46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REMOVE LANDS IN THE CABEZON AREA FROM FEDERAL WILDERNESS STUDY AREA DESIGNATION.

WHEREAS, the federal bureau of land management has held tracts of federally owned lands in the Cabezon area of New Mexico in wilderness study area designation under the federal Wilderness Act for well over a decade; and

WHEREAS, the future of these lands are federally protected by the bureau of land management; and

WHEREAS, without wilderness study area or wilderness status, these lands are available for multiple use by the entire public; and

WHEREAS, the wilderness study area designation has prohibited management that may be beneficial to the natural resource; and

WHEREAS, these tracts of land contain permanent improvements and human habitation, including homesteads, roads and utility transmission lines, both water and power; and

WHEREAS, these improvements include the Cabezon water system, as well as roads accessing the checkerboard area for New Mexico's multicultural population; and

WHEREAS, these tracts include the Cabezon, Chamisa, Ignacio Chavez, Empedrado and La Lena wilderness study areas; and

WHEREAS, the board of county commissioners of Sandoval county, recognizing the multiple-use values and functions of the lands within these wilderness study areas, has endorsed returning those lands to their original uses; and

WHEREAS, only congress may take action on the status of these wilderness study areas, either designating them as wilderness areas or releasing them and making them available for use in accordance with the federal Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation introduce and pursue legislation to remove the Cabezon, Chamisa, Ignacio Chavez, Empedrado and La Lena wilderness study areas from wilderness study area designation and return them to use in accordance with the federal Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.