Story Tools  E-mail Story  Print Friendly Featured Jobs Featured Jobs Feature Your Jobs: call 823-4444 Guest Opinions No Winners in Police Shooting Credit Unions Would Foot Bill for Giant Retailers Loss of NHCC Chief A Blow to Our State Welcome to Albuquerque Not Especially Friendly Basic Dental Care Is Lacking in N.M. Send Message to Troops that Their Safety Is Top Priority Tough Times No Reason To Postpone Big Plans Gov., Legislature Get Failing Grade for First 100 Days Medicaid Grants Would Hurt Young Join Battle Against Sexual Violence More Guest Opinions

          Front Page  opinion  guest_columns

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Wilderness Bill Has Safety Provisions

By Billy G. Garrett
Commissioner-elect, Dona Ana County
          Journal staff writer Rene Romo's recent article on the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act missed a key point: Sen. Jeff Bingaman has a long history of working to secure our southern border, from forming the Southwest Border Security Task Force to consistently support more Border Patrol boots on the ground.
        In addition, Bingaman and Sen. Tom Udall, co-sponsor of the conservation legislation, has earned praise from active and retired U.S. Border Patrol leaders like Alan Bersins and Ron Colburn.
        Bersins, who is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection director, wrote, "The provisions in this bill will greatly expand the flexibility of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in this border area. The security related enhancements to this bill are the result of careful consultations between your office (Bingaman's) and (Customs and Border Protection) in New Mexico and Washington, D.C."
        Colburn, retired U.S. Border Patrol deputy chief, also said, "I remain convinced that this is a constructive piece of legislation that would work to protect our international border with Mexico and protect our nationally valuable wilderness resources."
        Bingaman and his staff developed the legislation through an open, community oriented process. During the past four years, Bingaman's office has consulted with key stakeholder groups, met with hundreds of interested constituents and organized a local field hearing attended by more than 600 citizens. Substantial border security enhancements were enacted based on this input.
        A border security zone was identified in the legislation, an east-west sign cutting road was inserted to detect any illegal traffic and entire land use designations were changed to promote security.
        As the newly elected county commissioner for Doña Ana County, I believe the proposed legislation will bring to this area the benefits that Albuquerque has long enjoyed with the Sandia Mountains Wilderness Area while enhancing community safety and safeguarding our quality of life.
       

You also can send comments via our comment form