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Headline
News
for the week ending June 20, 2003 |
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Dry
Lake and Moonshine fires receive precipitation
The Dry Lake
Fire and the Moonshine Fire received precipitation from Tuesday's and
Wednesday’s storms, moderating fire behavior significantly in the Gila
National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service reported Wednesday.
Posted
6-19-03
Domenici,
citing minnow decision, starts to drum
up support for amending Endangered Species Act
Senator Pete Domenici on Wednesday warned of the national threat to
water compacts and agreements throughout the West from the recent 10th
Circuit Court opinion on the Rio Grande silvery minnow, and sought the
support of Senators to amend the Endangered Species Act.
Posted
6-19-03
Domenici
says ‘god squad’ legally premature,
continues
developing legislative minnow fix
Senator Pete Domenici, R-NM, on Tuesday rejected the so-called
"God Squad" fix to New Mexico's water and silvery minnow issue,
saying such action would be premature because statutorily all viable
options should be exhausted before the trigger is pulled on an endangered
species.
Posted
6-19-03
NM
tops list of states
receiving the most PILT funds
Senators Jeff
Bingaman, D-NM, and Pete Domenici, R-NM, announced Wednesday New Mexico
counties will share more than $21.39 million in payments in lieu of taxes
(PILT) - funds that go to local governments to replace lost tax revenue
for federal land.
Posted
6-19-03
Bingaman
offers amendment to prescription drug bill
to make it easier for seniors to qualify for full benefit
Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, on Wednesday offered an amendment to
the prescription drug bill under debate in the Senate that would make it
easier for low-income seniors to qualify for the full benefit.
Posted
6-19-03
Dry
Lake Fire grows to 10,700 acres
With relative humidity in the single
digits, both the Dry Lake Fire and the Moonshine Fire in the Gila National
Forest increased in size over the weekend.
Posted
6-17-03
Fire
update for Gila
Five fires
continue to be managed as wildland fire use fires for resource benefits in
the Gila National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service Fire Information Office
reported Monday.
Posted
6-17-03
Southern
NM counties to receive
more
than $13 million in PILT funds
Congressman Steve Pearce, R-NM, said Tuesday that 16 of the 18
counties in his Second Congressional District will share payments totaling
$13,511,986 as their part of the federal government's
Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT) program for Fiscal Year 2003.
Posted
6-17-03
Rep.
Pearce opposes Senators
Domenici & Bingaman on tax credits
Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) on June 12 opposed New Mexico
Senators from both political parties by blocking consideration of the
Senate-passed bill to provide immediate child tax credit relief for
working and military families.
Posted
6-17-03
Domenici
ready for debate on Medicare
reform
Senator Pete
Domenici said Friday he’s eager for the upcoming Senate debate that
could finally give seniors long-awaited help in paying for their
prescription drugs.
Posted
6-17-03
T
or C man charged with raping girl
A
Truth or Consequences man was arraigned Thursday in the Sierra County
Magistrate Court on multiple felony charges that he allegedly kidnapped
and raped a nine-year-old girl about four years ago.
Posted
6-13-03
Senator
Domenici sees minnow ruling
as serious threat to New Mexico water law
Senator Pete
Domenici expressed "profound dissatisfaction" with the 2-l
decision by a three-judge panel of the l0th Circuit Court of Appeals that
"threatens to undo water law throughout New Mexico and much of the
rest of the West."
Posted
6-13-03
10th
Circuit issues ‘monstrous’
ruling, echoes
Pearce
Upon hearing
the ruling of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, U.S.
Representative Steve Pearce said he was "disgusted" to hear that
the rights given to Americans under the 5th and 10th
Amendments of the Constitution have been compromised.
Posted
6-13-03
Madrid
decries 10th Circuit Panel decision
upholding
Parker in
silvery minnow case
“I have not
had time to fully analyze the opinion but the decision of this 10th
Circuit Panel to uphold Judge Parker certainly comes as a disappointment.
