Sewer bill passes Senate floor

Sisters is one step closer to acquiring land for its sewage treatment facility with the passage of Senate Bill 416 on the Senate floor.

The United States Senate passed a bill sponsored by Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden that would convey 160 acres of land known as "Section 9" to the city of Sisters at no cost, other than that of conducting environmental studies required by law.

Section 9 is the proposed site for the city's wastewater treatment and disposal facility, which was approved by Sisters voters in May 1998.

Since the land currently lies in National Forest ownership, federal legislation is required for the transaction.

Senate bill 416 recently passed unanimously through the Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Natural Resources. With the bill's subsequent passage on the Senate floor, the legislation will now go to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sisters mayor Steve Wilson said he is "pleased to say the least.

"This was the major hurdle - getting through U.S. Senate," Wilson said. "Across the board the bill had bipartisan support through the sub-committee and on the Senate floor. I don't anticipate any problems in the House (of Representatives)."

According to Wilson and Senator Gordon Smith's Central Oregon field representative Susan Fitch, the bill will be introduced in the House by Oregon Representative Greg Walden.

"The normal procedure is for the bill to go to a (House) committee and then, if passed, to the House floor," explained Fitch.

Wilson expects the bill to move quickly through its final stages.

"Greg Walden's staff is pleased and anxious to get it out onto the house floor and to the President's desk," Wilson said.

"A lot of effort has gone into this on a local standpoint as well as from both Senators' staffs.

"This was a litmus test of the bill and it speaks highly of the legislation."