A bill has advanced to ban the Army from launching missiles in Green River and dropping 1,100-pound boosters near Canyonlands National Park.
The legislation by Rep. Karen Shepherd, D-Utah, was added Thursday to the annual Defense Authorization bill in a House Armed Services subcommittee.However, Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, said he plans to offer an amendment when it reaches the full House Armed Services Committee - possibly on Friday - to ensure it will exempt cruise missiles and drones because he worries Shepherd's bill could otherwise hurt the Utah Test and Training Range.
Continuation of that range is considered essential to the preservation of Hill Air Force Base during base-closure battles.
Shepherd said she believes Hansen's amendment is not needed, but will not oppose it as long as it will ban missiles dropping boosters on public lands near Canyonlands.
"I have always said that my legislation was not intended to affect the testing at the UTTR, and Armed Services Committee staff has assured me that the language I submitted would not have any effect on that testing," Shepherd said.
"If Rep. Hansen wants to wear a belt with his suspenders, that's OK with me," she added.