This case involves one pivotal question: who controls New Mexico's water -
New Mexico or the federal government?”
Posted
6-13-03
Dry
Lake Fire Use Complex results
in
the closure of Jerky Mountain Trail
The Dry Lake
fire use complex in the Gila Wilderness has grown to about 7,800 acres,
the Gila National Forest Fire Information Office reported Thursday.
Posted
6-13-03
Gila
National Forest fires continue to burn
Five fires
are being managed as wildland fire use fires for resource benefits in the
Gila National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service Fire Information Office
reported Thursday.
Posted
6-13-03 |
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Dry
Lake and Moonshine
fires
receive precipitation
SILVER
CITY - The Dry Lake Fire and the Moonshine Fire received precipitation
from Tuesday's and Wednesday’s storms, moderating fire behavior
significantly in the Gila National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service
reported Wednesday.
Both
fires still continue to burn and are expected to do so for some time. The
rain is allowing fire managers to scale back and release one of the
helicopters assigned to the incident.
The
Fire Use Incident Management Team assigned to the Dry Lakes Complex will
continue to manage the fires.
Even
though fire activity decreased, resource objectives are still being met.
The long-term benefits of both fires include minimizing future threats to
firefighters and increased opportunities for low intensity fires to play a
natural role in wilderness.
Five
trails in the vicinity of the fires remain closed for public safety:
Turkey Creek Trail No. 155 from the bottom of Turkey Creek up Skeleton
Ridge to the junction with Miller Springs Trail No. 159; Woodrow/Sycamore
Canyon Trail No. 158 from the junction with Turkey Creek Trail No. 155 to
the junction with Upper Mogollon Creek Trail No. 301; Jerky Mountain Trail
No. 164 from Turkey Feather Pass to the junction with the Marrs Spring
Trail No. 165; Clayton Springs Trail No. 175 from the junction with the
Jerky Mountains Trail No. 164 to the junction with the Middle Fork Gila
River Trail No. 157; Clayton Mesa Trail No. 141 from Cooper Canyon where
the trail leaves the bottom of Iron Creek to the junction with the Clayton
Springs Trail No. 175.
Many
hiking opportunities still exist within the Gila National Forest and allow
visitors opportunities to safely view the fire.
Precautions
when traveling in the vicinity of a fire can include hazards such as
erratic fire behavior, rolling rocks or logs, falling snags, and poor
visibility due to smoke.
Anyone
planning a trip in the Gila Wilderness should check for the latest fire
information and closure status with the District Office or the Gila Cliff
Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center. Information numbers include
the Wilderness District at (505) 536-2260, Gila Cliff Dwellings National
Monument at (505) 536-9461, and Dry Lakes Fire Use Complex at (505)
388-8416.
A fire information station staffed by the Sapillo Volunteer Fire
Department is located at the Wild Horse Mesa Overlook at mile marker 21.5
on Highway 15 north of Silver City.
The
Dry Lake Fire is nine miles southwest of the Gila Cliff Dwellings and 27
miles northwest of Silver City.
The
Moonshine Fire is three miles south of Snow Lake.
These
fires are burning in very steep, remote and brushy country north of the
Gila River.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-19-03)
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Domenici,
citing minnow decision, starts to drum
up
support for amending Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON,
DC - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici on Wednesday warned of the national threat
to water compacts and agreements throughout the West from the recent 10th
Circuit Court opinion on the Rio Grande silvery minnow, and sought the
support of Senators to amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In
a speech to the Senate on Wednesday, Domenici put the Senate on notice
that he intends to push legislation that would not only address the Rio
Grande water situation and the silvery minnow, but also a renewed bid to
improve the ESA.
"We
must amend this law. I will ask the Senate to act to amend the implication
that this law and this court decision to save the minnow has on the Rio
Grande and the people of New Mexico," Domenici said.
"Certainty
is the bedrock of all Western water law. That certainty is critical for
our people, our country, our economy, and yes, our environment,” he
said.
