[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6980]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO CLEAR TITLE TO TWO PARCELS OF LAND LOCATED 
            ALONG THE RIO GRANDE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

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                          HON. HEATHER WILSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2005

  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Albuquerque Biological Park Title Clarification Act on behalf of myself 
and Representative Udall and Representative Pearce. This legislation 
would assist the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico (City) clear title to 
two parcels of land located along the Rio Grande.
  The Albuquerque Biological Park is a distinctive environmental museum 
comprising four facilities: Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic 
Garden, Rio Grande Zoo and Tingley Beach Aquatic Park. In 1997, as part 
of an effort to improve these facilities, the City purchased two 
properties from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) for 
$3,875,000.
  The City had been leasing the first property, Tingley Beach, from 
MRGCD since 1931. The City had been leasing the second property, San 
Gabriel Park, from the MRGCD since 1963. Both properties had been used 
as public parks.
  In 2000, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation interrupted the City's plans 
when it asserted that it had acquired ownership of all of MRGCD's 
property associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project in 1953. This 
called into question the validity the City's title to the properties. 
The City cannot move forward with its plans to improve the properties 
until the titles are cleared.
  The legislation is narrowly drafted to affect only the two properties 
at issue and leaves the main dispute concerning title to project works 
for the courts to decide. This important legislation will allow the 
City to move forward with a project that will provide residents and 
visitors with exciting new recreational opportunities.

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