Placitas Withdrawal: The deadline is looming to voice your support for the Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland’s, executive order to withdraw all Placitas BLM lands from surface mining. Public comments are due before December 19. The BLM will record all comments received and address them in the Environmental Evaluation expected in early spring. Email comments to lgray@blm.gov with Placitas Withdrawal in the subject. Or snail mail (preferred) to BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, Attn: Placitas Withdrawal, 100 Sun Avenue NE, Suite 300, Albuquerque, NM 87109.
The BLM wants to hear how you use the Public Land in Placitas and why you feel withdrawing these lands from gravel mining is important. The Environmental Assessment will address the following factors: protection of the land, preservation of the environment, scenic integrity, cultural importance, recreational values and wildlife habitat and connectivity.
Hike/Bike Placitas Project: Yes, it is feasible for Placitas to have a safe, off-road trail for walkers, casual bikers, joggers, equestrians and more as the feasibility study has reported. The details are still under review including the cost per mile which is needed before Sandoval County can go in search of funding. We expect that to start falling into place in early 2024. Our vision is to eventually accommodate everyone’s outdoor recreation desires – safer shoulders for road bikers (hopefully DOT will bring 165 into compliance with three foot paved shoulders when we are due for an upgrade in 2027), connection to our mountain biking/hiking trails in west Placitas (maintained by Placitas Trail Association) and a separate trail for families and our aging population where we can stroll or ride without fear of losing our lives.
In the interim, Sheriff Casaus and his staff will go in front of the County Commission in January to get approval to form a Sandoval County Trails and Pathways Initiative to engage all of Sandoval County – a multi-department effort led by Economic Development, Planning & Zoning and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office. The purpose of the initiative is to create safe, non-motorized travel throughout Sandoval County utilizing the Sandoval County/US-550 Rail Runner Station and Rio Metro Regional Transit Bus access in the Town of Bernalillo as a central hub. This would allow riders to switch modes of transportation easily between commuter rail and bus to safe non-motorized uses (walk, bike, jog, etc.). Once approved, LPA will take an active role to make sure we don’t lose focus on the Placitas Hike/Bike Path.
LPA’s Chaco Outing: We had a wonderful day – sunny, not too hot and not too cold. Only two of our group made it to the top of the mesa overlooking downtown Chaco. Lyle T. Yazzie, KUPR DJ, has volunteered to guide us on a trek to one of the Chacoan outliers, Pueblo Pintado. We are looking at the weather forecasts and schedules and hope to do this soon. The Call for Art will be out soon for the Chaco Inspired exhibit, Sacred Places, at Placitas Community Library.