44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THAT THE RIO ARRIBA COUNTY COMMISSION, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, THE STATE LAND OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND ALL RESIDENTS OF RIO ARRIBA COUNTY WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP OTHER LOCATIONS AND RULES THAT RESULT IN A MINERAL EXTRACTION PROCESS THAT IS FRIENDLY AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.

WHEREAS, Rio Arriba county is economically poor, but is rich in its multi-cultural heritage and traditional ways of community life; and

WHEREAS, Rio Arriba has been experiencing rapid growth and change in recent years which has resulted in development problems related to limited land resources; and

WHEREAS, a key development problem involves sand and gravel mining which is increasingly taking place in historic residential and farming communities; and

WHEREAS, while mineral extraction is important economically to the area, it must be done in ways that will not destroy villages and cultural resources; and

WHEREAS, pressure against unrestricted mining has been brought by citizens groups representing threatened communities including Native American pueblos; and

WHEREAS, the jobs of all citizens of Rio Arriba must be preserved; and

WHEREAS, mineral extraction must not endanger historic sites and archeological resources; and

WHEREAS, by exploring alternative sites, communities and jobs can be saved and the quality of life preserved for future generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Rio Arriba county commission, the bureau of land management, the state land office, the department of environment and all of the residents of Rio Arriba county work together to develop other locations and rules for mineral extraction that result in a process that is environmentally friendly and economically feasible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Rio Arriba county commission, the bureau of land management, the state land office and the department of environment.