The two U.S. Senators from New Mexico, Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, introduced legislation (S. 3452, Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act) in late May that would turn over the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service. Similar legislation is expected to be introduced in the House by New Mexico Representative Ben Lujan. ?The move comes five years before the preserve was to become financially self-sufficient as mandated by the Valles Caldera Preservation Act of 2000, which authorized its purchase. However, a Government Accountability Office report released last fall determined that the preserve is well behind schedule for being self-sufficient and that that requirement would be difficult to achieve, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

The federal government purchased the Valles Caldera, which lies within the boundaries of the Santa Fe National Forest, for $100 million in 2000. The law that authorized the purchase created the Valles Caldera Trust to manage the preserve and to maintain recreation access as well as allow cattle grazing. The intent was seen as an experiment to use federal funds to purchase a property while allowing an independent board to maintain the land's ecological integrity while being financially self-sufficient as a "working ranch."

"Although the Valles Caldera Trust has done its best to fulfill the original legislative directives, time has shown in my opinion that this management framework is not the best suited for the long-term management of the preserve," Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement. "I believe that the desire for increased public access balanced with the need to protect and interpret the Preserve's unique cultural and natural resources would be best served by the National Park Service."

If enacted the law would continue to allow hunting, fishing, hiking and other forms of recreation. It would also allow cattle grazing to continue "to the extent that the use furthers scientific research or interpretation of the ranching history of the preserve." ?However the bill states that the Park Service "may allow" these activities, but since hunting and grazing are typically not allowed on Park Service lands, it is feared that these activities eventually will be discontinued. The bill also would prohibit road building, construction and motorized access on all volcanic domes above 9,250 feet, and would protect historical and cultural sites within the preserve.

A hearing is scheduled for June 24 in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources bill. ?(jas)