“Certainty
is also a must for endangered species. The court chose to abandon
collaborative efforts and the 2003 Biological Opinion, and directly
threaten every interstate water compact in America, every compact
established by adjudication," he said.
Domenici
said he will continue to develop legislative solutions for the silvery
minnow, and to amend the ESA. He said he expects support from state
officials and the Bush administration, and that those entities will fully
pursue the appeals process.
"The
10th Circuit ruling says that ESA can pre-empt anything and
everything. Essentially, this opinion creates a new federal right for
endangered species," Domenici told his fellow Senators.
"Under
the court's theory, no city, county, state or agricultural community can
reasonably expect a permanent water supply. That is not what Congress
intended when we passed the Endangered Species Act. That is not what I
intended when I voted for that law," he said.
"I
believe there has to be a better way. I believe we can amend this law to
better protect struggling species while still respecting the authority of
the government, states, localities and Indian tribes. I believe we can
amend this law to better protect struggling species while still allowing
people access to the resources we need to survive," Domenici said.
"As
this law is now written and interpreted by the courts, we are failing our
struggling species. We are also failing our citizens who look to us, state
and local leaders, for access to the resources they need to live," he
said.
"This
ruling says we can't even guarantee them the very water they need for
survival, sanitation and food,” the senator said. “Government cannot
function under such proscribed chaos."
In
recent years, Domenici has used his chairmanship of the Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Subcommittee to direct almost $30 million
toward the middle Rio Grande habitat and development of refugias to
promote promulgation of the silvery minnow.
A
large portion of those funds have yet to be used by the Middle Rio Grande
Collaborative Program Workgroup to improve the minnow situation.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-19-03)
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Domenici
says ‘god squad’ legally premature,
continues
developing legislative minnow fix
WASHINGTON,
DC - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, R-NM, on Tuesday rejected the so-called
"God Squad" fix to New Mexico's water and silvery minnow issue,
saying such action would be premature because statutorily all viable
options should be exhausted before the trigger is pulled on an endangered
species.
Domenici
said he would not support calls for using provisions in the Endangered
Species Act to form a six-member panel, or God Squad, to seek an exemption
to taking action to save the Rio Grande silvery minnow. Such action is
statutorily prohibited, he said, if alternatives remain viable.
"Quite
frankly, I was a little surprised to see some give up so quickly on the
minnow," Domenici said. "We have serious water problems in New
Mexico, foremost among them balancing the needs of our cities and farmers
with those of the fish. But neither the drastic measures proposed by the
10th Circuit nor by the 'God Squad' are required at this point.
We still have options and we are not at a point where we should pull the
trigger on the minnow."
Domenici
said he maintains that "reasonable and prudent alternatives" for
conserving the minnow are available with a March 17, 2003 Biological
Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"There
are still court options to consider, and I am now working on legislative
solutions," Domenici said.
"Evoking
the so-called God Squad option, like the 10th Circuit opinion,
does not take into account the 2003 Biological Opinion. The Endangered
Species Act sets forth a number of statutory requirements that must be met
before giving up on the future of an endangered species,” Domenici said.
“One
requirement is that there are no reasonable and prudent alternatives. In
this case, there are," the senator said.
In
recent years, Domenici has used his chairmanship of the Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Subcommittee to direct almost $30 million
toward the middle Rio Grande habitat and development of refugias to
promote promulgation of the silvery minnow.
Domenici
said a large portion of that money, designated for the Middle Rio Grande
Collaborative Program Workgroup, is still available.
The
funds are intended to promote short- and long-term activities including
river habitat modifications, water leasing and purchases, minnow
population management and breeding, refugia construction, fish/stream
monitoring, and nonnative tree removal.
"At
this point, I can only say that the Workgroup must get to work using these
resources to save the minnow and avoid calamitous outcomes," Domenici
said.
"It
is time to set aside individual views and reach for fair and balanced
common ground that will serve everyone's purposes," he said.
