Senate Rules does not advance memorial to seek federal withdrawal of Pecos headwaters

A memorial seeking federal administrative withdrawal of 164,810 acres in the Pecos headwaters area failed to pass the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday after committee members split on the measure.

Sponsor testimony and local witnesses told senators the Pecos headwaters and the surrounding wilderness are environmentally and culturally significant and that prior mining and reclamation problems have damaged water quality. Ralph Faheed, a local resident, described the area as "very special" and recalled a past runoff event that he said killed tens of thousands of fish. San Miguel County Commissioner Max Trujillo, appearing by Zoom, said: "This is the Pecos River. This is all we've got." He and other supporters urged protection of water quality, recreation and cultural resources.

A roll-call vote on a motion to pass the memorial resulted in more opposition than support; the committee reported four members opposing and three in favor on the initial vote, and the motion did not carry. Committee members then conducted a subsequent procedural action; the committee clerk announced the memorial would be tabled for further consideration.

Representative Anita Gonzalez, a cosponsor, and other backers noted recent state actions intended to protect parts of the watershed, including a local moratorium on a subset of acres and prior nonpoint-source protections. Supporters emphasized that headwaters protection matters to downstream communities, recreation-based economies and wildlife.

No members of the public registered opposition for the committee record. The memorial’s sponsor said the intent is to request federal withdrawal from mining to protect water quality, but committee members expressed differing views about the proposal’s merits and timing. Because the initial pass motion failed and the item was tabled, HJM5 will not proceed to the full Senate from this meeting.