CHARLESTON, S.C. - The U.S. Senate has approved millions of dollars to buy South Carolina land next year, but final approval is pending.

The proposals include $11 million toward the purchase of the historic Bonneau Ferry tract in Berkeley County.

The state has been working to buy the 10,697-acre tract on the Cooper River, which MeadWestvaco Corp. plans to sell.

The $11 million is included in the 2004 Interior Department appropriations the Senate approved Tuesday night. The bill will go to a House-Senate conference to reconcile differences before the bill goes to the president for his signature.

The Senate commerce-justice-state subcommittee has approved $14 million for the state to buy the tract. The full Senate has not set a date to consider that bill.

Congress already has approved $14 million to buy the land, which includes walls of a 1738 masonry house at Comingtee Plantation, 1783 granite mile markers of the old river road to Charleston, ruins of a rice mill and remnants of rice fields.

The state could receive $39 million toward buying Bonneau Ferry, and the Department of Natural Resources has $4.5 million in federal grants.

No price has been revealed, but some involved in negotiations have mentioned $50 million.

Information from: The Post And Courier