Democracy for New Mexico

Sabinoso Wilderness Bill Heads to Committee in U.S. House

From the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance:
This week, the Sabinoso Wilderness Act of 2007, H.R. 2632, will head to the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. This will be the second wilderness bill in New Mexico to be considered for passage in more than 20 years.

Introduced earlier this year by Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM), the Sabinoso Wilderness Act seeks to designate the majestic canyons and rugged beauty of one of the finest intact Great-Plains ecosystems left in New Mexico. Just 40 miles west of Las Vegas, New Mexico, the Sabinoso Wilderness Study Area encompasses approximately 20,000-acres of public land and is home to a variety of wildlife, including the American kestrel, savannah sparrow, red-tailed hawk, broad tailed hummingbird, coyote, mountain lions, mule deer and gray foxes.

“Congressman Udall’s legislation will give permanent protection to one of the best hunting locations in northern New Mexico,” said Ed Olona of Springer, NM and member of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “By assuring public access to magnificent Federal lands, Sabinoso could become a major economic draw for our area.”

The Sabinoso Wilderness Act is widely supported by local governments, business and economic development interests, sportsmen, conservation groups, and state officials. More specifically, the New Mexico State House of Representatives, San Miguel County Commission, Village of Wagon Mound, and the Town of Springer have passed resolutions supporting the designation of the Sabinoso wilderness.

“Sabinoso is a spectacular landscape that features the deep canyons and rugged beauty of San Miguel County,” said Arturo Sandoval, Board Member of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “Creating this area as a Wilderness will provide wonderful opportunities for sustainable economic development tied directly to open space.”

A series of high, narrow mesas surrounded by steep, rock-walled canyons provides a striking contrast to the nearby rolling prairie. The Canadian River runs through the northeast corner of the Sabinoso Wilderness Study Area, fed by many other streams. Ponderosa pine, Cottonwood, and willows can also be found along the many stream sides.

“New Mexico’s varied wildlands enhance our quality of life and create a powerful incentive for attracting new businesses to our state by creating the kind of environment where people want to live, work and enjoy free time with their families,” said Nathan Newcomer, Media Director with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “Wilderness is a cornerstone of our heritage.”

To contact members of the U.S. House Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, click here. For contact info on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee click here.

Next ABQ Sierra Club Program: Clean Cars

From Michal Mudd, Group Chair, Sierra Club Central New Mexico Group: Please join us to hear Lauren Ketcham of Environment New Mexico speak on "Bringing Clean Cars to New Mexico."

Next Sierra Club Program
Tuesday November 20, 7-9 PM
UNM Law School, Stanford & Tucker Blvd., Room 2405, ABQ

In 2000, transportation was responsible for more than one-quarter of the state's carbon dioxide emissions. If current trends continue, transportation-sector global warming emissions in NM could increase by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2020. Trucks, cars and other vehicles in New Mexico also create smog and air pollution. Luckily, the technology exists to make cleaner cars that can help to reduce the state's global warming and air pollution emissions. But auto-makers and auto-dealers have been slow to embrace cleaner cars.

The Clean Cars Program sets strict standards for traditional air pollutants. The program would also reduce global warming, requiring that by 2016, new cars would emit 34 percent less global warming gases, while light-duty trucks would produce 25 percent less. Twelve states have already adopted these cleaner standards.

The state's Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG) analyzed the Clean Cars Program and found it to be THE MOST cost-effective way to significantly reduce New Mexico's global warming emissions. Following the unanimous CCAG vote, Governor Richardson announced his support for the program and directed the New Mexico Environment Department to draft regulations for administrative adoption. Rule-making hearings for Clean Cars have been scheduled before the Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board.

HOWEVER, auto dealerships in New Mexico, as well as some state legislators, are fighting the proposed regulations hard.  Environmental activists need to make  their voices heard as well.  Please come to our general meeting, and learn how we can help bring cleaner cars to New Mexico.

