[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE OJITO WILDERNESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Ojito Wilderness Act. This bill designates the Ojito Wilderness Study 
Area, an area totaling approximately 11,000 acres, as a permanent 
wilderness area to be protected pursuant to the 1964 Wilderness Act. 
The bill also provides for the purchase and transfer of adjacent Bureau 
of Land Management, BLM, lands, contiguous to the established 
boundaries of the Pueblo of Zia, by the Pueblo. This land, an area 
totaling approximately 13,000, will then be taken into trust and held 
for the benefit for the Pueblo by the Secretary of the Interior, and 
would subsequently be managed by the Pueblo in perpetuity as 
wilderness.
  This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is the result of true 
collaboration among many people in New Mexico. Very similar versions of 
this bill were introduced, deliberated on, and passed unanimously in 
both the House and the Senate during the 108th Congress. This is truly 
a compromise bill, and I look forward to its swift passage in the 
House. I am proud to say that in New Mexico most of the people I meet 
recognize how vitally important it is to protect natural areas, to 
encourage the sustainable use of our State's natural resources, and to 
honor the role of land in the lives of Native Americans. As this Ojito 
legislation demonstrates, with creativity and cooperation we can find 
mutually compatible solutions for all of these necessities.
  This proposal has been under consideration for many years. In 1991, 
Manuel Lujan, the Secretary of the Interior in the former President 
Bush's cabinet, recommended the Ojito area to Congress for wilderness 
designation. The BLM has evaluated this area and found it qualifies for 
full wilderness status and protection.
  The legislation has the explicit support of the Governor of New 
Mexico, the counties of Sandoval and Bernalillo, individual members of 
State government including our State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons, 
the Pueblo of Zia and its members, the adjacent private land owners and 
individuals who graze their cattle on the land, numerous environmental 
groups, mineral extraction companies in the region, and business owners 
and private citizens living and working nearby.
  The Ojito Wilderness Study Area is characterized by pristine and 
dramatic landforms and rock structures, and by several rare plant 
populations that are indigenous to the area. This area is also 
recognized for its high density of cultural and archeological sites, 
including sites that have religious significance to Pueblo Indians.
  In particular, this legislation is important to the Pueblo of Zia. 
The Pueblo's reservation lands currently lie in two noncontiguous 
sections. Zia has made a concerted effort over many years to adjoin its 
reservation lands. This legislation will help make this long-standing 
goal a reality. The Pueblo has consistently and openly worked in 
cooperation with other interested parties to reach a mutually 
satisfactory arrangement for the protection of these important lands as 
undeveloped open space with continued public access. And, in an 
additional gesture of good faith, the Pueblo has waived its sovereign 
immunity from suit for matters arising under the provisions of this 
bill.
  Considering the above, I believe this bill does the right thing by 
ensuring the preservation, protection, and public accessibility of this 
special area of New Mexico for future generations of Americans. Allow 
me to express a special thanks to my cosponsor in the House, 
Representative Heather Wilson, and to the members of the New Mexico 
delegation in the Senate.

                          ____________________