southern Nevada, as burgeoning passenger numbers at Harry Reid International Airport highlight the need for expanded air travel facilities.
Located off Interstate 15 in the Ivanpah Valley area between Jean and Primm, the proposed airport aims to accommodate increasing demand projected to exceed 63 million annual passengers by 2030.
Clark County currently anticipates that its main airfield, the Harry Reid airport, will soon reach capacity, creating a pressing need for additional facilities.
Luke Nimmo, a spokesperson for the Clark County Department of Aviation, emphasized that the issue lies not only in the increasing passenger count but also in the land and airspace limitations facing the 2,800-acre airport campus.
When Harry Reid International Airport opened in 1943, Clark County was home to fewer than 20,000 residents.
Today, it boasts a population of 2.3 million, largely due to the airport’s role in establishing Las Vegas as a premier tourism destination, which hosted a record 58.4 million passengers last year.
Back in 2000, former county and airport officials recognized the potential need for a secondary airport and lobbied for the Ivanpah Valley Airport Public Lands Transfer Act, securing approximately 6,000 acres for future development.
Despite the legislation, development plans for the site have been postponed multiple times over the years.
Currently, however, the county has rekindled discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to initiate the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process that is essential for a new airport project.
As part of this process, public scoping meetings were held from July 29 to July 31, marking the first opportunity for locals to express their views on the proposed airport.
David Kessler from the FAA led these meetings, explaining the need for supplementary airport facilities given the existing airport’s limitations.
“Insufficient facilities at Harry Reid airport warrant a secondary option,” Kessler noted.
The envisioned Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport would feature a central terminal, connecting roadways, and two runways, expanding the project’s footprint to nearly 23,000 acres when including an adjacent 17,000-acre compatibility buffer.
Kessler underscored the significance of the second airport as an addition, not a replacement for Harry Reid International Airport.
During the initial meeting, supportive voices emerged, including local trade union members expressing that the project could alleviate unemployment among their ranks and stimulate the local economy.
Ryan Smith, a union member, emphasized the urgency to push forward with the construction plan, stating, “Our members are eager to get this project built.”
Conversely, there was robust opposition voiced from environmentalists, particularly on the grounds of potential habitat loss for native species.
Vinny Spotleson, an organizer for the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, expressed opposition during the meetings, claiming that the airport construction would significantly threaten local wildlife such as the desert tortoise and the white-margined penstemon wildflower.
Draped in costumes to represent these threatened species, Spotleson articulated that the expanding development would disrupt essential migratory corridors for wildlife.
“The sprawl creates islands that are cut off from one another, which promotes inbreeding and makes it harder for these species to recover,” Spotleson warned.
Concerns were also raised over water scarcity issues, with Spotleson stressing there isn’t enough groundwater in Primm to sustain a commercial airport, adding that constructing on a dry lakebed introduces further engineering challenges.
Kessler acknowledged the environmental concerns raised, assuring that the FAA and its partners would consider these issues in their assessments.
The timeline for the EIS is extensive, with an initial draft expected to be submitted by June 2027, followed by another public hearing.
Revisions will take place over an eight-month period before a final determination is made around May 2028, after which preparations for airport construction could begin.
For individuals seeking to express opinions regarding the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, comments can be sent via email to [email protected] until September 5.
The revival of the airport project marks a significant juncture in Clark County’s efforts to meet future air travel demands, extending beyond the capacity of existing facilities while attempting to balance economic growth with environmental considerations.
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