Expansion of Richfield airport clears hurdle

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee gave its OK this past week to a bill that paves the way for expansion of the Richfield Municipal Airport.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, allows the town of Richfield to purchase land from the Paiute Indian Tribe. The land has gone unused for more than 20 years.

"The Richfield airport is vital to southwestern Utah," Hatch noted. "At the same time, the measure will help the Paiute Tribe acquire land with greater development potential to help boost its local economy."

The bill, the Paiute Indian Land Conveyance Act of 2005, gives the secretary of the Interior the authority to transfer three acres of Paiute trust land to Richfield at fair market value. The bill is identical to legislation already passed by the House. The bill will now go to the full Senate for a vote.

Originally purchased in 1974 by the non-profit Utah Paiute Tribal Corp., the land was placed into trust by the Paiute Indian Tribe Restoration Act of 1980.