[Coalition_for_valle_vidal] Rep. Udall Announces Plan to Permanently Protect The Valle Vidal

[Jim O'Donnell]

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Coalition for the Valle Vidal		New Mexico Wildlife Federation
P.O. Box 238     			2921 Carlisle Blvd NE Suite 200J
Taos, New Mexico 87571 		Albuquerque, NM 87110
505.758.3874 				505-299-5404


September 15, 2005

Press Release ? For Immediate Release and Distribution

Contact:	Ed Alona, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, 505.447.6364 or 
505.483.2895
		     Alan Lackey, Coalition for the Valle Vidal, 505.445.3097
		     Glen Loveland, Rep. Tom Udall?s Office, 505.994.0499
		     Mayor Danny Cruz, Town of Springer, NM, 505.483.2682
		

New Mexico?s Representative Tom Udall Introduces Bill to Permanently 
Protect the Valle Vidal

(Taos, NM, September 15, 2005) -  A New Mexico natural area cherished 
by Boy Scouts, prized by elk hunters and widely recognized as a 
national treasure would be permanently protected from oil and gas 
drilling under a bill introduced today by Rep. Tom Udall.

Rep. Udall said: "The Valle Vidal is national treasure that is now 
threatened.  Drilling in the Valle Vidal is not a long-term, 
responsible energy strategy - we cannot drill our way out of our 
current energy problems. ?After visiting the area on many occasions and 
hearing from thousands of Americans, I have reached the inescapable 
conclusion that the Valle Vidal should be protected in perpetuity from 
development.??

Mayor Danny Cruz of Springer, New Mexico echoed the Representative: 
?Our communities depend on our natural resources for survival.  We have 
to sustain them.   A lot of times local communities are behind the 
curve on these things and our land ends up being taken from us before 
we even know what?s happening.  Now, we are seeing local people and 
local governments get out in the lead on protecting out special 
places.?

The Town of Springer is one of six northern New Mexico municipalities 
as well as the Taos County Commission and over 200 area businesses and 
organizations opposed to the industrialization of the Valle Vidal.

In Cimarron, the owners of West of Wild, LLC also spoke out against 
destroying the Valle Vidal and praised the bill.  West of Wild?s owner 
Jared Chatterley pointed out that  ?The reason we are supporting the 
protection of the Valle Vidal is both personal and moral.  The Eastern 
part of the Valle is an important part of the Boy Scout program.  It is 
the only place where Scouts learn to hike with no trails and learn 
Leave No Trace rules.  It is vitally important to us that this public 
land stay as it is so that we can continue to enjoy it in its pristine 
state with fantastic wildlife.  Recreation is why we all live in this 
area.?

Rep. Udall, long a leader in assuring the protection of the Valle 
Vidal, was recently joined by Rep. Heather Wilson of Albuquerque in 
demanding protection for the Valle Vidal. "Coal-bed methane development 
using current techniques is ... still too invasive to be compatible 
with other uses of the land,? she said in a recent interview.

In the end, Rep. Udall said, ?There is a place for oil and gas 
drilling.? The Valle Vidal, however, is not one of them."


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Jim O'Donnell
Outreach Coordinator, Coalition for the Valle Vidal
www.vallevidal.org
PO Box 238
Taos, NM 87571
505-758-3874

Are you a member of the Coalition for the Valle Vidal?  Would you like 
to support our efforts?  Join or contribute today at: 
http://www.vallevidal.org/involved.html