The
Workgroup is made up of, among others, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army
Corps of Engineers, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, and non-federal
organizations including the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, city
of Albuquerque, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Alliance for the
Rio Grande Heritage, NM Department of Game and Fish, the state Attorney
General, NM Environment Department and the University of New Mexico.
Domenici
also met Tuesday with Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, and conferred with
Governor Bill Richardson, on the minnow issue.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-19-03)
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New
Mexico tops list of states
receiving
the most PILT funds
WASHINGTON,
DC - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, and Pete Domenici, R-NM, announced
Wednesday New Mexico counties will share more than $21.39 million in
payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) - funds that go to local governments to
replace lost tax revenue for federal land.
No
state received as much as New Mexico. California, which in recent years
was the only state to receive more PILT funding than New Mexico, will
receive $19.24 million.
Bingaman,
the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has
been the leading advocate in Congress for raising PILT payments to
counties.
Earlier
this year, Bingaman reintroduced legislation he wrote to automatically and
fully-fund the PILT program each year, exempting the program from the
annual appropriations process.
Currently,
PILT is authorized at more than $345 million, but was funded this year at
just $218 million.
"Much
of the land in our state is in federal hands, and it is very important
that New Mexico's counties get fairly compensated for that. While New
Mexico tops the lists of states that will receive the most funding, I
continue to believe the counties in our state are shortchanged because
Congress under-funds PILT year after year. As states and local communities
continue to feel the pinch of our ailing economy, it is more important
than ever that we do a better job of funding PILT. I will continue to
press my case in Congress," Bingaman said.
Senator
Domenici reported Wednesday he too has strived for years to fully fund the
PILT program.
Domenici,
a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, said the 2003
PILT grants to New Mexico represent a $2.4 million increase over PILT
payments to New Mexico counties last year.
The
Bureau of Land Management awarded the funding based on tax-exempt federal
land in New Mexico. The federal government owns at least 33 percent of the
land in New Mexico, Domenici said.
"PILT
payments help local governments carry out such vital services as
firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and
roads, and search-and-rescue operations. These payments are one of the
ways that the federal government can fulfill its role of being a good
neighbor to local communities," Domenici said.
"This
is an especially important role for the BLM, which manages more public
land than any other federal agency," he added.
The
PILT payments are made directly to local governments, usually counties, to
compensate for certain tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries.
Curry County in eastern New Mexico is the only county that does not
receive a PILT payment.
Eligible
counties include those with substantial acreage of federal lands -
national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, lands used
for federal water projects, some military installations, and lands managed
by the BLM - within their borders.
Payments
are based on a formula that considers population and the amount of federal
land within an affected county.
As
part of the final FY2003 Consolidated Appropriations Act passed,
Domenici's request for a significant funding increase for the PILT program
was approved, providing $220 million for FY2003 - a $10 million increase
over last year, and $35 million above the President's request.
"Because
the federal government owns a considerable amount of land in our state,
local communities have less tax base on which to rely. PILT funding is a
vital revenue source that helps New Mexico counties provide basic,
necessary services to their residents," Domenici said.
County-by-county
PILT awards for fiscal year 2003 are below. Fiscal year 2002 figures are
included for comparison.
