PLACITAS, N.M. (KRQE) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has signed a public land order withdrawing 4,212.98 of public land from federal mineral leasing for at least 50 years. The idea is to “protect,
preserve, and promote the scenic integrity, cultural importance, recreational values, and wildlife habitat connectivity within the Placitas area,” the order notes.
The plan to withdraw the land from leases comes after tribal leaders and community members asked for federal protections. The protected lands contain recreation spaces and lands tied to the history of the Pueblo of San Felipe and the Pueblo of Santa Ana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“Indigenous communities have called the Placitas area home since time immemorial, with evidence of their presence found from nearly every settlement period of the past 10,000 years,” Secretary Deb Haaland said in a press release. “The site contains significant cultural ties to neighboring Pueblos and provides outdoor recreation opportunities to the local community. I appreciate the work of so many people who came together to ensure that future generations will be able to continue to enjoy the beauty and unique values of these special lands.”
