[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 12 (Thursday, January 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN.
  S. 210. A bill to provide for the protection of archaeological sites 
in the Galisteo Basin in New Mexico, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to again introduce 
legislation to protect several important archaeological sites in the 
Galisteo Basin in New Mexico. This bill identifies approximately two 
dozen sites in northern New Mexico which contain the ruins of pueblos 
dating back almost 900 years. When Coronado and other Spanish 
conquistadors first entered what is now New Mexico in 1541, they 
encountered a thriving Pueblo culture with its own unique tradition of 
religion, architecture and art, which was influenced through an 
extensive trade system. We know that these sites remain occupied up 
through the Pueblo revolt in 1680. After that, the sites were deserted, 
although we still don't know why they were abandoned, after over 700 
years of continuous use.
  Through these sites, we have the opportunity to learn more not only 
about the history and culture of these Pueblos, but also about the 
first interaction between European and Native American cultures. The 
Cochiti Pueblo, in particular, is culturally and historically tied to 
these sites, which have tremendous historical and religious 
significance to the Pueblo. I am grateful for the continued support of 
the Pueblo de Cochiti for this legislation. This bill has strong local 
support, including the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, the City 
of Santa Fe, and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. I would also like to 
thank the Archaeological Conservancy for its efforts over the past 
several years to identify and protect many of these sites, and in 
helping with this legislation.
  Many of these archaeological sites are on Federal land administered 
by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM archaeologists have already 
provided extensive background research on many of these sites, and I 
was pleased that the agency supported a similar bill I introduced in 
the previous Congress. Last Congress the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee held a hearing on this bill in Santa Fe. It was clear from 
that hearing that there is strong local support for protecting these 
sites. In fact nobody testified in opposition to the bill, at either 
the Santa Fe or Washington hearings.
  This bill simply authorizes the BLM to work in a cooperative manner 
with interested landowners to protect sites on Federal and non-Federal 
lands. Last Congress we included several provisions to make clear that 
the bill did not infringe on private property rights.
  Although the bill is non-controversial, we have been unable to get 
the legislation passed through both the House and Senate, although last 
Congress I was pleased that bill was favorably reported by the Energy 
and Natural Resources Committee and passed by the Senate as part of a 
larger public lands bill. In the years since I first introduced this 
bill, many irreplaceable archaeological resources have been lost, 
whether by vandalism, erosion, or other means. Enactment of the 
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act will allow us to 
take the steps necessary to protect these resources and to allow for 
improved public understanding and interpretation of these sites.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 210

       Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
     assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Galisteo Basin 
     Archaeological Sites Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (1) the Galisteo Basin and surrounding area of New Mexico 
     is the location of many well preserved prehistoric and 
     historic archaeological resources of Native American and 
     Spanish colonial cultures;
       (2) these resources include the largest ruins of Pueblo 
     Indian settlements in the United States, spectacular examples 
     of Native American rock art, and ruins of Spanish colonial 
     settlements; and
       (3) these resources are being threatened by natural causes, 
     urban development, vandalism, and uncontrolled excavations.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the 
     preservation, protection, and interpretation of the 
     nationally significant archaeological resources in the 
     Galisteo Basin in New Mexico.

     SEC. 3. GALISTEO BASIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTION SITES.

       (a) In General.--The following archaeological sites located 
     in the Galisteo Basin in the State of New Mexico, totaling 
     approximately 4,591 acres, are hereby designated as Galisteo 
     Basin Archaeological Protection Sites:

        Name                                                      Acres
Arroyo Hondo Pueblo..................................................21
Burnt Corn Pueblo...................................................110
Chamisa Locita Pueblo................................................16
Comanche Gap Petroglyphs............................................764
Espinoso Ridge Site.................................................160
La Cienega Pueblo & Petroglyphs.....................................126
La Cienega Pithouse Village.........................................179
La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs/Camino Real Site.........................531
La Cieneguilla Pueblo................................................11
Lamy Pueblo..........................................................30
Lamy Junction Site...................................................80
Las Huertas..........................................................44
Pa'ako Pueblo........................................................29
Petroglyph Hill.....................................................130
Pueblo Blanco.......................................................878
Pueblo Colorado.....................................................120
Pueblo Galisteo/Las Madres..........................................133
Pueblo Largo.........................................................60
Pueblo She..........................................................120
Rote Chert Quarry.....................................................5
San Cristobal Pueblo................................................520
San Lazaro Pueblo...................................................360
San Marcos Pueblo...................................................152
Upper Arroyo Hondo Pueblo............................................12
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