A proposal to designate an 11,000-acre site on BLM land just south of San Ysidro is on its way to the White House after today's final approval by the U.S. House, Reps. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Heather Wilson, R-N.M., jointly announced.

The Ojito Wilderness Act recognizes that the area's dramatic landforms and rock structures, multicolored badlands, and rare plants are worthy of permanent protection, according to a joint news release. 

The bill has been endorsed by the Sandoval County Commission, the Bernalillo County Commission, the Albuquerque City Council, Gov. Bill Richardson, many of the pueblos, several environmental groups, and a coalition of more than 350 organizations and business groups, the release noted.

The area will remain open to hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and rock climbing, as well as grazing and scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical uses.  But it also will remain protected from development, including commercial enterprises, road building, and mining, as well as off-road vehicle use, according to the release.

See the whole story in tomorrow morning's Albuquerque Journal.

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