Why Does Sen. Domenici Hate the Valle Vidal?

This is unconscionable.

The Valle Vidal is a wild area in far northern New Mexico that is under dire threat from methane drilling development. A bill to protect this area forever has passed the House of Representatives and awaits action in the Senate, but nothing will happen unless Senator Pete Domenici, senior senator from New Mexico, supports enactment. There is only a little more than a week left. Sen. Domenici, darling of the oil and gas industry in the West, has been stalling for weeks and months on the Valle Vidal Protection Act (Senate Bill 1734).

I’ll post a picture later, but here’s an excerpt from the Coalition for the Valle Vidal site:

The Valle Vidal is a lush mountain basin located in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in northern New Mexico. Donated to the American People in 1982, the Valle Vidal is managed by the Carson National Forest primarily for its wildlife, as well as its outstanding scenic and recreational opportunities.

The Valle Vidal is a veritable Rocky Mountain paradise, with abundant populations of Rocky Mountain wildlife, including mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, bald eagles, and native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. In addition, the vast alpine meadows of the Valle Vidal provide critical habitat for the largest herd of elk in New Mexico.

The Valle Vidal is a special place to New Mexicans and people from around the world, who come to marvel at its alpine majesty, enjoy outdoor recreation and sporting opportunities, and to view the Valle’s prized elk herd. 3,000 Boy Scouts from adjacent Philmont Scout Ranch participate in a High Adventure program in the Valle Vidal each year.

And here’s an excerpt from a column I wrote about the “Valley of Life” two years ago:

I then decide to take a certain a dead-end road, which leads farther up into the mountains than I’ve ever been. I find a valley where I stay at least an hour and never see another soul. There are pine cones in the tops of spruces, where chickadees go round and round. Bluebirds flit here and there across the quiet grassy meadow. A red-tailed hawk turns circles overhead, and big gray birds I’ve never seen before go pecking in the creek. It’s mostly cloudy now, with a little bit of sun, and every now and then a shaft of light drops down to hit the slopes and detonate a yellow aspen. The air is clean and pure. I feel an otherworldly sense of peace.

Something is very, very different here. As I watch the birds and listen to the water, I have the strongest sensation it’s because they’re happy. I don’t know how else to describe it. Not just in a decent mood, but deeply, firmly, solidly engaged with everything around them in the quiet of the moment. And then it hits me: this is someplace where the eye of God looks out and all is as it should be. Air and water completely pristine, gifts of creation not yet fouled and lost forever, right here, right now, uncompromised, exalted. Why, this isn’t of another world at all: this is our own planet, our own Mother …

There’s an MP3 you can listen to at FarrSound, too: “Up in the Valle Vidal,” 10-10-2004, Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest, northern Taos County, NM – almost six minutes of spontaneous commentary from a trip into the wilderness. MP3, 5.34MB. •DOWNLOAD•

Time is running out on this. I wish to hell the national progressive blogs had picked this up some time ago, but they haven’t. Please, everybody who can, call Senator Domenici and urge him to immediately support the Valle Vidal Protection Act (Senate Bill 1734): 202-224-6621.

I’m calling right now.

UPDATE: By golly, a real person answered, just like calling someone at home. Go ahead and try it yourself, and remember to be nice.

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