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Friday, July 29, 2005

Environmental Law Plans to Be Discussed Monday in Rio Rancho

By Tania Soussan
Journal Staff Writer
    A congressional task force considering changes to one of the nation's most important environmental laws will hold a hearing in Rio Rancho on Monday.
    The National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA, requires that major federal projects be reviewed for environmental and public health impacts.
    The 35-year-old law also mandates public involvement and consideration of alternatives to minimize significant impacts.
    Industry has argued that NEPA is a lengthy and cumbersome process that should be streamlined.
    "We have ... heard frustrations about burdensome analysis and litigation that does not benefit the environment," the task force chairwoman, Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., said in a news release.
    Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., the ranking member of the task force, said he thinks the law is working.
    Environmentalists are worried Congress will weaken the federal law and cut out opportunities for public comment. They held a telephone conference call Thursday to share their concerns.
    Bob Elderkin, a retired federal public lands employee and Colorado resident, said he fears Congress will eliminate NEPA's mandatory public comment periods to appease industry.
    "If they eliminate those, they would speed the process up a bunch," he said.
    Task force spokesman Matt Streit said there is "no intent here at all to weaken public participation."
    The task force is scheduled to hear from 14 witnesses, including New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Joanna Prukop, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, former Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, a representative of the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau and the vice president of Burlington Resources' San Juan Division.
    The hearing, which is open to the public, is at 10 a.m. at Rio Rancho High School, 301 Loma Colorado.
    Only invited witnesses will be allowed to testify, but the public can submit written comments by e-mail to nepataskforce@mail.house.gov.