COUNTY
FY 2002
FY 2003
Bernalillo
$110,220
$123,364
Catron
$267,638
$320,469
Chaves
$1.4 million $1.6 million
Cibola
$922,670
$1.05 million
Colfax
$85,800
$93,439
De
Baca
$48,998
$56,181
Dona
Ana $1.4
million $1.6
million
Eddy
$1.55 million $1.78
million
Grant
$1.18 million $1.3
million
Guadalupe
$71,664
$80,599
Harding
$61,122
$64,758
Hidalgo
$425,861
$430,317
Lea
$496,381
$568,340
Lincoln
$814,522
$959,755
Los
Alamos $42,509
$46,348
Luna
$875,153
$1
million
McKinley
$476,054
$553,616
Mora
$132,822
$144,429
Otero
$1.55 million $1.79
million
Quay
$2,125
$2,433
Rio
Arriba $1.4
million $1.49 million
Roosevelt
$11,949
$14,451
San
Juan
$1.01 million $1.16
million
San
Miguel $458,590
$490,906
Sandoval
$1.18 million $1.29
million
Santa
Fe
$372,432
$404,390
Sierra
$641,386
$723,243
Socorro
$781,870
$882,537
Taos
$872,072
$953,428
Torrance
$183,880
$206,440
Union
$67,562
$77,347
Valencia
$40,079
$45,816
TOTAL:
$19.012 million $21.397
million
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-19-03)
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Bingaman
offers amendment to prescription drug bill
to
make it easier for seniors to qualify for full benefit
WASHINGTON,
DC - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, on Wednesday offered an amendment
to the prescription drug bill under debate in the Senate that would make
it easier for low-income seniors to qualify for the full benefit.
As
a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel that wrote Medicare
prescription drug bill, Bingaman has already helped shape the bill in
several important ways to benefit New Mexico seniors and hospitals.
On
Wednesday, Bingaman offered an amendment that would eliminate the
so-called assets test in 2009 when the necessary funding to pay the costs
will be available.
The
assets test is a test that disqualifies seniors or people with
disabilities making below $15,000 per year from receiving the full
prescription drug benefit if they own a car worth as little as $4,001.
According
to the Congressional Budget Office, 21 percent of Medicare beneficiaries
who would otherwise qualify for the low-income benefit - meaning the
lowest monthly premium - would not get that benefit because of the assets
test.
"I
think we can all agree that those who have the least in the way of income
really need the most help in paying for their prescription drugs. The
assets test disqualifies many low-income Medicare recipients from getting
the help they need. Eliminating this test is the right thing to do,"
Bingaman said.
The
vote on Bingaman's amendment is expected today (Thursday, June 19).
Bingaman
also was able to have the following provisions he wrote included in the
bill:
Bingaman's
Medicaid Safety Net Hospital Improvement Act. This provision would
increase Medicaid payments for Disproportionate Share Hospitals -
hospitals that treat a large number of uninsured patients - resulting in
$45 million to New Mexico annually. That's an increase of $35 million over
this year. This provision would expire after two years, but Bingaman will
continue to work to make it permanent.
Bingaman's
Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act. This measure makes
automatic a 10 percent bonus payment awarded to physicians in rural,
medically underserved areas. Under current law, physicians must go through
a cumbersome application process and few doctors are receiving it.
Bingaman's
Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act (REPaIR). This measure will help New
Mexico and other rural states attract doctors and other health care
professional by ensuring that Medicare reimburses them at a fair rate.
Currently, New Mexico physicians are collectively being shortchanged by
about $2.9 million annually because of an inequity in Medicare payments to
doctors and skilled health care professionals who practice in rural areas
versus those who practice in urban areas.
Because
seniors will be expected to purchase their prescription drug benefit
through private insurance companies, which is likely to cause great
confusion among seniors, Bingaman insisted that the legislation contain a
provision that builds upon existing ombudsmen, advice and counseling
programs in the states by providing more adequate and dependable funding
for these consumer services.
Bingaman
was able to include a provision that fixes a problem in federal law that
prevents the federal government from fully reimbursing dental residency
positions at and through hospitals, such as those at UNM hospital.
Bingaman
was able to include a provision that allows Indian Health Service
providers and clinics to receive far better rates through Medicare for
contract health services. This will have a significant impact because it
maximizes Indian Health Service funding to provide additional services to
the Native American community.
Under
the measure currently being debated, Medicare participants would pay a
monthly premium to get drug coverage, plus a deductible of $275 a year.
Seniors
would then have to pay half of all drug costs between $276 and $3,450 a
year, then for all drug costs between $3,450 and $5,300.
