On Monday, April 21, 2014, Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham met with ES-CA Board members, Land Grant representatives, Las Placitas Association representatives, and various home owner association officials to hear what issues were of concern to residents of Placitas.
The first issue raised was that the new I 25 interchange was prohibiting Coronado Soil and Water Conservation District trucks from accessing the Piedre Lisa Dam to perform maintenance. ES-CA officials noted that NM DOT is having an outside traffic engineering study done of the new interchange, and, once that is complete, we can deal with this issue if it is not resolved in the report.
The next issue raised was the expansion in use of the pipelines running through Placitas and the lack of cooperation by BLM on releasing information to LPA and ES-CA. The Congresswoman said that she will make the information request from her office and will also request that BLM meet with LPA and ES-CA to discuss safety concerns. She also said that she will request that BLM come to Placitas to discuss the disposition of the BLM land to the north.
She noted that the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed land uses would be issued within the next two months and that it will be subject to comment. She expects the full report to be issued by the end of this year or early next year. The Congresswoman is aware of concerns about new mining in this area.
The LaFarge issue was brought up, and, while there is not much that can be done on the Federal level, Congresswoman Grisham said that she will work with Sandoval County and the State to attempt to increase enforcement of environmental regulations pertaining to the sand and gravel mining operation of LaFarge.
Congresswoman Grisham expressed her desire to conduct future town hall meetings in Placitas.