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DECEMBER 12, 2000

Citing lack of participation by all affected parties and a crunch for time, Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.Mex) on Monday renewed his opposition to a proposed settlement on Sandia Pueblo's claim to the western face of the Sandia Mountains.

"There are two or three other groups that we have to be sure they are represented and that their concerns be met," said Domenici, referring to the County of Bernalillo and the Sandia Mountain Coalition, a group of private landowners.

But perhaps more importantly, Domenici yesterday expressed concerns that the Pueblo might one day own part of the mountain.

"While we are clearly moving in the direction of permitting the Indian people to have religious use of this mountain, we want to be sure that we have not made them the owners of the mountain," he said.

For several years, the Pueblo had been locked into a debate with the Department of Interior over their eastern boundary, citing an 1859 surveyor's error. At issue are about 10,000 acres of land, most of which is currently managed by the US Forest Service, After several years of litigation, the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Pueblo proposed a settlement to the issue in April.

The County of Bernalillo and the Sandia Mountain Coalition immediately disapproved, however, and were supported by Domenici and Representative Heather Wilson (R-N.Mex). Domenici, in particular, notes that the settlement was made without the approval of the county or the landowners.

But there are questions on whether or not the two should actually be involved at all. In November of 1999, both withdrew from private mediation on the issue, says the Interior. More recently, the two sought to appeal a decision which favored the Pueblo. In November, a federal judge dismissed their appeal, however.

At the same time, the judge said the government still has to show it can legally change the Pueblo's boundaries. On December 5, the Interior issued a legal opinion which concluded it could do so and announced a 30-day comment period, seeking public input on a possible resurvey.

Here too, Domenici, voiced objections. On Monday, he said 30 days is not enough time for the public, especially the landowners, to comment, saying the Interior has put itself on an "extremely quick" timetable. Last week, he wrote Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt and asked for a 90-day extension on the comment period.

Whether or not any affected parties need the extension is another question. The Interior says Bernalillo County and the Sandia Mountain Coalition asked for the resurvey almost 10 full days before the Pueblo did. Nevertheless, the county is welcoming Domenici's request for an extension.

"We want to make sure that all the parties involved are well represented and all the interests are equally heard," said Barbara Seward, a county commissioner whose district includes the landowners. "Thirty days is an exceedingly short time to respond to a very complicated issue."

The Pueblo, meanwhile, says the public is embracing their proposed settlement. In a survey released last week, 77 percent of residents in Bernalillo and nearby Sandoval County said they support the agreement. Domenici's office declined to comment.

Although Babbitt hasn't yet set a date for his expected departure from the Interior, if the extension is granted, resolution of the Sandia Pueblo resurvey would be handled by a Bush appointee.

Get the Public Comment Notice:
Interior seeks comments on Pueblo resurvey (Tribal Law 12/12)

View a map of the Settlement Area:
Sandia Pueblo Claim Area (Sandia Pueblo)

Related Stories:
Landowners thrown out of Pueblo claim (Tribal Law 11/20)

Relevant Links:
Sandia Pueblo - www.sandiapueblo.nsn.us
Bernalillo County - www.bernco.gov
Senator Pete Domenici - www.senate.gov/~domenici