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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2002

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is introducing a bill to settle Sandia Pueblo's claim to the western face of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico.

The bill closely follows a settlement the tribe made with the federal government and a private company. Landowners and a local county objected and withdrew from talks.

A federal court subsequently threw out a challenge brought by the landowners and Bernalillo County. Eventually, the Clinton administration issued a legal opinion which determined the Pueblo was wrongfully deprived of about 10,000 acres of land in the mountains.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) are not signing onto the bill but are not saying if they object to it. Both have said in the past that they would not support a settlement because the landowners weren't involved.

Get the Story:
Dispute Over Sandias Brought to U.S. Congress (The Albuquerque Journal 3/6)

Relevant Links:
Sandia Pueblo - http://www.sandiapueblo.nsn.us

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