Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR McCoy

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-22-2007

HB 74

SHORT TITLE Galisteo Basin Archaeological Site Assessment

SB

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

*$85.0 Non-Recurring

General Fund

*Please see narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files;

Library of Congress

Responses Received From

Cultural Affairs Department (CAD)

Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 74 appropriates $85 thousand from the general fund to Cultural Affairs department

for the purpose of conducting a conditions assessment and preparing recommendations for

twenty-four sites identified in the federal Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $85 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the General

Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to

the General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The enacted legislation would provide $85 thousand to conduct condition assessments of 24 ar-

chaeological sites within the Galisteo Basin. The sites are eligible for federal preservation funds

under the federal Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-

House Bill 74 – Page

2

208). The federal act provides for a general management plan to be completed within three fis-

cal years of the availability of funds and produced in conjunction with the governor, the State

land commissioner and any affected Native American tribes. The plan would then go to the U.S.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the U.S. House Committee on Re-

sources. However, Congress has not appropriated funding at the federal level thus far. The Of-

fice of Archaeological Studies states that funding will establish a baseline condition index, pos-

sibly hastening federal action.

The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) stipulates the importance

of a site assessment for these sites, however, as the federal law becomes effective only upon con-

tingent funding, little has been done at this point. According to EMNRD, an appropriation to

House Bill 74 would assist efforts by the State Parks Division in developing a proposed Cerrillos

Hills /Galisteo Basin State Park. Some sites within the Galisteo Archaeological Site Protection

Network have been considered for inclusion into this park.

Galisteo Basin Site

Acres

Arroyo Hondo Pueblo

21

Burnt Corn Pueblo

110

Chamisa Locita Pueblo

16

Comanche Gap Petroglyphs

764

Espinoso Ridge Site

160

La Cienega Pueblo & Petroglyphs

126

La Cienega Pithouse Village

179

La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs/Camino Real Site

531

La Cieneguilla Pueblo

11

Lamy Pueblo

30

Lamy Junction Site

80

Las Huertas

44

Pa’ako Pueblo

29

Petroglyph Hill

130

Pueblo Blanco

878

Pueblo Colorado

120

Pueblo Galisteo/Las Madres

133

Pueblo Largo

60

Pueblo She

120

Rote Chert Quarry

5

San Cristobal Pueblo

520

San Lazaro Pueblo

360

San Marcos Pueblo

152

Upper Arroyo Hondo Pueblo

12

Total Acreage

4,591

*The Cultural Affairs department’s Office of Archaeological Studies had raised approximately

$14 thousand dollars in private funding for this effort. Additionally, volunteer effort is expected

to be used to assist in completion of the intended condition report.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

If enacted, the LFC recommends that the Cultural Affairs department develop a work-plan, time-

line, and site assessment criteria.

House Bill 74 – Page

3

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Expenditure of the appropriation contained in this bill would be overseen by the Cultural Affairs

department’s office of Archaeological Studies.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

If HB 74 is not enacted, a conditions assessment of these sites would await other sources of fund-

ing such as federal funds.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is the requested appropriation adequate to provide assessments for this acreage.

PD/nt/mt