The proposed Ojito Wilderness is an 11,000-acre area of dramatic landforms, multi-hued badlands and a rich assortment of cultural and archaeological sites. The area, located about forty-five minutes northwest of Albuquerque, has been managed by the Bureau of Land Management as a Wilderness Study Area since 1991. The BLM has recommended the area be formally designated as Wilderness.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced the Ojito Wilderness Act (S. 1649/H.R. 3176 in 2003. The measure is co-sponsored by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM). If approved, it would create the first new Wilderness area in New Mexico since 1987.
In February, 2004, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on the Ojito Wilderness Act and more recently, on July 20, the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands heard testimony on the bill. Conservationists hope to see House and Senate committee mark ups of the bill in September and final passage sometime this fall.
In addition to designating the Ojito area as Wilderness, the bills would allow the Pueblo of Zia to purchase BLM land abutting the Ojito area – lands which hold strong cultural and religious significance for the people of Zia. Under the bill, the lands to be purchased by the Pueblo of Zia will remain open to the public for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, paleontological, and conservation uses and are required to be managed as open, undeveloped space in perpetuity.
Support for this measure is broad
This bi-partisan measure enjoys broad support including unanimous endorsements from the Sandoval and Bernalillo County Commissions and the Albuquerque City Council.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons and State Representatives Roger Madalena and Tom Swisstack have written letters of support and the Albuquerque Visitor and Convention Bureau also supports the Ojito Wilderness.
The Navajo, Hopi and Zuni Nations and the All Indian Pueblo Council also have offered their support for the proposal.
The Albuquerque Journal editorialized in favor of the measure on Sunday July 18, saying, “The bill has broad support from a bipartisan cross-section of groups and individuals, including the governor, state land commissioner, both of the state's U.S. Senators and Reps. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Heather Wilson, R-N.M. This bill merits passage, and any moves to bog it down with extraneous issues should be opposed.”
“We applaud Representatives Udall and Wilson for working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to move this popular proposal forward. If approved, the bill would create the first new wilderness area in New Mexico since 1987 and we look forward to working with the members of the Congressional delegation to pass the measure this year,” said Stephen Capra of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
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