The initial scoping meeting for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, a multibillion-dollar project targeted for completion by 2037, took place virtually with over 100 attendees. This meeting, led by project managers from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), was designed to gather information rather than entertain arguments for or against the airport. The joint agencies aim to ensure they reach out to all interested parties as they prepare the environmental impact statement and Resource Management Plan Amendment.
The series of meetings includes a second in-person session at the East Las Vegas Library and a third in Primm. Prior to the in-person meeting, Southern Nevada conservation and environmental justice groups plan to hold a press conference highlighting their opposition. These groups include the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club’s Toiyabe Chapter, and Make the Road Nevada, marking the first organized opposition to the project.
The FAA’s David Kessler emphasized that the scoping sessions are primarily informational. Comments are being accepted until September 5, after which the agencies and their consultant, Landrum & Brown Inc., will work on a draft report due in June 2027. Further workshops and public hearings are planned for July 2027, with a final Record of Decision expected by May 2028. If favorable, Clark County can then begin airport design and associated projects. The virtual meeting consisted mainly of procedural queries, with some gaps in participation during the second hour.