Sandoval County commissioners unanimously approved a letter to the New Mexico congressional delegation expressing strong support for legislation to transfer approximately 7,167 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, known as Ball Ranch, into trust for the San Felipe Pueblo.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury introduced the San Felipe Pueblo Land Trust bill on Sept. 24 to allow for the pueblo’s stewardship of ancestral lands, allowing them to manage the property according to their traditions and cultural practices.
“It’s a project [San Felipe Pueblo has] been working on for 10 plus years to reacquire about 7,000 acres of ancestral tribal land back into their fold,” Sandoval County Commissioner Joshua Jones said.
The bill includes provisions to protect existing easements for nontribal landholders and maintain current grazing leases, while prohibiting gaming activities on the land. By supporting the reacquisition of these lands, the commission seeks to encourage cooperation between tribal and nontribal communities and strengthen the “economic and cultural vitality of Sandoval County,” according to the letter.
Sandoval County Commission Chairman David Heil said the federal legislation sets a precedent for protecting easements, mentioning the pueblo has denied easement access for inholdings, which are privately owned lands within the boundaries of a protected area, for over 10 years. He expressed hope that, with this standard in place and legislative support, they could request Stansbury’s backing to ensure easement protection for those who have had access to their property restricted in similar situations.
Commissioner Jay Block had similar concerns regarding county residents’ access to the land.
County Manager Wayne Johnson told commissioners the county’s Planning and Zoning Department had reviewed the legislation, mapped the area and examined its details.
“It does protect existing rights of way into these inholdings,” Johnson said. “We felt, after review from the Planning and Zoning Department, that we should have no real objection to this action.”
Commissioner Katherine Bruch told her fellow commissioners about the land’s historical and cultural significance to the San Felipe Pueblo. She said the property had experienced a bit of desecration, including theft and damage, making it crucial for the pueblo to reclaim and protect the land.