ABQJOURNAL NORTH: Around Northern New Mexico

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Around Northern New Mexico

Journal Staff Reports
          L.A. County Prefers Caldera Under NPS
        The Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday supporting the transfer of management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve from a trust to the National Park Service, to be managed as a national preserve so hunting could continue there.
        County Councilor Nona Bowman said that during two public meetings held in the past month to address concerns over the trust's management "90 percent, maybe even 95 percent of the people wanted more access to the park."
        The Valles Caldera has been managed by a trust since 2000, when Congress passed the Valles Caldera Preservation Act and bought the land for $101 million.
        The law included a stipulation that caldera management be financially self-sustaining by 2015, but studies have demonstrated that goal was unfeasible.
        Currently, some recreational activities are free to the public, while others carry an individual fee. Mountain bike trail riding, for example, is $10.
        Under NPS, visitors would pay one fee for entry into the area.
        A study commissioned last year by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall determined the caldera would be a good fit for NPS.
        Zia Gas Leak Still Being Investigated
        New Mexico state officials said Wednesday they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding last week's gas leak near Zia Road.
        The leak occurred when Titan Communications hit a 4-inch gas line owned by New Mexico Gas Co. while drilling for a new cable line.
        Titan was under contract for Comcast, Public Regulation Commission spokesman Gerald Garner said.
        Garner confirmed that Titan called New Mexico One Call prior to digging. Companies are legally required to call the service before excavation to have utilities located in order to avoid damaging a line.
        City of Santa Fe officials said earlier this week that no red flags were raised on visits to the site. The city incorrectly reported that Titan was under contract to PNM.
        Titan officials have so far refused to comment on the case.
        The gas line was hit by Titan workers April 1 during drilling near Zia and Camino Pintores.
        Residents within a half-mile radius of the leaking gas line were evacuated for several hours. About 40 people spent several hours at a temporary emergency shelter set up at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center.
        The PRC's Pipeline Safety Bureau is leading the investigation into the incident.
        Sipapu Extends Ski Season One Week
        Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort is extending its season one more weekend, with closing day now scheduled April 18.
        The resort is claiming the best snow conditions in over a decade, with 186 inches of snow so far and consistently cold temperatures.
        Located 20 miles southeast of Taos, Sipapu is open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Sipapu began weekend-only operations April 3. Lift tickets are discounted: $25 for adults and teens; $10 for children and seniors. Fourth-graders (proof, such as report cards, is required), kids 6 and younger, 40-year-olds and seniors 70 or older can hit the slopes for free.
        This winter, the resort reports more than a 20 percent increase in skier visits.
        Writing Workshop Taking Applications
        Milagro at Los Luceros, in collaboration with the New Mexico Filmmakers Program, will host its first writing workshop, "Designed Obstacles," on May 1 with award-winning writer/director Joan Tewkesbury.
        The 15 openings for participants are limited to New Mexico residents only.
        The one-day workshop will guide development of a story through spontaneous written response to various situations, complications and possibilities.
        The workshop is free, but potential participants must apply for a spot. Application instructions can be found on the New Mexico Film office Web site: www.nmfilm.com. Typewritten applications must be received by April 17. Those selected will be contacted by phone by April 24.
        Tewkesbury has amassed credits in both TV and feature films throughout her career. She wrote the feature film "Thieves Like Us," scripted Robert Altman's "Nashville," directed the feature film "Old Boyfriends," and wrote, directed or co-produced a number of movies and series episodes for TV.
        She is also one of the artistic directors of "Underconstruction: New Works In Progress" for the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe.
        Slash Piles To Burn Near Villanueva
        State Land Office crews will burn slash piles across 500-600 acres through Friday on state trust lands in Villanueva.
        The piles were left over from the annual public fuel wood program, when New Mexicans can get free permits to harvest five cords of fuel wood.
        Travelers along N.M. 3 should expect to see smoke near Mile Markers 46-56, with the heaviest concentrations at Mile Marker 51.

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