WASHINGTON — The Senate Energy Committee endorsed Wednesday a bill to give Beaver County clear title — at no cost — to lands in the recently closed Minersville State Park, so the county could assume control and operate it.

It passed the bill by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, R-Utah, by unanimous consent and sent it to the full Senate for consideration.

In 2002, Utah decided to close the 200-acre state park around a lake because of budget shortfalls. Beaver County sought to assume control — but wanted clear title so that, if necessary, it could sell off parcels for cabins and lodges to finance park operations.

However, that would violate terms of a 1964 agreement that transferred what had been federal land to the state for use as a park. It required that ownership of the land revert to the federal government if its use as a park ceased.

Beaver County Commissioner Mark Whitney earlier testified to the committee: "The local (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) staff told us that the existing facilities would be removed from the property and that the property would be reclaimed back to its native condition unless another government entity took over."

Whitney added, "The park is very important to the residents of Beaver County. We do not want to see the park demolished."

The Bush administration has also endorsed transferring clear title to the land to the county to allow its continued use as a park, including allowing sale of some land to cover operational costs if necessary.

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