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IU - Casa t;randc, Ariz. DISPATCH F'riday, Seple~n~er 131 HI!Jl Senate Won't Restrict River Flow By MATT YANCI,Y Associaled ,Press Writer WASlllNGTON ~. The Senate refused today to pul lhe environ- mental proteelion of the Grand Canyon over Western energy needs and restriel water flows through lhe Glen Canyon Darn on Ihe Colorado River. Even though it had approved a nearly identical measure lasl year, the Senate signaled ill a G5. 34 vote that it did not want il in- cluded as part of a $12.7 billion appropriations bill fur the Interior Department nexl year. Becau'~~4~.~,fJ~a_s~d .water flows. . ,'j'. '" i_."-...~_.:'.',,., through what is the nation's four largest darn would reduce elec- lricity sales and federal revenues hy as much as $30 rnillion a year, Hobarl C. Byrd, D-W.Va., cbair- man of the Senate Approprialions Commillee, argued thatlhe mea- sure would violate last year's bud- get agreement. However, the bill's chief spon- sor, Sen. John McCainl R~Ariz., said the violation is only t.echnical and lhat ,'educing flows t.hrough the dam on the Arizona-Utah bor- der "won't cost the taxpayers a penny." "I believe people all over this '.......,.....,.. country are going to be out- raged," McCain said when he failed to muster the GO-vote majo,.. ily needed to overcome parlia- mentary objeelions by Byrd and keep the issue alive as part of Ihe approprialions bill. llTime is running out for the Grand Canyon Nalional Park ... for the park's beaches ... fa'. Indi- an ruins and cullural sites ... for endangered fish species, and lime is running out for us to do the right thing," McCain said. "The monlhs and years go by and one of the nalion's greal natu- ral resources is being destroyed." Sens. J. 13cnncll Johnston, l)- La., and Bill Bradley. D-N.J., . chairmen respectively of tbe Sen- ate l~nct'gy Committee and its wa- ter and power subcommittee, joined Byrd in opposing McCain's measure. Both said, however, they would \ support it as pari of Iheir pro- . posed legislalion that would over- haul the govel'nmentls entire wa- ter policy in the West. McCain objected to having pro- teclion of the Grand Canyon held hostage to a future bill that he pre- dieled will be yehemenlly opposed by Western lawmakers.