Editor's Note: Click for more info on the Clean Cars Program.

Citizen Action Files Counter Lawsuit Against NM Environment Department for Secret Documents

From Citizen Action: Citizen Action, an Albuquerque-based public interest group, today filed a counter lawsuit in the New Mexico Court of Appeals against the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) charging that the state violated the Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act by failing to provide secret reports about Sandia Laboratories’ Mixed Waste Landfill. The landfill, a Cold War legacy waste dump containing 700,000 cu ft of radioactive and hazardous waste, is situated above Albuquerque’s sole source drinking water aquifer. 

"The New Mexico Environment Department has a habit of trying to quell dissent and debate, both inside and outside the Department," said Nancy Simmons, attorney for Citizen Action. "Now that the Attorney General has ordered them to provide heretofore secret documents to Citizen Action about what they're doing or not doing to clean up the hazardous and radioactive waste dump at Sandia Labs, the Department has turned around and sued Citizen Action. This is apparently in an effort to get my client to back down. It won't work. The citizens of New Mexico have an absolute right to observe their government in action. Citizen Action will go to court today to protect that right. The TechLaw reports they're protecting from public view were paid for by tax dollars; we all have a right to see what we bought."

The TechLaw reports were used by NMED to examine computer modeling showing that radioactive and hazardous wastes will leak into the groundwater at Sandia’s Mixed Waste Landfill. 

Robert Gilkeson, registered geologist, stated that “NMED and Sandia have known since 1991 that they do not have a well monitoring system at the dump capable of detecting contamination. All computer models predict contamination will hit the groundwater. Sandia and NMED have not gone the next step to install monitoring wells at the hot spots. Instead of validating the models with real data, NMED and Sandia are manipulating assumptions in complex computer models to cover up a wrongheaded decision to leave these long-lived wastes in place under a dirt cover.”

The Department of Energy (DOE) describes the low cost dirt cover as “Environmental Stewardship.”  However, a report by the National Academies of Science describes this stewardship as “providing unacceptable risks to people and the environment.” The report states:

“Stewardship (covering waste with dirt and instituting institutional controls) of waste sites will be difficult if not impossible to achieve.

“At many sites hazardous wastes will remain posing risks to people and the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years.

“No plan developed today is likely to remain protective for the duration of the hazards.”

Citizen Action’s Director, Dave McCoy, stated that “NMED apparently is unwilling to make decisions about the dump in the broad daylight of public scrutiny. With global warming and coming water shortages, DOE and NMED should protect Albuquerque’s groundwater by excavating the dump’s toxic wastes. They failed to order cleanup at Los Alamos and now there is plutonium in Santa Fe’s drinking water.  They should pay attention to the public demand to clean up the Sandia dump with its plutonium, instead of shooting the messenger.” 

Over the last year, Citizen Action filed agency complaints that the dump has monitoring wells that cannot detect contamination because they are out of place with damaged well screens in violation of federal law.  Citizen Action discovered that no capable wells or soil gas monitoring systems were in place to detect contamination during Sandia’s recent use of heavy compaction equipment over fragile waste containers in the dump.  Citizen Action found out from other information requests that: the installation of part of the soil cover proceeded without an approved plan; berms built to protect the soil cover construction were breached from storm water; the storm water pathway away from the dump is not analyzed and lab samples were lost.  Citizen Action along with a coalition of other Albuquerque based organizations and individuals filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency that NMED is shutting the public out of its right to review and comment on documents and decisions about the dump and the long-term monitoring network plan.

For more information contact Citizen Action New Mexico: (505) 262-1862 or visit the Citizen Action website at www.radfreenm.org.

See our previous post about the law suit filed against Citizen Action by the NM Environment Department and this one about Citizen Action's previous Notice of Intent to sue the NMED and others for allowing the illegal operation of the Mixed Waste Landfill.

