02/11/12 |
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November 16, 2011 Dear friends of the soaring sports in our region, I do not usually get involved in this stuff but, as a soaring pilot and lover of the air and our beautiful southwest, I must. Last year, Senators Bingaman and Udall (NM) introduced bill S.1689 that would make enormous sections of our NM southwest Federal Wilderness. In a re-introduction of the failed bill (now S. 1024), the Senators removed the word “Wilderness” from the title but this legislation is the same basic Wilderness legislation from S.1689 that failed in 2010. I am in favor of preserving our scenic open spaces from urban sprawl and development, especially the Potrillo Mountains but this bill directly threatens the access and use of our flying sites west of El Paso that we have used for years. I know the region better than most. It is lightly used, crisscrossed with roads, mines, water tanks, fences, ranches, and cattle. It has not changed at all since I have been going out there in the 70’s. It is NOT threatened by development or off-road vehicles destroying its beauty. It is 20+ miles from any paved road. The few off-road vehicles out there stay on the myriad of roads already maintained by the county – unless you want to destroy your tires or get flats! There are almost no dunes or other sensitive areas. It is NOT a wilderness area by any measure of the terms for “wilderness” in the 1964 Wilderness Act. This act has now become a tool to arbitrarily kick most of the public out of areas of the nation that are NOT wilderness. It is this last aspect that is most troubling for me. There are many other options to preserve this area from sprawl of one kind or another besides making it a Wilderness. As a Federal Wilderness, EVERYONE will be kicked out except hikers and the wealthy few who can afford to trailer horses out there. In the 35+ years I’ve been out there, I have never seen ONE hiker except at Mt. Riley. If the sponsors had checked the log at the top of the peak, they would see that this is not a popular place: No water, no cell service, no nothing. Why would most hike here rather than in the Organ Mountains, for example? Will just ONE sponsor or their staff who has hiked to the top of Riley, Cox, and the 3rd peak out there please come forward? I do not think that more than a handful of people in the region really know this area. I have repeatedly asked the Senators to amend the bill in order to remove, at least, the areas of the Potrillo Mountains where we fly but they have not responded to my requests. No hikers will be able to get close enough to easily carry enough water to explore the region except the very stoutest. Essentially, it will become the exclusive domain of the horseback riding groups and those strong and healthy enough to carry 10 lbs. of water for a casual hike of Cox or Riley or the cones. Forget it if you are a mountain biker, ATV or Jeep enthusiast, not in top athletic condition, handicapped, or a hang glider or paraglider pilot. I cannot comment on the other regions that would become wilderness under the bill: Only the region of the Potrillo Mountains. The areas where we launch and land must be removed from the bill. I hope our Senators will help us! You can help. You may contact Senators Udall and Bingaman by email: http://tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact and http://bingaman.senate.gov/contact/types/email-issue.cfm or by USPS here: Senator Jeff Bingaman Please contact us
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