Biden admin unleashes 50-year mining, oil drilling ban across thousands of acres in New Mexico
Fox News
The Biden administration is proposing to block off more than 4,000 acres from future mineral development in New Mexico to protect the environment and cultural resources.
"Today we’re responding to call from Tribes, elected leaders, and community members who want to see these public lands protected," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. "We look forward to hearing more from the public to inform decisions about how activities, like gravel mining, may impact these lands, including the important cultural and natural resources." Thomas Catenacci is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
"We recognize the importance of the Placitas area, both for Tribal Nations and for the local community who visit and recreate in this area," added Melanie Barnes, the state director of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) New Mexico office.