When
costs reached beyond $5,300 in a year, Medicare would pay 90 percent of
drug costs.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-19-03)
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Dry
Lake Fire grows to 10,700 acres
Fire
activity increases over the weekend
SILVER
CITY - With relative humidity in the single digits, both the Dry Lake Fire
and the Moonshine Fire in the Gila National Forest increased in size over
the weekend.
The
Dry Lake Fire grew to 10,700 acres while the Moonshine Fire is currently
at 2,500 acres, the U.S. Forest Service Fire Information Office reported
Monday.
"We
just didn't see the kind of overnight humidity recovery you would normally
expect," said Mike Frary, Operations Section Chief. "The
humidity stayed very low throughout the night, giving the fire an
opportunity to burn longer.”
Increased
fire activity resulted in the closing of two additional trails. Because of
its proximity to the Moonshine Fire, the Clayton Springs Trail No. 175 was
closed from the junction with the Jerky Mountains Trail No. 164 to the
junction with the Middle Fork Gila River Trail No. 157.
Additionally,
the Clayton Mesa Trail No. 141 from Cooper Canyon where the trail leaves
the bottom of Iron Creek to the junction with the Clayton Springs Trail
No. 175 was closed.
Increased
fire activity also resulted in additional on-the-ground management
actions. In order to slow the Dry Lake fire, helicopter water bucket drops
have been initiated on the north and west portions of the fire.
A
firefighting crew assigned to the Moonshine Fire is preparing area trails
for use as possible fire lines. Expected higher humidity should reduce
fire growth on both fires.
Even
though activity increased over the weekend, the fires continue to meet
resource objectives.
The
Moonshine Fire continued to reduce fuels as it backs through the area
burned during the 1997 Lilly Fire. The Dry Lake Fire made several uphill
runs through brush, reducing fuels and improving wildlife habitat.
The
long-term benefits of both fires include minimizing future threats to
firefighters and increased opportunities for low intensity fires to play a
natural role in wilderness.
A
Rocky Mountain Fire Use Team assumed management of the Dry Lake Complex on
Monday, relieving the Northern Rockies Fire Use Team that has been
managing the fire complex since June 3.
A
24-hour transitional period between the two teams provided a smooth and
efficient management transfer. Key objectives continue to be providing for
firefighter and public safety, protecting neighboring Threatened and
Endangered Species habitat, and protecting wilderness values.
Tom
Goheen, Incident Commander for the Rocky Mountain Fire Use Team, is
excited about accepting the leadership of the Dry Lake Complex.
"The
Gila National Forest has a history of using fire as a management
tool," Goheen said. "We're looking forward to working with the
local community, Forest Service staff, and neighboring land managers to
help achieve resource benefits from this fire complex."
It
is important for anyone planning a trip in the Gila Wilderness to check
for the latest fire information and closure status with the District
Office or the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center.
In
addition to the areas currently burning, new lightning fires may occur.
Precautions when traveling in the vicinity of the fire can include hazards
such as erratic fire behavior, rolling rocks or logs, falling snags, and
poor visibility due to smoke.
Information
numbers include the Wilderness District at (505) 536-2260, Gila Cliff
Dwellings National Monument at (505) 536-9461, and Dry Lakes Fire Use
Complex at (505) 388-8416.
Visitors
can also find information on the Internet at www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire.
The
Dry Lake Fire is nine miles southwest of the Gila Cliff Dwellings and 27
miles northwest of Silver City. The Moonshine Fire is three miles south of
Snow Lake.
These
fires are burning in very steep, remote and brushy country north of the
Gila River.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-17-03)
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Fire
update for Gila
Five
fire use fires
continue
burning
SILVER
CITY - Five fires continue to be managed as wildland fire use fires for
resource benefits in the Gila National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service
Fire Information Office reported Monday.
They
are the Boiler, located 40 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences; the
Ten Cow, 43 miles north of Silver City; the Dry Lake Complex, 27 miles
northwest of Silver City; and the Moonshine and Sycamore Fires, which are
within the vicinity and the management boundary of the Dry Lake Complex.