Tweeti Blancett to Speak in Santa Fe Monday

From Johnny Micou at DrillingSantaFe.org:
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center and Southwest Seminars will host a lecture with Tweeti Blancett in Santa Fe on Monday, November 12th at Hotel Santa Fe at 6:00 PM. She'll speak about "Rip Roaring Ranching and Fighting Oil and Gas." If you haven't seen her presentation, it's well worth it. Cost is $10 or $5 for Law Center members, and $45 for the series. Call 505-989-9022 for more info. The series benefits the Law Center, which is celebrating 20 years of victories for New Mexico's environment and communities.

About Tweeti:

• High Country News
• National Geographic
• OteroMesa.org
• Sierra Club
• Audubon Magazine
• SanJuanCitizens.org

Keep the Pressure On to Save the UNM North Golf Course

Hundreds gathered at the University of New Mexico Law School last Sunday to protest turning UNM's North Golf Course into a "retirement village." They later met with UNM President David Schmidly to express their views. See KOB-TV's coverage and this Flickr group for photos. To keep the pressure on the UNM Regents and others to see the short-sighted nature of their proposed plans for the largest green space in central Albuquerque, please write some letters NOW.

You can see our previous posts on this issue here and here and here.

11.15.07: Public Meeting on Controversial Proposal to Pave Chaco Canyon Entrance Road

Great Kiva at Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon

A presentation and public comments session regarding the future of the main entrance road to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Northwest New Mexico will be held on November 15, 2007 at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, 7500 Pan American Freeway NE in Albuquerque (map). An open house begins at 6:00 PM with the presentation at 6:30 PM, followed by a comment session at 7:00 PM. The meeting is jointly hosted by the Federal Highway Administration, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and San Juan County.

The options for improving the unpaved portion of San Juan County Road 7950 will be explained -- a controversial proposal with serious consequences for preserving the fragile integrity of the currently isolated park. Up until now, the main access road was left deliberately unpaved to discourage heavy traffic, large tour buses and large RVs from bringing in increased crowds that might compromise the park's extensive ruins and artifacts -- which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

URS Corporation and Taschek Environmental Consulting (TEC) are currently preparing the design and environmental analysis for the proposed road project on behalf of San Juan County. If you can't attend the meeting, you can contact John Taschek at TEC at 505-821-4700, email your comments on the proposed paving to taschek@aol.com or mail them to John Taschek, 8901 Adams NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113.

More resources:

• Chaco Canyon (wikipedia)
• Not paving Chaco road preserves area's value, Albuquerque Tribune editorial
• Paving road to Chaco fraught with pitfalls, Albuquerque Tribune
• Stop the Chaco Road, Chaco Alliance
• Protect Chaco Canyon Blog
• San Juan Citizen's Alliance

Javier Benavidez Named CVNM Outreach Director

Javier Benavidez, one of our favorite people on the local political scene, has joined as the outreach director. According to the CVNM website, Benavidez is passionate about protecting New Mexico as the "Land of Enchantment" both through fighting for the conservation of our state's natural surroundings and through respecting New Mexicans' unique spiritual and cultural relationship with our environment.

Javier was born in Santa Fe, raised in Albuquerque and graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from Santa Clara University, a Jesuit university in California. He's almost finished with two masters' degrees at the University of New Mexico -- one in Public Administration and another in Community and Regional Planning.

Prior to joining CVNM, Javier served for four years as a Policy Analyst to the Albuquerque City Council, working with Councilor Martin Heinrich on projects including smart growth, community-oriented economic development and a fair wage campaign. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys serving on the boards of various community organizations involved in struggles for social justice. He is a board member at , the Southwest Organizing Project and the Sawmill Community Land Trust. He also co-hosts Espejos de Aztlan, a weekly radio show at KUNM 89.9 FM about grassroots public affairs throughout New Mexico. Good luck with your new assignment, Javi!

