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Thursday, February 12, 2004

Guest View: Otero Fence Avoids Cleanup

By Matt Turgeon

    I am writing in regard to the issue of Otero Canyon, and the proposed action by Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) of placing nearly 61/2 miles of chain-link fence in land leased from the U.S. Forest Service.
    This parcel of land, approximately 7,300 acres, is bounded between South 14 to the east and KAFB to the west, and is owned by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), but leased to the Department of Defense (DoD). U.S. Geological (Survey) markers are located on some of the trails within this area, and local residents have used much of the land as a recreation area for many, many years. We in New Mexico have enjoyed this beautiful area after work, on weekends, holidays and whenever the time allows.
    Long ago, due to the efforts to support World War II, this area was added to a parcel of land used to create the existence of what is known today as KAFB. The Otero Canyon area, or commonly known as the "withdrawal area," was used sporadically by the DoD from the time of the lease of this land until now. Because of the infrequent use of this land by the DoD, people on horseback, bicycle, motorcycle and foot began recreating in the area for the many scenic vistas and to also visit the land their ancestors used before the withdrawal. Slowly it became a travel destination for folks around the state, and subsequently the nation, to enjoy. Tourists thus contributed to the economies of local communities such as Tijeras, Cedar Crest and, of course, Albuquerque.
   
Cleanup avoided
    In a Catch-22 that could only be created by the powers in Washington, the DoD never became an effective steward of the USFS leased land because the land was exempt from the many environmental, safety and health regulations required by the U.S. Government on the commercial public, but not the government themselves. However, in order to return the leased land back to the USFS for public use, the environmental hazards, introduced solely by DoD, have to be removed, or else the USFS cannot accept the land.
    In fact, KAFB Col. Henry Andrews Jr. recently admitted the littering of Otero Canyon with what is termed as "unexploded ordnance," or UXO for short. Because of the failure to control and clean up the now half-century-old UXO over the years, the base felt that the prudent thing to do was to fence off this land to accomplish three objectives: to avoid the environmental clean-up costs, and then claim protection for the base from possible attack from terrorists, and also protect you, the U.S. citizen, from the harmful effects of UXO that the military left behind and failed to clean up.
    Did you catch that? KAFB received this land, on loan for WWII effort, and then proceeded to trash it with such things as explosives, and now they want to fence it off forever to protect you, and save themselves from terrorists. Of course, the fence could be placed on the KAFB boundary to the west of this land to address the security issue, but KAFB seems uninterested in addressing the environmental hazards they introduced many, many years ago.
    Clearly this is not an issue of security. I would like to remind Col. Andrews of something his mother might have told him as a child: "clean up your mess!"
    To compound this problem, KAFB has intentionally delayed its decision on their Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding their fencing project. In July 2003, over 600 people attended a public hearing on this EA and voiced their opposition. The EA was an attempt by KAFB to sidestep a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that KAFB apparently seems to be very afraid of pursuing. By intentionally delaying the decision on the EA, KAFB only reinforces the perception of their failure as an effective land steward.
   
Public steps in
    At the request of Friends of Otero (www.saveotero.org) and many citizens of New Mexico, politicians such as Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Reps. Heather Wilson and Tom Udall and governments such as the village of Tijeras, Albuquerque City Council and County of Bernalillo urged Col. Andrews to work with the community and find a solution to keep this land open for public use. Last November, Col. Andrews, in a very hasty and Draconian measure, closed off some sections of trail right after the first snowfall, without asking for public involvement or comment on this measure. Col. Andrews is also threatening citizens with arrest, fine and possible confiscation of property if found on these closed recreation trails.
    Please note that no other base commander in the history of KAFB has felt the need to pursue such tactics at Otero Canyon toward the citizens of New Mexico.
    Most of us do not need to be reminded that the Germans surrendered in 1945 and the Japanese followed shortly thereafter. It took a while longer, but the Soviet Union and its iron curtain of occupied nations finally surrendered in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Our "Greatest Generation" effectively fought the battle to secure our individual freedoms from the likes of Fascism, Nazism, and ultimately Communism. In essence our parents and grandparents defended our liberties so that we could enjoy the benefits of the democracy dreamed of and created by our founding fathers.
    KAFB has also played a significant role in defending these liberties, but by an ironic twist of fate, they have not felt compelled to meet the citizens' requests head on and address the issue of this withdrawn land in Otero Canyon. Col. Andrews should take note that precedent for return of withdrawal land was recently re-established for another WW-II relic called Vieques (P.R).
    Dwight D. Eisenhower, in his famous 1961 address to the nation, said "Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."
    Col. Andrews, we the citizens are here to remind you of this charge. Please release the withdrawal land back to the U.S. public, clean up the land and place the security fence along the western boundary of this land so that we can finally put the ghosts of the last half-century to rest in peace. Thank you.
    Matt Turgeon is an Albuquerque resident and a member of the Friends of Otero organization.