Long-awaited funding to acquire federally declared wetlands in west Eugene cleared its last major hurdle Friday as it was approved by a joint U.S. House-Senate Appropriations Committee.

The $12.2 billion Interior Appropriations bill, which includes $2 million in local wetlands funding, is expected to win quick approval in the House and Senate before it is sent to the president for his signature, said Bill Calder, an aide to Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore.

The money represents the first installment of a planned three-year, $6 million purchase of about 1,000 acres of grassy, marshy areas in west Eugene.

The committee's action was greeted with enthusiasm Friday afternoon by Steve Gordon, the Lane Council of Government's senior planner who is coordinating Eugene's wetlands program.

"This is just great news for us," Gordon said. "It will allow us to go out into west Eugene and buy some very significant wetland areas."

Earlier this year, Gordon and others completed work on a program that calls for the purchase of key wetland areas--purchases city officials hope will free other areas of less importance for industrial development.

Federal regulations require that wetlands be protected and that new wetlands areas be created to replace those that are developed.

Industrial development came to a near halt four years ago after close to 1,400 acres of wetlands were identified in west Eugene.

While the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will hold title to purchased wetlands, Gordon said plans call for them to be managed under a cooperative agreement with the city of Eugene and The Nature Conservancy, a private, non-profit organization.

Considered critical habitat for a wide range of wildlife and rare plants, wetlands also play a key role in controlling groundwater pollution and flooding.