Latest on Sunday Rally to Save UNM North Golf Course Green Space

If you care about saving UNM's North Golf Course as Albuquerque's largest green space in the cental city, be sure to show up for these Sunday events if you can. All are welcome:

Neighbors and users of the University of New Mexico North Golf Course plan a rally in the UNM Law School parking lot at 3:30 PM Sunday, November 4 before meeting with university officials and development representatives to discuss the future of the golf course.

The public meeting with UNM President David Schmidly is scheduled for 4 PM in Room 2401 of the law school.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, City Councilor Isaac Benton, City Councilor-elect Rey Garduno, County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta, and  legislators Gail Chasey and Danice Picraux are all slated to speak at the rally.  Lieutenant Governor Diane D. Denish, who is an alumni of UNM and a member  of the Netherwood Park Neighborhood Association, will address the public during the  town hall meeting.

UNM Regents have announced plans to consider development of the 80-acre site for gated "villas," a health complex and retirement village ­a move opposed by golfers, neighbors and thousands of city residents who use the site for jogging, dog-walking and bird-watching. The university owns other lands less intensively used and more appropriate for development, especially one unlikely to bring the financial returns promised by the university, said Sara Koplik, North Campus Neighborhood Association president.

"We are open to listening to university officials, but we believe we have never been given the whole story about UNM's plans," Koplik said. "We hope to have a civil exchange of ideas about a resource used by the entire city."

Koplik said the university's seeming lack of candor has galvanized those who wish to see the golf course remain a green space ­ with some needed improvements to its infrastructure. Elected officials who support retention of the North Course have asked to speak at the rally preceding the meeting with university officials.

President Schmidly will give a presentation at 4 PM followed by public comment. Initially, Cooperative Retirement Services of America intended to present, however now they will be attending in a observational capacity.

See the Neighbors for Green Space website for more info on this issue, as well as our previous post.

Rally & Town Hall Meeting on Proposed UNM North Golf Course Development Set for 11.4.07

From Neighbors for Green Space: Big crowd needed for Rally to preserve the UNM North Golf Course and Green Space! Come show your support! Download a FLYER (pdf) and post it or pass it on.

FIrst there will be a Rally
Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 3:30 PM
UNM Law School parking lot
1117 Stanford NE, Albuquerque, adjoining the course

Followed by a TOWN HALL MEETING where UNM President Schmidly will meet with all those concerned about development of the proposed luxury retirement village on the grounds of the North campus golf course:

Town Hall Meeting
Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 4:00 PM
(this is the rescheduled time)
UNM Law School, Room 2401
Please click to RSVP
Questions? Email Sarah Koplik, President, North Campus Neighborhood Association at info@neighborsforgreenspace.com

Please write the UNM Regents, Gov. Bill Richardson, Mayor Martin Chavez and UNM President David Schmidly: click for contact information.

Neighbors for Green Space are in favor of:

• Maintaining the North Golf Course as the largest open green space in central Albuquerque
• Conserving trees on the North Golf Course that give beauty and protection from pollution
• Preserving the North Golf Course as a refuge for wildlife
• Keeping the North Golf Course as a revenue-generator for UNM
• Utilizing the two-mile perimeter trail for walking, exercise, and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle
• Setting aside permanently the North Golf Course and protecting it from development
• We support the Legislature's efforts to protect this valuable community resource

Editor's Note: For more info about this issue, see our previous post.

North Campus Meeting to Discuss Alternatives to UNM Golf Course Development

Stung by the University of New Mexico's aggressive pursuit of a retirement village development on UNM's North Golf Course ­after assurances in April from Acting UNM President David Harris that there were no development plans, the North Campus Neighborhood Association has called a meeting to be held at 5:00 PM on October 28 to form an action plan. The meeting will be in Room 2401 of the UNM Law School, 1117 Stanford NE in Albuquerque, which adjoins the course.

