[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A BILL THAT IS GOOD FOR NEW MEXICO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 1999

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation, 
which is being cosponsored by my colleague from New Mexico, Heather 
Wilson, that provides for the transfer of an unwanted facility and 
federal land to the people of Rio Arriba County, NM. Mr. Speaker, this 
is a companion bill to a bill that has already been reintroduced in the 
other chamber on January 21, 1999, by Senator Domenici and cosponsored 
by Senator Bingaman, both of New Mexico. This bill was originally 
introduced by Senator Domenici as the Rio Arriba, New Mexico Land 
Conveyance Act of 1998. With the administration's support, the Senate 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee reported the bill unanimously in 
May 1998. On July 17, 1998, the Senate passed this legislation as S. 
1510. Unfortunately, the bill died in this chamber at the end of the 
last session.
  This legislation provides for a transfer by the Secretary of Interior 
of real property and improvements at an abandoned and surplus ranger 
station in the Carson National Forest to Rio Arriba County. This site 
is known locally as the ``Old Coyote Administration Site'' and is 
located near the town of Coyote, NM. The site will continue to be used 
for public purposes and may be used as a community center, fire 
substation, storage facilities, or space to repair road maintenance 
equipment and other county vehicles.
  Mr. Speaker, the Forest Service has moved its operations to a new 
facility and has determined that this site is of no further use. 
Furthermore, the Forest Service has notified the General Services 
Administration that improvements to this site are considered surplus 
and the sites are available for disposal. In addition, the land on 
which the facility is built, is withdrawn public domain land, and falls 
under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. Since neither 
the Bureau of Land Management nor the Forest Service have a future plan 
to utilize this site, the transfer of the land and facilities to Rio 
Arriba County would create a benefit to a community that would make 
productive use of it.
  In summary, this legislation creates a situation in which the federal 
government, the State of New Mexico, and the people of Rio Arriba 
County all benefit. With the bipartisan support of the New Mexico 
delegation, I am confident that this chamber realizes that this bill is 
good for New Mexico. For these reasons, I ask immediate consideration 
and passage of the bill.

                          ____________________