Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article
February 2021
Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By President of ESCA, George Franzen
In early January, the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) contacted Senator Martin Heinrich and Representative Debra Haaland to urge them to reintroduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. The legislation would prohibit gravel mining on the Buffalo Tract, adjacent to Placitas neighborhoods along our northern boundary. ESCA will also pursue additional avenues to prevent Buffalo Tract gravel mining now that Representative Haaland has been nominated as Interior Secretary.
Legislation does not carry over from one Congress to another, so reintroduction is necessary as the 117th Congress begins this month. In the 116th Congress, the Senate bill was S. 526, and in the House, H.R. 2640.
The State of New Mexico, Sandoval County, and the entire community are keenly aware that the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft resource plan proposes opening the Buffalo Tract and other nearby areas to gravel mining, even though BLM analysis has revealed an abundance of areas better suited for gravel mining. Moreover, Placitas already has four of New Mexico’s 13 largest gravel mines. Any new mining will deepen the negative impact on all Placitas home values and our air quality, as well as threaten cultural sites and a key wildlife corridor.
ESCA will also continue to work with local offices of our Congressional representatives and with Sandoval County officials to ensure early reintroduction of the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. In particular, Sandoval County continues to support passage. In a December 2019 letter, the Sandoval County Commission unanimously reaffirmed bipartisan support for this legislation and retransmitted the Commission’s unanimous August 2019 letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
ESCA is delighted to congratulate Representative Haaland for her nomination as Interior Secretary. Stewardship of federal lands across the country will benefit from her insights and leadership. We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.