House approves bill blocking PFS project

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Monday pushed Utah one step closer to its biggest victory so far in trying to block Private Fuel Storage's proposed rail line by approving the 2006 National Defense Authorization bill.

The bill includes Utah Republican Rep. Bob Bishop's Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area, which protects the Utah Test and Training Range and also blocks PFS's preferred starting point for its rail line.

The Senate approved a motion to proceed on the bill, and it is likely to come up for a floor vote Wednesday. Once approved, it will need only the president's signature.

The House's action marks the end of an intense lobbying effort by Utah's congressional delegation and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to get the wilderness area approved this year.

Huntsman visited Washington earlier this month to convince lawmakers it was the right thing to do. The governor, like the rest of the delegation, was optimistic it would be included in the bill, but their attitude would change almost by the hour as meetings took place.

The delegation joyfully announced Friday that the wilderness designation would be included. Nothing is final, however, until the Senate approves the bill and President Bush signs it.