Under the leadership of Dick Ulmer who chairs the Land Protection Trust (LPT), a small hard-working work group has been researching and crafting a Position Paper titled “Land of Enchantment… or Gravel”. This well-referenced ES-CA/LPA position paper can be downloaded by clicking Land of Enchantment… or Gravel and the cover letter to Secretary Barela by clicking SecBarela CvrLtr. The position paper clearly defines the adverse effects that a new 800+ acre Buffalo Tract gravel mine would have to the Placitas area, the County, and the State. We have reason to believe this will be an allowed use in the upcoming BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) and we want the Governor to be aware of the three areas of conflict that are well defined within the paper. These are broadly grouped under the economy, the environment, and County and Tribal historic and planned use. I urge all Placitans to understand these issues.
Representative Jim Smith who is once again working hard for us, arranged two separate meetings Thursday, September 8 with two of the Governor’s staff to brief them on the conflicts. To learn more about these meetings, see Dick Ulmer’s Forum article “Activity Related To Potential BLM Mining.”
When the RMP is released, the community will have only 30 days to write comments. The Governor should have 60 days to submit her comments. Governor Martinez could waive the full 60 days, and we have asked that she does not. The Governor’s comments on conflicts will carry the weight of the office of the Governor and BLM will have to respond.