Land, water projects to get federal money

Several Utah land and water projects will get a cut of federal funding approved Friday by Congress.

Utah will receive $20 million from the Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes program, which provides funding for schools, roads and public safety in rural communities. Tax-exempt federal land in those areas often limits the tax base, and the in-lieu program is intended to offset the loss.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, pushed for the funding, which totals $9 million more than last year's figure nationwide.

"Utah has one of the highest percentages of federally owned lands in the nation. The federal government simply can't punish Utah for that," Hatch said in a news release. "This bill is a good start. I intend to keep working to see that Utah is treated more fairly."

The bill also includes an additional $3 million to help the Bureau of Land Management offices in the West meet the demands of permit requests to drill on federal land. Such requests have flooded area offices in places such as Vernal, which has seen a 238 percent increase in permit applications over the past five years.

Hatch also secured $1 million to upgrade the drinking and storm water infrastructure in Sandy city, which has had flooding along 9000 South.

Hatch also pushed for several other Utah-related projects, including:

• $1.5 million for the Sand Hollow Recreation Area

• $1.5 million to purchase land for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

• $1.5 million for a drinking water nitrate remediation plant for Centerfield and Mayfield

• $750,000 to purchase land for the Range Creek/Rainbow Glass Ranch

• $500,000 for a wastewater treatment plant in Eagle Mountain

• $300,000 for water infrastructure improvements for Judge Tunnel in Park City