"The University in public and private meetings has repeatedly said they had no plans to develop the golf course. But last week we learned about a plan that would eat up two thirds of the existing UNM North Golf Course," said neighborhood association president Sara Koplik. "This plan does not value the multiple benefits of the course, which is really Albuquerque¹s Central Park. It's the People's Course -- affordable, centrally located and popular with the golfing public, but also used extensively by birders, runners, dog-walkers and nature lovers of all kinds."

UNM issued a request for information in February soliciting interest in commercial development of multiple properties in its real estate portfolio, including the North Golf Course. It announced plans to proceed with more detailed discussion with Co-operative Retirement Services of America (CRSA) and JP Morgan Chase for a "continuing life care community" dubbed Lobo Village. Preliminary plans posted on the university web site show the North Golf Course shrunk to a so-called "executive course" with buildings and parking lots consuming what is now open, green space.

"The neighborhood does not oppose a retirement village. But UNM owns ample undeveloped lands that are more suitable for development ­ and wouldn't lay siege to a natural jewel in the heart of the city," Koplik said. Lands owned by UNM include the Elks Lodge on University, car dealerships along the south side of Lomas and a swath of undeveloped parcels called Lands West, located west of University Boulevard.

North Campus is not the only neighborhood unhappy with the plan, Koplik said. Other adjacent neighborhoods, many environmental and civic groups and community leaders have taken positions opposed to development on the North Golf Course.

A link to the university¹s plan is available here by clicking on UNM Real Estate Projects and then Lobo Village. Further information is also available at NeighborsForGreenSpace.com.

Past Protest and Jamie Koch's Responses
About 700 people showed up in February to protest the retirement project at the golf course and signed a petition against the proposed development. Back then the President of the UNM Board of Regents, Jamie Koch (right), had this to say, which bolsters the criticism that the forces behind the development have been less than honest about what's going on:

In a Feb. 20 e-mail from Jamie Koch, president of the board of regents, he claimed the university is not looking to turn the area into a retirement center, something that was briefly discussed during the regents' January meeting.

"I'd like to make it perfectly clear at this time that the university has no plans to build a retirement community for alumni or faculty on any property the university owns," he wrote. "I've repeatedly said that the UNM North Golf Course has not been discussed by the regents nor has there been any request from university personnel for use of the golf course for a retirement community."

More recently, Jamie Koch changed his tune, despite the fact that the retirement community would displace a new Appeals Court building approved for construction near the UNM Law School:

"We’re very interested in working with the community, but we are going to try to move ahead with a retirement community, maintaining the golf course,” Jamie Koch, president of the UNM regents, said this week.

Koch said as part of the project, he would like the university to find a new site for the planned state Court of Appeals building now slated to be built near the UNM Law School. A groundbreaking had been projected for early 2008.

... Regents previously had signed off on the courthouse location. “I think we need to get out of the deal on the courthouse,” Koch said, stressing that he was speaking for himself and not the full board. He said UNM could find other land for the courthouse.

Appeals Court Judge Michael Bustamante said he didn’t know how a change in the location might affect the project. “We have a Board of Regents resolution in place that they passed last year … allowing or giving us the space that we’re planning for,” Bustamante said. “That’s still in place, and we’re currently working on the form of lease.”

Koch also claims he wants to replace a signficant portion of the golf course to save water. Conveniently, he doesn't reveal how much water the new development would use.

Regent Contact Info and Related Stories

Click for contact info for the UNM Board of Regents, including President Jamie Koch.

Check these out for more info on this issue:

• Gene Grant: UNM, Don't Trade Golf Course Green for Ivory Tower, Albuquerque Tribune (sadly, this happens to be Grant's last column for the Trib), 10.25.07
• University of New Mexico Regents Explore Developing North Golf Course, Albuquerque Tribune, 10.18.07
• UNM to Develop North Golf Course, Daily Lobo, 10.17.07
• Protesters Rally to Protect Golf Course from Development, Daily Lobo, 2.26.07