County Passes Development Moratorium

After months of debate over a proposed mine on La Bajada mesa, the Santa Fe County Commission voted unanimously today to impose a 12-month moratorium on "specified developments of countywide impact."

More specifically, the moratorium will apply to applications to the county for landfills, junkyards and "sand and gravel extraction activity requiring blasting." And it will apply to new and existing applications to the county, covering the controversial application for a basalt mine at La Bajada.

The basalt mine project drew plenty of backlash from county residents, resulting in a June public hearing that lasted seven hours. Several commissioners thanked the residents during today's meeting for bringing their concerns directly to the county staff over the past few months.

"You talk about an open-door policy," Commissioner Miguel Chavez said after 14 people testified in favor of the moratorium. "I think we're there."

The moratorium takes pressure off commissioners from making controversial decisions on approving projects like La Bajada for one year. In the meantime, they are expected to further hash out the county's regulations on controversial commercial practices like strip mining.

Commissioner Kathy Holian mentioned how the county made a similar action after imposing a temporary moratorium on oil and gas development six years ago.

"We used that time to develop our oil and gas ordinance," Holian said. "It set a process for evaluating applications."

The county's ensuing ordinance strengthened regulations protecting water, landscape and vital resources when such oil and gas projects are approved, Holian said.

Several activists and concerned citizens showed up to the meeting and applauded the commission after the vote. Among them were actress Ali MacGraw and former CIA spy Valerie Plame, noted residents known locally for their advocacy on the issues.

Santa Fe Reporter