ALBANY - State Assemblyman Pete Grannis' nomination by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to head the state Department of Environmental Conservation Committee overcame opposition from some sportsmen and won crucial backing Tuesday from a key state Senate committee.

The announcement that Grannis' nomination had cleared the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee drew applause and cheers from the Manhattan Democrat's supporters attending his confirmation hearing.

The nomination is still subject to review by the Senate Finance Committee before being acted on by the full Republican-led Senate, but approval from the environmental committee was considered the biggest hurdle. His nomination was approved 11-3 by the committee.

There was no immediate word Tuesday on when full Senate action might come.

Grannis' nomination was widely hailed by environmental activists but opposed by, among others, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association that said he was anti-hunting and antigun. Grannis denied that, noting he hunted as a child and is an avid fly fisherman.

Much of Grannis' time before the Senate committee was spent reassuring Republican senators from upstate New York that he would not want to confiscate hunters' guns and ban all animal traps.

In an unusual move, the committee hearing was spread out over two days, with the first hearing coming last week.