The
Boiler fire, which started April 17 is about 51,628 acres in size; the Dry
Lake Complex, 10,700 acres, with the Moonshine at 2,500 acres; Sycamore is
less than one acre; and the Ten Cow, which started on June 6, has grown to
just over 13,523 acres.
Conditions
have been favorable for managing these fires as wildland fire use
projects, which allows fire to resume its natural role in a fire dependent
ecosystem.
The
Morgan Fire 39 miles north of Silver City on the Black Range District is
reported to be 3,861 acres. A confinement strategy is being used on the
fire to allow itself to burn out within natural and existing boundaries.
Rough,
rugged terrain poses a challenge to firefighting efforts, however, about
30 people have been assigned to the fire. They are working on establishing
indirect suppression tactics on the fire to help slow its progression.
The
Jaybird Fire, 12 miles north of Silver City, was reported on June 13 and
is being investigated as a person-caused fire. The fire grew to 15 acres
before firefighters were able contain the fire.
As
a precautionary measure, Signal Peak Lookout was evacuated. Retardant
drops and quick initial attack by wildland firefighters helped keep the
fire size small. The fire was contained by mid-day on Sunday.
A
dedicated information phone line has been established for people wanting
more information about the Dry Lake Complex and surrounding area
activities. The phone number is 505-388-8416.
People are reminded that campfire and smoking restrictions are in effect
on the Gila National Forest. For general information on fire activity or
restrictions, call 505-388-8245;
or call toll free 1-877-864-6985.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-17-03)
|
|
Southern
NM counties to receive
more
than $13 million in PILT funds
Sierra
County to receive $720,000 plus
U.S.
Congressman Steve Pearce, R-NM, said Tuesday that 16 of the 18 counties in
his Second Congressional District will share payments totaling $13,511,986
as their part of the federal government's Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT)
program for Fiscal Year 2003.
The
funds, administered by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), compensates counties for non-taxable Federal lands
located within their boundaries.
Otero
County will receive the highest payment, a total of $1,790,542 - followed
by Eddy County with $1,789,923; Chaves County with $1,619,367; Dona Ana
County with $1,611,642; and Grant County with $1,341,575.
Sierra
County is expected to receive $723,243.
"These
funds are extremely important, often critical, to local communities which
depend on PILT payments to support schools, build roads, clean up local
water supplies and pay for other vital local services within our
communities," Pearce said.
The
PILT program is authorized by Congress, which recognized that counties and
other local government entities with substantial acreage of federal land
could not collect sufficient taxes to provide needed services or were
taxing fewer residents at higher rates to provide services.
The
BLM administers the PILT program because it is the largest single federal
land management agency, with responsibility for over 264 million acres of
public land.
Payments
are made for BLM administered lands, national forests, parks and wildlife
refuges; land used for Federal water projects; and some military
installations.
The
PILT payments are provided in addition to revenues from oil and gas leases
and sales of minerals, timber, and other materials and products derived
from public land. These are revenues that the federal government also
shares with States.
The
Department of the Interior, through the BLM, will distribute PILT payments
totaling about $218 million throughout the United States.
Counties
in the Second Congressional District will receive the following PILT
funds: Bernalillo, $123,346; Catron, $320,469; Chaves, $1,619,367; De
Baca, $56,181; Dona Ana, $1,611,642; Eddy, $1,789,923; Grant, $1,341,575;
Guadalupe, $80,599; Hidalgo, $430,317; Lea, $568,340; Lincoln, $959,755;
Luna, $1,000,582; Otero, $1,790,542; Sierra, $723,243; Valencia, $45,816.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-17-03)
|
|
Rep.
Pearce opposes Senators
Domenici
& Bingaman on tax credits
House
GOP measure effectively
blocks
child tax credit & expands debt
WASHINGTON,
DC – U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) on June 12 opposed New
Mexico Senators from both political parties by blocking consideration of
the Senate-passed bill to provide immediate child tax credit relief for
working and military families.
