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| Securing the Baca Ranch for Future Generations |
March 10, 2000 |
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Opening Statement Before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management
The Baca Ranch, which includes most of the Valles Caldera in northern New Mexico, has unique scientific and geological characteristics. The ranch is bordered by the Santa Fe National Forest and the Bandelier National Monument. It also contains the headwaters for the Jemez and San Antonio rivers, one of the world`s largest resurgent lava domes, and a habitat rich in wildlife. The current owners have indicated that they wish to sell the land, creating an opportunity to acquire these lands into public ownership and allow for public access and enjoyment for the first time since 1860.
Through the collective hard work of New Mexico`s Congressional delegation, we are, once again, on the brink of bringing the Baca Ranch into public ownership. Through last-minute negotiations between Congress and the Administration, the full $101 million needed to buy the ranch has been set aside in the fiscal year 2000 Interior Appropriations Bill.
To allow for this money to be spent, authorizing legislation must pass. That is why, on November 9, 1999, 1 introduced a bill to authorize the purchase of the Baca Ranch with Representative Udall as a co-sponsor. Senator Domenici introduced an identical companion bill in the Senate with Senator Bingaman as a co-sponsor.
My colleagues and our Senators will explain more about the Baca itself, I would like to take my time to explain the unique approach this authorizing bill takes to public lands management.
The Baca authorizing bill takes a unique approach to public lands arrangement. It sets up a special trust with its own board to oversee the ranch. It also directs the federal government to develop a plan to sell surplus lands so that funds can be used to purchase in-holdings--like privately held lands within the Petroglyph National Monument in my district in Albuquerque. The President and his administration have agreed to this unique arrangement.
The Trust will be a government corporation. Its purposes, set out in the act are:
- to protect and preserve the ecological, archaeological, geological and cultural benefits of the Baca for current and future generations;
- to provide opportunities for public recreation- and
- to use elements of public and private administration to promote long term financial stability.
The Trust will be governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees consisting of
- a Forest Service supervisor (Santa Fe National Forest);
- a National Park Service supervisor (Bandelier National Monument)-
- and seven individuals, appointed by the President, in consultation with the congressional delegation from the State of New Mexico.
The seven people on the board must have expertise in livestock and range management; game and non-game wildlife and fish populations; forest management; nonprofit conservation organization; financial management, budget, and program analysis; cultural and natural history of the region; or New Mexico state or local government with specific knowledge of the area`s customs.
Of these seven, at least five will be New Mexico residents and none will be federal employees. As you can see, the Trust will represent varying interests and have expertise in areas necessary to make the management effort successful.
Some people have expressed concern about this management arrangement, saying that it does not allow public input into the management process. Actually, there is nothing in the legislation prohibiting public input. The Trust and its decisions and actions are still subject to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provisions. But it is a different way of managing public lands. There will be a board of local people responsible for managing the Baca, conserving it and keeping it as a self-sustaining ranch owned by the citizens of the United States. This may be a model for managing America`s special lands in the future.
Title 11 of this bill is also unique. One of the barriers to buying beautiful wilderness like the Baca or the Tres Pistoles in the Sandias, which we were able to save in late 1998, is that the federal government has not moved forward to sell surplus land.
So, there`s no money in the pot when the opportunity arises to buy a property like the Baca.
Title 11 directs the federal government to sell surplus lands and use those funds to purchase pockets of non-federal land (in-holdings) within federal land boundaries from willing sellers at a fair market price. 80% of the funds acquired in a state must be used in that state. The rest can be used in other states. The legislation directs the Secretary to establish a program for land sale and exchange.
Of course, the sale of any federal land is subject to requirements in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. And funds acquired from the sale of federal lands are to be used to purchase in-holdings and land adjacent to federally designated areas and contains exceptional resources.
This authority expires 10 years after the bill`s enactment, providing at least one opportunity to revisit the Baca`s management and mission success.
I look forward to the Baca Ranch being open to the citizens of the United States and New Mexico. Even though this property is not in my congressional district, I feel that it is an important to all New Mexicans. I look forward to shepherding this bill through the House of Representatives. |
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