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| Wilson & Domenici to Justice Department: Stop Ignoring Citizens |
April 05, 2000 |
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WASHINGTON, DC –Congresswoman Heather Wilson and Senator Pete Domenici today expressed outrage and disbelief at the news that the Justice Department has entered into an agreement over Sandia Mountain land claims, a pact that would ignore the concerns of the city of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and homeowners.
Mediation of the lawsuit was unsuccessful and ended in August 1999. The Pueblo, the Tram Company, and the federal government have continued to work on a draft settlement document which was presented to the other parties to the dispute. Bernalillo County, the city of Albuquerque, and the Sandia Mountain Coalition, all parties impacted by the litigation, have indicated they do not support this proposed settlement.
“This settlement means nothing without legislation by Congress and the legislation I have seen from the Administration is dead on arrival in the House,” said Wilson. “This settlement does not drop the Pueblos claim and does not resolve the disputes with the land owners, county and city that are at the core of this lawsuit. The proposed settlement gives the Pueblo veto authority over any future use of the area including building a new restroom or trail and it eliminates the public’s input in the management of this beautiful area. The executive branch led by Janet Reno has abdicated its responsibility to protect public access to Sandia Mountain and its wilderness. I will uphold my responsibilities to protect this land and the people of Albuquerque in spite of this so-called settlement.”
"I wholeheartedly disagree with this decision, and I am deeply disappointed with the Justice Department and Forest Service. Because this so-called settlement excludes so many parties, I will be compelled to investigate every possible legislative option to bring about a true meeting of the minds on this issue," Domenici said. "As it stands now, it’s a one-sided, flawed deal that is entirely unsuitable and, I believe, sets a troubling precedent for resolving similar land claims. I believe it could further erode property rights and promote additional litigation."
On Tuesday, Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca called both Wilson and Domenici to endorse their opposition to any proposed settlement and any decision by the Justice Department to abandon an appeal of the Sandia Mountain case.
In the letter to Reno sent yesterday, the two legislators stated, “Before your Department acts to finalize any agreement in this matter, we strongly encourage that you respond to this letter with a detailed explanation of your Department`s actions. We are concerned that the federal government`s potential failure to appeal a judgment that did not consider the merits of the case places the entire burden on the County and the City. Furthermore, a settlement between a minority of parties affected does not equal a true settlement. We believe that the federal government would abdicate its responsibility to the more than one million visitors a year who utilize the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, and the landowners who reside within the claim area, by failing to appeal.”
The land in question consists of approximately 10,000 acres on the west face of the Sandia Mountains overlooking Albuquerque. This land is primarily owned by the Federal Government and managed by the Forest Service. Congress designated a substantial portion of this land as wilderness in 1978. Many families, living on nearly 600 acres within the disputed boundaries, feel their homes are in jeopardy. Parts of the government-owned parcel have been developed for recreational use and subsequently attract more than one million visitors every year.
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