Dear readers:
The information below was gained from one of our members in the Washington, D.C. area, who checks in regularly. The person receives information about events in that affect us in New Mexico and the Placitas area. This is an edited summary of current events that affect the gravel mining in the Bureau of Land Management, immediately to the north of Placitas:
“I learned late this week that the much-condensed and revised Rio Puerco RMP (allowing gravel mining on the Buffalo Tract) is about ready to go to the BLM Santa Fe office now and then the requisite meetings with BLM Washington will occur in July. My understanding is that the final draft allows mining on the Buffalo Tract. The targeted date for completion of the entire process, including the Record of Decision (ROD) is October 2020.
Other important points:
BLM is apparently pursuing approval process aggressively. The BLM is aiming for governor and public consistency reviews (respectively 60 and 30 days) in the July time frame. This would be the time when the governor and staff are busy with the special session that is planned.
Thereafter, it is possible that the Secretary of the Interior himself may intervene and sign the Record of Decision (ROD) to obstruct a challenge that could result in an IBLA review of the Administrative Record. If the DOI Secretary were to sign the ROD, we would have to go to District Court for relief.
Thus, there is an urgent need to move forward with passage of legislation as quickly as possible.”
Next ESCA Board Meeting: June 8, 2020 – Due to the Governor’s order limiting gatherings, board meetings are now held online. See the next meeting’s agenda for details (under Recent Posts). To contact ESCA, please click here.