Proposed heritage route, area go before Congress

WASHINGTON — Two Utah proposals — the Great Basin National Heritage Route near Delta and the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in central Utah —are back before Congress and on the fast track to passage.

On Wednesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved both designations, along with 2 dozen others around the nation. And approval by the full Senate is expected quickly.

That would put the designations — considered important to local tourism efforts — back before the House, which left them hanging on adjournment day last year, even though there was little or no opposition.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, sponsored the National Mormon Heritage Area legislation. Bennett limited it to a 250-mile area from Fairview, Sanpete County, along U.S. 89 and stopping at the Arizona border at Kanab.

The heritage area would be managed by the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance, made up of a broad and diverse group of citizens including county government officials, economic development organizations, artisans and heritage groups. The bill would have authorized up to $10 million for the heritage area, with local entities putting up at least a 50 percent match.

The Great Basin trail legislation is sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and co-sponsored by Utah's two Republican senators, Orrin Hatch and Bennett. The national heritage route would link Delta in western Utah to Ely in eastern Nevada.

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E-mail: spang@desnews.com