WASHINGTON — Progress on a Senate spending bill has put $23.9 million for cleanup at the Moab Atlas Tailings Site closer to reality, according to Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. The funding is among millions the Senate is appropriating for various projects.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved two spending bills Thursday that push numerous Utah projects a step close to completion. The bills still must be considered on the Senate floor and then differences between the House and Senate worked out before voting on a final version that will be sent to the president.

Bennett, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the $23.9 million set aside for the Energy Department's work at the Moab site, on top of the fact that the department selected a contractor last week, is encouraging.

"The longer we wait to clean up the Moab tailings site, the more serious the threat becomes to the health of Utahns and the environmental stability of the Colorado River," Bennett said. "I remain committed to accelerating the cleanup efforts of the site and will continue to carefully monitor DOE's progress."

The energy and water spending bill in all includes $84 million for Utah projects, including $44.6 million for the Central Utah Project, which is used by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission and the Interior Department.

The Rural Utah 595 Water Program will receive $10 million. Cities and counties outside of the Wasatch Front and St. George can use the program money for wastewater treatment projects.

The committee also approved $2 million for Utah programs in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill.

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