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

URGING THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO REFUSE TO AUTHORIZE, ENDORSE, RATIFY OR ADOPT ANY INTERNATIONAL TREATY OR FEDERAL DESIGNATION THAT WOULD USURP THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATES.

WHEREAS, President Bill Clinton, in 1997, established by Executive Order 13061 the American heritage rivers initiative with three objectives, including natural resources and environmental protection; and

WHEREAS, the American heritage rivers initiative requires executive agencies to coordinate federal plans, functions, programs and resources to preserve, protect and restore rivers and their associated resources that are important to our nation's history, culture and natural heritage; and

WHEREAS, various federal and state authorities are already charged with regulating water resources within the state of New Mexico, and numerous grassroots organizations across the nation have been founded to protect and conserve the nation's rivers and watersheds; and

WHEREAS, designation of additional areas subject to federal involvement in land use management would be unduly restrictive on both the privately and publicly owned land bordering rivers, much of which is already restrictively managed for perceived environmental benefits through designation or proposed designation as wilderness areas, primitive areas, critical habitat or potential habitat for endangered species, conservation areas, areas of critical environmental concern and wild or scenic rivers; and

WHEREAS, riparian and general conservation efforts are best administered and managed at state or local levels of government, not by an international council or federal entity that is neither familiar with nor affected by the areas in question;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the congress of the United States refuse to ratify or adopt future treaties making the states of this nation subject to international intrusion or authority over states' environmental matters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the president of the United States be urged to not authorize or endorse the designation of any river, watershed or river within New Mexico as an American heritage river; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States, the president of the United States senate, the speaker of the United States house of representatives and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.