Groups: County should wait on decision on Otero Mesa

People who are against a proposed ordinance opposing the designation of Otero Mesa as a national monument plan to attend tonight's public hearing before the Otero County Commission. The county's proposed ordinance opposes the designation of Otero Mesa as a national monument, stating the county has the duty and jurisdiction to manage public lands within county boundaries while protecting private rights held on the lands. The ordinance says the county opposes the designation without express written consent of the Otero County Commission after local public hearings and appropriate data of the effects of such a designation on the local community. Nathan Newcomer, associate director of New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, said a U.S. Department of the Interior memo was leaked in February listing 14 areas, including Otero Mesa, that the department was looking at for potential national monument status. "And of course when that leaked, a lot of people went crazy," Newcomer said. Newcomer said the department was brainstorming possible monuments, and they want to go out to the different communities and have dialogue with locals. "I'm positive the Department of Interior would want to sit down and talk with people here in Otero County ... and get their feedback," Newcomer said...more