WASHINGTON — The Senate continues to approve appropriations bills with major financial spillover to Utah.

Early Friday morning, the Senate passed the Energy and Water Appropriations Act by a vote of 92-3, clearing the way for $103 million for Utah energy and water projects requested by Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. It includes $28 million for cleanup efforts at the Atlas tailings site.

The uranium-contaminated tailings are on the banks of the Colorado River near Moab.

"The Senate has passed a responsible bill that will provide our communities, particularly those in rural areas, with funding to address water improvement needs, energy development initiatives and basic science research," said Bennett, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water. "I applaud my colleagues' quick action on this legislation."

Bennett has been appointed to the conference committee that must reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill. He said maintaining the Atlas cleanup funding is a high priority.

"I'm encouraged by the strong endorsement of my Senate colleagues of our efforts to move the Atlas mill tailings to a permanent location," said Bennett. "Completion of the project will have a significant impact, both environmentally and economically, in this area of Utah, and this funding is a welcome boost in the process."

The legislation also includes $10 million for a rural Utah water program, $34.4 million for the Central Utah Project, $1.75 million for oil shale research at the University of Utah, about $5 million for Centers of Excellence at the U., $2 million for a study into clean coal, $6.7 million for adverse impacts to fish and wildlife from the Central Utah Project and $1 million for a wind power project in Brigham City.

Earlier this week, the Senate passed the Interior Appropriations Act, which includes $23 million for Utah projects, especially in the area of energy development.

"The Senate actions this week underscore our commitment to an energy strategy that is balanced, renewable and decreases dependence on foreign oil," said Bennett, a member of the appropriations committee. "Utah joins in that effort by supporting initiatives like reducing of permit backlog and developing an oil shale leasing program that seeks to diversify and increase the U.S. energy supply."

The bill also includes an additional $5 million for the Utah Museum of Natural History, bringing the total earmarked for the new museum to $13 million.

"The Utah Museum of Natural History is a key component in efforts to preserve and showcase Utah's unique heritage," said Bennett. "This funding helps ensure that these fragile artifacts will be housed in state-of-the-art facilities."

The legislation also appropriates $1.2 million for a special recreation management area along the Colorado River in Grand County, $750,000 for a historic district in Ogden, $2.5 million for land acquisitions along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and in the High Uintas and $1.5 million for Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County.

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