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A MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING THE COMPLETION OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL

SCENIC TRAIL.

WHEREAS, congress established and designated the

continental divide national scenic trail on November 10, 1978

under the authority of the National Trails System Act; and

WHEREAS, the continental divide national scenic trail is

a nationally significant resource linking federal, state and

private lands from Mexico to Canada for over three thousand

one hundred miles along the continental divide, and provides

long-distance backcountry trail experiences for hikers and

equestrians; and

WHEREAS, the continental divide national scenic trail

will travel approximately six hundred fifty miles through

western New Mexico and create significant public benefits for

the state by connecting communities, promoting recreation and

healthy lifestyles, stimulating tourism and economic

development and educating the public about the natural,

historic and cultural resources along the trail; and

WHEREAS, the 2004 statewide comprehensive outdoor

recreation plan identified trails as the number one recreation

priority for the public in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, across the United States, trails are important

components of recreation, tourism, economic development,

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conservation, alternative transportation, education and health

and fitness strategies; and

WHEREAS, the State Trails System Act authorizes the

secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources to

establish and designate trails on lands under the jurisdiction

of a federal agency when, in the opinion of the federal agency

and the secretary, such lands may be developed under the

provisions of federal law; and

WHEREAS, the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources may enter into written cooperative agreements for

joint federal-state administration of any New Mexico component

of the national trails system, provided such agreements for

administration of land uses are not less restrictive than

those set forth in the State Trails System Act; and

WHEREAS, the completion of the continental divide

national scenic trail will require the cooperation and

commitment of diverse local, state, federal, tribal and

private entities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the

continental divide national scenic trail be a project of

statewide and national significance that should be completed

as soon as possible for the benefit of present and future

generations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state assist the

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affected local, state, federal, tribal and private entities in

the completion of the New Mexico segment of the continental

divide national scenic trail; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division of

the energy, minerals and natural resources department serve as

the lead state agency involved in the completion of the

continental divide national scenic trail, and that the state

land office should also support this effort; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives

support completion of the continental divide national scenic

trail by providing, to the extent possible, funding to the

energy, minerals and natural resources department to

facilitate planning, environmental compliance, route

designation, construction and maintenance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division of

the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the

state land office be requested to partner with the federal

bureau of land management, the United States forest service,

the national park service and other local, tribal and private

entities in the completion of the continental divide national

scenic trail in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional

delegation be requested to support completion of the

continental divide national scenic trail by seeking

appropriate federal funding support; and

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources, the commissioner of public lands and the members of

the New Mexico congressional delegation.