Risa
First Congressional District of New Mexico
GO

Home

About Heather

District Profile

Constituent Services

News Center

Issues

E-News

Student Corner

Contact Heather

White Line Space
Default Image
Bottom Shadow
Left Space Hot Topics Left Space
Hot Topics Lines Welcome Home Hot Topics Lines

Hot Topics Lines Economic Stimulus Hot Topics Lines

Hot Topics Lines Social Security Debit Cards Hot Topics Lines

 

Left Space
Contact
Left Space


ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

White Line Space
Solar Power
White Line Space
E-news Submit Button
Printer Friendly
White Line Space

Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


Postcard
space
Preserving the Ojito Wilderness July 26, 2004
 
Dear Friends, Governor Peter Pino of Zia Pueblo had been the tribal administrator at Zia since 1977 before becoming Governor. He is a wonderful storyteller and an engaging man – the kind of person you could listen to for hours over a good meal or a cup of coffee and walk away smiling. On Tuesday, he worked his magic on the House Resources Committee as he explained the importance of the Ojito Wilderness Act. Tom Udall and I are trying to get a bill passed that would allow Zia Pueblo to purchase some BLM land that would connect the two pieces of its Pueblo and would make the Ojito Wilderness Study Area into wilderness, as Manuel Lujan recommended to the Congress over a decade ago. The Ojito is about 30 minutes from Albuquerque up 44 toward Farmington. It`s a ruggedly beautiful area that, among other things, is where they found the Siesmosaurus that will soon be on display at the Natural History Museum. The bill has broad and deep support. Both Bernalillo and Sandoval County support it. Adjoining private landholders and grazing permittees support it as does the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons supports it. So does Governor Richardson and the All Indian Pueblo Council. Senators Bingaman and Domenici are the sponsors of a parallel bill in the Senate. The local BLM office was involved in drafting the bill. But, as sometimes happens when someone`s boss three levels up finally puts an oar in the water, the Interior Department testified that they want some changes. Some of their ideas probably can be worked out by the committee. Others -- like their desire to sort out exactly what their "trust" responsibility means -- are far too much weight for a simple land transfer bill to carry. There are four or five good weeks left in this Congress before we are scheduled to adjourn and I`d like to get the Ojito bill passed in the House. That would give Governor Pino another story to tell. Wish you were here,
space



Privacy Statement
| Toolbox | Hablas Español?