Unlike
the Senate bill, which passed 94 to 2 last week and was fully paid for,
Pearce and House Republicans voted for a plan that spends $82 billion from
Social Security.
"Instead
of playing partisan games in Washington, Rep. Pearce should have followed
the bipartisan lead of Senators Domenici and Bingaman by passing immediate
tax relief for the families of New Mexico's servicemen and servicewomen
who have already sacrificed so much to serve our country," said
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Robert T. Matsui
(CA).
"Rep.
Pearce claims to be a moderate back home, but his vote to delay the child
tax credit shows his commitment to his fanatically partisan Republican
leaders is stronger than to working and military families in New
Mexico," Matsui said.
House
Democrats and a handful of Republicans on June 12 tried to take up the
Senate legislation, supported by the White House that would expand the
child tax credit by $400 for 6.5 million working families. The tax bill
enacted last month was especially inadequate for military families and
veterans. The bill denied the child credit to 200,000 military families,
according to Matsui.
Both
of New Mexico's Senators, Republican Pete Domenici and Democrat Jeff
Bingaman, voted for the Senate's child tax credit bill. However, instead
of allowing that bill to become law almost immediately, Pearce voted with
his leaders for a different bill that is unlikely to ever become law.
<<<
>>>
(posted
6-17-03)
|
|
Domenici
ready for Senate
debate
on Medicare
reform,
prescription
drug benefits
240,000
NM seniors
enrolled
in Medicare
WASHINGTON,
DC - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici said Friday he’s eager for the upcoming
Senate debate that could finally give seniors long-awaited help in paying
for their prescription drugs.
The
Senate on Monday began debate on S.1, the Prescription Drug and Medicare
Improvement Act, which would launch a $400 billion prescription drug
benefit program and begin reforming the Medicare program.
S.1
also includes provisions to increase Medicare reimbursement levels for
rural hospitals, physicians, home health agencies and other care givers,
as well as provisions from Domenici's S.375 to increase payments to rural
physicians.
"I
believe the conditions are right in Congress and in the White House to
finally come up with a plan that will provide real and substantive help
for seniors as they go to their pharmacies to fill their prescriptions.
The Senate bill is designed to cut the out-of-pocket costs for seniors,
and at the same time make reforms that will ensure that the Medicare
program survives the tidal wave of Baby Boomer retirements," Domenici
said.
"I
expect the Senate debate to be somewhat contentious, but overall I believe
we have a very real chance of passing something that will eventually be
enacted," he said.
The
bipartisan $400 billion plan, passed by the Senate Finance Committee, fits
within the parameters of the program outlined by Domenici several years
ago when he was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
That
framework has been sustained over the years, waiting action by Congress to
fill in the details of a prescription drug program.
The
Senate committee-passed plan would give seniors an option of receiving
Medicare prescription drug benefits through the traditional
fee-for-service program or by joining a regional "Medicare
Advantage" private-sector preferred provider organization (PPO).
Special
assistance would be offered to the lowest-income seniors and the program
would begin covering drug costs associated with catastrophic illnesses.
Under
the Senate plan, a senior would pay $275 annual deductible and then pay
only 50 percent of prescription costs up to $4,500. Seniors would then
cover the full costs of their drugs until exceeding a nearly $5,800
threshold, at which point Medicare would cover 90 percent of all drug
costs.
In
terms of aid to low-income seniors, the Senate bill would cover existing
Medicare beneficiaries under 160 percent of the federal poverty level. In
New Mexico, that would involve about 70,000 seniors. In all, there are
about 238,418 New Mexican seniors enrolled in Medicare.
Domenici's
bid to increase Medicare doctor reimbursement is included in provisions
that are offset and would not diminish the $400 billion to be made
available for prescription drug benefits over the next 10 years.
Senate
debate on the plan is expected to last | |
