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| Wilson Offers Public Comments of Her Own on Otero Canyon Trail Issue |
May 07, 2004 |
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Colonel Hank Andrews
Commander
377th Airbase Wing/CC
2000 Wyoming Blvd. SE
Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico 87117
Dear Colonel Andrews,
This letter is to provide public comment on the Environmental Assessment for the Withdrawal Area and proposed eastern fence for Kirtland. I have been involved in the issue of the Eastern Boundary of Kirtland Air Force Base since June of 2003 after some of my constituents contacted me with their concerns regarding the proposed fence line.
I asked that the comment period be extended to give the community time to review and study the changes made to the Environmental Assessment. I appreciate that, while you had no obligation to extend the time period, you were willing to do so.
Everyone involved in this effort understands the need to maintain security at the base and to make sure that people are safe. I share that concern and appreciate your willingness to achieve this goal while minimizing impact on the recreational use of the Otero Canyon area.
As you know I went on a hike into Otero Canyon with some constituents on April 6th, 2004. There were several matters brought to my attention that I believe the base should take into account.
The proposed fence line will be on what is a rather broad, flat ridge. The placement of that fence will have a significant impact on the existing trial network. Consistent with the safety and security needs of the base, I would ask you to consider adjusting the fence line west as much as possible so as to preserve the trail network as much as possible.
While I was on my hike in Otero Canyon I was made aware of an issue regarding the north eastern boundary. The north eastern boundary of the base abuts a quarry for the Rio Grande Cement plant in Tijeras and may cut off access to 5,000 acres of public land. As the Friends of Otero submitted for the public comment period ending May 7, 2004 to the Environmental Assessment; reference Friends of Otero Comments Page 7, Section 6:
A significant issue that this EA does not address is the fact that, if the proposed action is completed, access to approximately 5000 acres of public land will be permanently lost. This seven square mile area of National Forest land would be inaccessible to the public because it would be “landlocked” due to the proposed fence construction and existing private land. In the Final EA, this issue is not formally addressed except when it was questioned in the public comment section and given “official” response # GE – 15: This response states “The land was withdrawn in 1943 so that the US Forest Service (USFS) property north of the withdrawn area has been landlocked since the Rio Grand Portland Cement Corp., Tijeras Plant was acquired in the 1950’s”. In reality, the EA admits frequently that the public has used withdrawn area for recreation over the years. It also addresses the fact that this “landlocked” area (that will still be within USFS control) will no longer be accessible to the public if the proposed fence is constructed. Yet, it ignores the impact of this issue entirely. The Final EA proposes to “eventually” return 1500 acres to public use, but does not address the significant repercussions of public loss of access to 5000 acres of USFS administered land. This makes the EA obviously misleading and incomplete, vague, sweeping and ignoring of important topics.
I believe it is very important to align the fences in such a way that access to these 5,000 acres be opened for public use. Linking these 5,000 acres to the public land east of the proposed fence would provide a unique recreation area.
Otero Canyon has been used for recreation for a long time by New Mexicans. While this use may have been against the rules, it nevertheless has been the practice and, until recently, the base has not taken any action regarding this recreational use. To my knowledge the signage that is being placed on the boundary is only going along the eastern boundary. If users of the trails start at the Otero Canyon Trailhead they may not enter the Withdrawal Area from the East, but will only enter from the North. Therefore, people may not realize they are on Kirtland property until they are confronted by Base Security.
Again I want to thank you for your consideration of these issues. I look forward to continuing our work together so that Kirtland can be secure, the public can be safe and as much recreation area can be preserved as possible without adversely affecting Kirtland’s mission.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
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