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