The Trump administration’s decision to halt Biden-era protections for thousands of acres of public land from mining in New Mexico is riling Democrats in the state who have long fought to protect the Pecos River, a major tributary of the Rio Grande.
The Forest Service, which falls under the Department of Agriculture, is canceling a request it made last year under the Biden administration to withdraw about 165,000 acres in the Upper Pecos River watershed from mining and leasing under mineral and geothermal laws, a spokesperson for the USDA said in an email. The Forest Service is also scrapping a request to withdraw about 310,000 acres in the Ruby Mountains from mineral and geothermal leasing in Nevada, they said.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is removing the burdensome Biden-era regulations that have stifled energy and mineral development to revitalize rural communities and reaffirm America’s role as a global energy powerhouse,” said the spokesperson. “With these directives, Secretary Rollins and the U.S. Forest Service are taking action to implement Executive Order 14154 Unleashing American Energy to restore America’s energy independence.”
Democrats in the Land of Enchantment pushing for permanent protection of the Pecos River watershed blasted the agency’s move in a joint press release. They also announced the reintroduction of legislation to permanently protect the area, which supports critical water resources tied to tourism, agriculture and biodiversity.
