Ojito Wilderness Act

Bill: 108-hr-3176
Sponsor: Rep. Udall, Tom [D-NM-3]
Introduced: 2003-09-24 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Civil actions and liability
Environmental Protection
Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Government Operations and Politics
Grazing
Housing and Community Development
Indian housing
Indian lands
Injunctions
Land transfers
Law
Maps
Mines and mineral resources
Minorities
Motor vehicles
New Mexico
Open space lands
Right-of-way
Sports and Recreation
Transportation and Public Works
Wilderness areas

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: 
Ojito Wilderness Act - Designates the area in New Mexico known as the Ojito Wilderness as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
 
Places in trust for the benefit of the Pueblo of Zia Indian Reservation certain lands adjacent to the Ojito Wilderness.

action_date: 2004-10-04
text: 
Ojito Wilderness Act - (Sec. 3) Designates certain public land known as the Ojito Wilderness in New Mexico (Wilderness) as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Requires that the map and a legal description of the Wilderness be filed by the Secretary of the Interior with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Resources, and be made available for public inspection in offices of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 
 
Requires that the Wilderness by managed by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act. Provides for the addition of specified land in New Mexico to the Wilderness if such land is acquired by the Federal Government.
 
Permits grazing of livestock in the Wilderness where grazing rights were established before the enactment of this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act affects: (1) the jurisdiction or responsibilities of New Mexico with respect to fish and wildlife in the State; or (2) any existing valid water right.
 
Directs the Secretary to seek an exchange for State land within the boundaries of the Wilderness within three years after enactment of this Act.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to hold in trust certain public lands for the Pueblo of Zia (Pueblo) and include such lands as part of the Pueblo's Reservation. Requires the Pueblo to pay the Secretary the fair market value (determined by an appraisal) of such public lands placed in trust. Authorizes the Secretary to use funds paid by the Pueblo to acquire non Federal lands in New Mexico.
 
Preserves public access to Pueblo trust lands for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, paleontological, and conservation uses. Authorizes a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico to enforce right of public access.
 
Preserves existing rights-of-way in the trust lands. Requires the Pueblo to grant any reasonable request for rights-of-way for utilities and pipelines in the such lands.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 440.
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-717.
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-717.
action_date: 2004-09-22
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-09-22
text: Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2004-09-22
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-07-20
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1874-1875)
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: Introduced in House