HM 84 — IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN TAOS & QUESTA

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 84RECOGNIZING 56THTHE LEGISLATUREIMPORTANCE -OF STATEWATER FOR THE FUTURE OF NEWMEXICORURAL -COMMUNITIES FIRSTIN SESSIONTAOS 2023COUNTY INTRODUCEDAND BYSUPPORTING JosephTHE L.DEVELOPMENT OF A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND ACTION PLAN ENABLING THE DIVESTMENT OF FORMER QUESTA MINE WATER RIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Sanchez 6 8 10WHEREAS, Athe MEMORIALformer RECOGNIZINGQuesta THEmine IMPORTANCEpossesses OFadjudicated WATERwater FORrights; THE FUTURE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN TAOS COUNTY AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND ACTION PLAN ENABLING THE DIVESTMENT OF FORMER QUESTA MINE WATER RIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

eand t 17 WHEREAS, the former Questa mine possessespermanently adjudicatedceased wmining loperations nin d2014; 18 water rights;

and =WHEREAS, =the 19communities aof lTaos WHEREAS,county theneed formeraccess Questato minewater permanentlyrights ceasedfor miningtheir ieconomic adevelopment eand rpoverty 20reduction operationsefforts; in 2014;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, the communitiesQuesta ofeconomic Taosdevelopment countyfund needidentified accesswater toresources das ra ekey 22component waterof rights for their economic developmenttransition, diversification and poverty creduction ein sits k2015 23economic reductiondevelopment efforts;plan;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, the Questa economic development fund identified u [ water resources as a key component of economic transition, .226214.1 diversification and poverty reduction in its 2015 economic development plan;

and WHEREAS, the Questa economic development fund subsequently initiated project development in the areas of HM 84 Page 1 affordable housing, light manufacturing, local sustainable agriculture, food security and renewable energy;

and WHEREAS, the office of the state engineer has the authority to work in partnership with the Questa economic development fund and the former Questa mine to develop a stakeholder engagement and action plan that supports continued e t 17 environmental remediation and reclamation of the former mine w l n d 18 site while enabling the former mine to concurrently divest of = = 19 a l water rights for the benefit of local communities;

i a e r 20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF a t m m 21 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the importance d r e 22 of wise water management and administration to promote economic c e s k 23 development and poverty reduction in rural communities be e a n b 24 affirmed, while noting that a lack of capacity and resources in u [ state agencies may have hampered their ability to fulfill the .226214.1 - 2 - agencies' potential to support these efforts;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the development of the stakeholder engagement and action plan that supports environmental remediation and reclamation of the former mine site while concurrently enabling the divestment of former Questa mine water rights for the benefit of local communities HM 84 Page 2 be deemed beneficial;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the state engineer, the interstate stream commission, representatives of the former Questa mine, the mayor of the village of Questa, the Questa economic development fund and the board of county commissioners of Taos e t 17 county.

wHM l84 nPage d 18 - 3 -25 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .226214.1