[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 52 (Thursday, April 3, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      EL MALPAIS CONSERVATION AREA

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the turn of the year marked the 
20th year the El Malpais Conservation area in western New Mexico has 
had the benefit of special Federal protection. Two decades ago with the 
help of the delegation, Congress passed legislation to ensure the 
protection of this culturally and geographically significant portion of 
New Mexico, while an amendment of mine allowed the nearby native tribes 
to continue to utilize the area for their traditional religious and 
cultural activities.
  Located just south of Grants, between State highways 53 and 117, the 
El Malpais conservation area is unlike any other in the United States. 
This unique area is an important cultural resource for the pueblos of 
Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and Ramah Navajo. El Malpais, meaning ``the 
badlands,'' describes the hardened lava plains where molten rock once 
flowed thousands of years ago. The uneven cooling of these lava flows 
created many lava tube caves throughout the designation which now 
provide for a unique hiking experience. This exceptional conservation 
area also contains the West Malpais and Cebolla Wilderness areas, 
spectacular sandstone cliffs and canyons, and a habitat for a multitude 
of desert vegetation such as aspen, pine, juniper, fir, grasses and 
cacti. The El Malpais conservation area offers visitors guided tours, 
picnicking, camping, biking, and horseback riding in designated areas.
  Last year I was able to help secure $250,000 for the purchase of 200 
acres of inholdings at the El Malpais national conservation area. This 
additional acreage is an important additional step to preserving the 
history and consolidating the varied landscapes contained within this 
one of a kind conservation area.
  Our public lands are truly national treasures, and as such, they 
demand our most thoughtful management. The outdoors in New Mexico 
reminds us all of the things we hold so dear. I am proud to have played 
a role in ensuring the expansion and continued protection of El 
Malpais. This New Mexico treasure remains much the same as it did as so 
many years ago, and I am glad this will be the case for generations to 
come.

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