This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Washington • Congress lent its final approval to legislation giving the town of Alta ownership of the land under its municipal buildings.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, sailed through the Senate last November and passed the House on Monday evening with a vote of 383 to 3.

The legislation gives the town of 370 people a little less than 2 acres of land as long as Alta covers the administrative costs associated with the transfer.

The land now houses three structures, including the town hall, a public safety building and a water plant.

A Forest Service official opposed the legislation in testimony provided in May 2011, arguing that Alta should pay full market value for the land, which at that time could have reached $1 million.

The bill now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Matt Canham