New Mexico Looking To Take Control Of Federal Land Within Its Borders
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: February 7, 2013
SANTA FE, NM -- Legislators in New Mexico are looking to take control of federal lands throughout the Land of Enchantment.
According to The Carlsbad Current-Argus, a bill in the New Mexico legislature asks the U.S. government to transfer titles to federal lands throughout the state to New Mexico on or before December 31, 2015.
The United States Government would maintain control of national parks, national monuments, national historic parks, wilderness areas and tribal lands in New Mexico.
Legislators in support of the bill believe that the state would be able to profit off the federal lands better if they were under state control.
Federal lands in New Mexico are currently under the ownership and management of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
New Mexico counties currently receive Payment In Lieu of Taxes for the land, but many legislators believe the land would be more lucrative if it was state controlled.
New Mexico legislators in support of the bill also add that if the federal lands were transferred to state control, the State of New Mexico would be able to regulate the sale of portions of the land.
In the current arrangement, the U.S. Government can sell federal lands in New Mexico without the state's approval.
Several other western states also have large tracts of federal lands, but some of those states are reportedly looking to file similar legislation.
According to The Carlsbad Current-Argus, a bill in the New Mexico legislature asks the U.S. government to transfer titles to federal lands throughout the state to New Mexico on or before December 31, 2015.
The United States Government would maintain control of national parks, national monuments, national historic parks, wilderness areas and tribal lands in New Mexico.
Legislators in support of the bill believe that the state would be able to profit off the federal lands better if they were under state control.
Federal lands in New Mexico are currently under the ownership and management of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
New Mexico counties currently receive Payment In Lieu of Taxes for the land, but many legislators believe the land would be more lucrative if it was state controlled.
New Mexico legislators in support of the bill also add that if the federal lands were transferred to state control, the State of New Mexico would be able to regulate the sale of portions of the land.
In the current arrangement, the U.S. Government can sell federal lands in New Mexico without the state's approval.
Several other western states also have large tracts of federal lands, but some of those states are reportedly looking to file similar legislation.
