WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate Sunday voted 66-12 to limit debate and block any filibusters on a massive public lands bill that will protect 2 million acres nationwide, including the designation of parts of the Amargosa River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Only 59 votes were needed to limit debate. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., asked for the cloture vote during a special Sunday session. Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, is expected to bring the bill back later this week for a vote.

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which is 247 pages, is a compilation of 160 bills including the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wilderness Heritage Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., who represents the 25th congressional district of California, just across the state line in Inyo County, Calif.

"Today's successful cloture vote in the Senate brings my two district land and water measures closer to final passage" McKeon said in a prepared statement. "Both bills were crafted over several years, in a bipartisan spirit, and represent a sensible approach to land and water rights.

"I was particularly pleased by the inclusion of the Mammoth Community Water District measure, which empowers community leaders in Mammoth to use their natural water resources in ways most beneficial to the people living there."

The Wild and Scenic Rivers protection, the most stringent, federal, environmental protection, would be extended to segments of the Amargosa River starting 4.1 miles upstream of the Tecopa Hot Springs road crossing to 1.4 miles south of the Dumont Dunes access road crossing on Highway 127. It would exempt 200-foot sections where the Old Spanish Trail Highway, the old Sperry Wash confluence and the Dumont Dunes access roads cross the river.

Other areas among the 472,804 acres in California that would receive wilderness protection include 21 miles of Cottonwood Creek in Inyo County; the headwaters of the Owens River; the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest just west of Esmeralda County and the 7,254-acre Bridgeport Winter Recration Area in the Humboldt-Toiiyabe National Forest.

Locations in the state of Nevada included in the act are:

* A conveyance of 80 acres for the Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas;

* Release of part of the Sunrise Mountain Wilderness Study Area for a flood control project;

* Conveying land near Henderson Executive Airport for an economic hub and green space area;

* Removing restrictions on the Reno downtown railroad corridor for economic development;

* Resources to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to maintain aging water facilities like the dam that caused the Fernley flood;

* Protection for the Silver Saddle Ranch and Carson River Area in Carson City County;

* A study of locations involved in the Cold War like the Nevada Test Site for inclusion as a national historic landmark.

Reid said, "I am happy that after months of delay we will finally be moving forward."

The chief opponent, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., was quoted by the Associated Press denouncing what he called the Democratic bullying tactics.

"I am disappointed the Senate majority leader has refused to allow senators the opportunity to improve, amend or eliminate any of the questionable provisions in his omnibus lands bill," Coburn told the Senate.

Coburn said the bill was loaded with pet projects that would prevent development of oil and gas on federal lands.

Christy Goldfuss of Environment America praised the measure as showing "Congress is serious about protecting the environment and outstanding public lands that Americans treasure."