If Congress ever approves of renewing underground nuclear tests, Bennett said his bill requires the secretary of energy to give advance notice of any tests, results of any tests and to hold a town meeting in southern Utah after each test.

"I'm very excited," Matheson said. "This is what we need, a bipartisan effort." The fundamental elements of his bill are contained in Bennett's bill. "The more people pursuing this issue, the better. It's all for the good. This will give us some important momentum."

Van Dam said in a press release that "Utah needs to say 'no' to any more testing of nuclear weapons in our region. He accused Bennett of flip-flopping on the issue several times the past few months.

HEAL Utah's (Health Environment Alliance) program director Vanessa Pierce, who also met with Bennett in Washington, D.C., to discuss his position on nuclear testing, said she is disappointed in the senator.

"This legislation is designed to put up roadblocks to renewed nuclear testing, but the best roadblock is to cut all funding for all nuclear testing programs," said Pierce, whose nonprofit group also represents DONT, or Downwinders Opposed to Nuclear Testing.

"Last year, Sen. Bennett cast the deciding vote to fund research into new nuclear weapons In doing so, he has paved the way for renewed testing," she said.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com