[Coalition_for_valle_vidal] VALLE VIDAL BILL CLEARS THE SENATE!!!!

[Jim O'Donnell]

A day for celebration! 

Tom Udall’s Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 cleared the U.S. Senate 
Floor late yesterday.  Now its on the the President's desk.  Below are 
two articles on our amazing victory.

Congratulations to all of you!
 
 
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/52265.html#
 
Santa  Fe New Mexican
 
Senate OKs Valle Vidal protection

By ANDY LENDERMAN | The New Mexican
November 17, 2006
Both New Mexico senators threw their weight behind protecting the Valle 
Vidal from oil and gas drilling Thursday, and it worked.

  The Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 -- authored by U.S. Rep. Tom 
Udall, D-N.M. -- cleared the Senate floor late Thursday night. U.S. 
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., announced his decision earlier in the day 
to support Udall's measure, after months of intense political pressure 
from all over New Mexico. Hunters, anglers, Republicans, Democrats and 
environmentalists lobbied Domenici relentlessly to protect the national 
forest property, famous for its high mountain valleys, rambling forests 
and elk herds, from development.

  "We're very confident the president will sign it," Domenici spokesman 
Chris Gallegos said. "It moved very quickly. Everybody is pleasantly 
surprised."

  The measure received unanimous consent and was among a series of 
energy-related legislation that was passed Thursday night, he said.

  "Countless New Mexicans have worked tirelessly to ensure the permanent 
protection of this remarkable treasure for generations to come, and 
passage of this bill is a testament to their efforts," Udall said 
Thursday night.

  Domenici's move appears to be related to a separate bill, the Gulf of 
Mexico Energy Security Act. That bill would open large parts of the 
continental shelf to oil and gas development.

  "I have been concerned about being perceived as pushing for or even 
forcing energy production in other states while saying 'not in my 
backyard' in New Mexico," Domenici said. "However, at this point, I 
believe we can, and should, try to enact the Valle Vidal Protection 
Act."

  The Valle Vidal is a 101,794-acre parcel of federal property located 
in the Carson  National Forest.

  "I have been to the Valle Vidal. It is a magnificent and beautiful 
area, and I understand why adding new protection has such widespread 
support," Domenici said in a statement issued Thursday.

  The fact that Domenici made this move now is relevant because he won't 
be in the majority much longer. For now, he chairs the Senate Energy 
and Natural Resources Committee. But when Congress meets again next 
year, the chairmanship will go to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., as a 
result of last week's election, which changed the majorities in the 
Senate and House.

  If The Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 becomes law, it would be one 
of Udall's most noteworthy accomplishments since arriving to Congress 
in 1998.

  "This was truly an effort that rose from the ground up," Udall said in 
a statement. "Community members living near the Valle, sportspeople 
from around the country, and (Boy) Scouts who come every year to earn 
natural resources stewardship badges in the Valle Vidal all worked 
together to express their desire that this unique piece of land and its 
unparalleled wildlife populations be protected in perpetuity."

  Domenici is working to resolve differences between the House and the 
Senate on the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which would lead to 
as much as 5.8 trillion cubic feet of new natural gas produced from 
American waters.

  "We reached a point in the session that we now believe anything we do 
on Valle Vidal would not impact any of our other initiatives," Domenici 
spokesman Matt Letourneau said.

  Sportsman Ed Olona of Springer was lobbying for the move Thursday when 
he received the news of Domenici's support.

  "That is great news," Olona said. "That made my day."

  Olona also said that Domenici's support for the Valle Vidal will be 
noted in his legacy.

  Lobbying efforts in support of Udall's bill have been spearheaded by 
the Coalition for the Valle Vidal, which includes more than 400 
nonprofits, businesses and local governments.

  "It will be a really wonderful Christmas present to New Mexico," 
coalition member Brian Shields said.

  Contact Andy Lenderman at 995-3827 or alenderman at sfnewmexican.com.
 
Copyright 2006 Santa Fe New Mexican

------------------


http://www.abqjournal.com/north/513214north_news11-17-06.htm

Albuquerque Journal
Friday, November 17,  2006

Senate OKs Drilling Ban

By John Arnold
Journal Staff Writer

    Legislation that would protect northern New Mexico's Valle Vidal 
from energy and mineral development has cleared the Senate and needs 
only President Bush's signature to become law, Sen. Pete Domenici, 
R-N.M., and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., announced late Thursday.
      "I am confident the President will sign this bill so that the 
Valle Vidal will continue to be a virtually unblemished piece of New 
Mexico for people to enjoy for generations to come," Domenici said in a 
news release.
      The legislation, which would ban energy and mineral development, 
was sponsored by Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and cleared the House in July.
      The Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent, just hours 
after Domenici and Bingaman announced they would work to pass the bill 
in the final days of the congressional session.
      Domenici, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, 
had for months declined to take a position on the legislation or to 
move it forward.
      On Thursday, Domenici said he had been hesitant to support the 
Valle Vidal protection bill while simultaneously pushing for energy 
production elsewhere.
      "I have been concerned about being perceived as pushing for or 
even forcing energy production in other states while saying 'not in my 
backyard' in New Mexico," he said before Thursday's action. "However, 
at this point, I believe we can, and should, try to enact the Valle 
Vidal Protection Act."
      The federal government acquired the 101,000-acre Valle Vidal— 
known to supporters as "the Yellowstone of New Mexico"— from the 
Pennzoil Corp. in 1982. In 2002, El Paso Exploration and Production Co. 
asked the Forest Service to consider opening the eastern half of the 
Valle Vidal to coal-bed methane drilling.
      The proposal drew strong opposition from thousands of New Mexicans 
who say the area is too ecologically valuable to be developed. The 
state's entire congressional delegation eventually agreed.
      Bingaman, who sponsored similar legislation in the Senate, called 
Thursday's passage "terrific news."
      "The Valle Vidal is a beautiful part of New Mexico that deserves 
to be protected," he said.
      Valle Vidal supporters, who've been trying for months to win 
Domenici's support, said before Thursday's approval that it was just a 
matter of time before they prevailed.
      "We've known all along that with the support this bill has in New 
Mexico, Sen. Domenici was going to come around sooner or later," said 
Jim O'Donnell, coordinator for the Coalition for the Valle Vidal.
      Udall said earlier Thursday he was pleased the senators were 
trying to pass his bill, which will prevent energy companies from 
leasing the Valle Vidal in the future.
      "This was truly an effort that rose from the ground up," he said. 
"Community members living near the Valle, sportspeople from around the 
country and (Boy) Scouts who come every year to earn their natural 
resources stewardship badges in the Valle Vidal all worked together to 
express their desire that this unique piece of land and its 
unparalleled wildlife populations be protected in perpetuity."
      The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 



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