Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, December 2021 Edition
Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors
The Buffalo Tract Protection Act is finally working its way through Congress. On November 5, US Representative for New Mexico’s 1st District Melanie Stansbury introduced the legislation in the House as HR 5805. Teresa Leger Fernandez, 3rd District Representative, co-sponsored the bill. Earlier in the year, Senator Martin Heinrich introduced the bill in the Senate, co-sponsored by Senator Ben Ray Lujan.
ESCA President George Franzen and Las Placitas Association President Sandy Johnson issued a joint statement applauding Rep. Stansbury’s introduction of the bill in the House. They pledged continued support for the legislation, which will protect public health, air and water resources, wildlife, our cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities.
Several months ago, all four legislators also sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI), expressing their opposition to gravel mining on the Buffalo Tract. The letter cited the proximity to Placitas, air and water pollution caused by existing mines, and the need to maintain outdoor recreational opportunities that the Buffalo Tract provides.
In October, a DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary testified in support of the Senate bill before a subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He noted that the Senate bill would withdraw four tracts of land from mining, including the Buffalo Tract, the Crest of Montezuma, and two smaller parcels of land in the Placitas area.
ESCA will continue to push for passage of the legislation as it moves through Congress. Please help us keep the pressure on by writing or emailing your representatives in Congress to express your support. Also remember to renew your ESCA membership if you haven’t done so, or join us if you’re not yet a member. You can find information on our website, www.es-ca.org.
The results of ESCA’s recent election are in. All four board members who were up for re-election were unanimously approved by the membership. The board members are Peter Adang, Jean Roberts, Jim Harre, and John McNerney.