SM 69 — IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN TAOS & QUESTA

SENATEA MEMORIAL 69RECOGNIZING 56THTHE LEGISLATUREIMPORTANCE -OF STATEWATER FOR THE FUTURE OF NEWENVIRONMENTAL MEXICOJUSTICE -COMMUNITIES FIRSTIN SESSION,NORTHERN 2023TAOS INTRODUCEDCOUNTY BYAND RobertoSUPPORTING "Bobby"THE J.DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN ENABLING THE DIVESTMENT OF FORMER QUESTA MINE WATER RIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VILLAGE OF QUESTA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

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h A MEMORIAL g o t hr RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER FOR THE FUTURE OF g e i k ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN TAOS COUNTY AND h r i s SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN ENABLING THE h , t, e u g DIVESTMENT OF FORMER QUESTA MINE WATER RIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT e b l e e h OF THE VILLAGE OF QUESTA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d i a º e WHEREAS, the former Questa mine possesses adjudicated r i = r t e w d m a n o water rights SCONCº, all of which are valid for transfer, d m :

b e d s º o t n = .226068.1AIC March 17, 2023 (2:30pm) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d change of use and environmental remediation or reclamation»SCONC ;

and WHEREAS, the former Questa mine, the village of Questa and the Questa economic development fund have worked in partnership since the completion of the 2015 economic development plan to h transfer Questa mine water rights for the benefit of the u » r community;

and tSM h69 gPage e1 l i WHEREAS, the village of Questa and the Questa economic h r i s development fund subsequently initiated project development in h , e h the areas of affordable housing, light manufacturing, local t u g e b l e e , gh sustainable agriculture, food security and renewable energy;

n d d i = = o h and l ] b ,d i a º r WHEREAS, the above-listed projects require access to local e r = t e w d m a n o water resources;

and dWHEREAS, mthe :office of the state engineer has the authority to work in partnership with the village of Questa, the Questa economic development fund and the former Questa mine to develop an action plan that supports continued environmental remediation and reclamation of the former mine site while enabling the former mine to concurrently divest of water rights for the benefit of the village of Questa and surrounding communities;

b r e t º o t n = .226068.1AIC March 17, 2023 (2:30pm) s k m e - 2 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d WHEREAS, the office of the state engineer has the authority to work in partnership with the village of Questa, the Questa economic development fund and the former Questa mine to develop an action plan that supports continued environmental remediation and reclamation of the former mine site while enabling the former mine to concurrently divest of water rights for the benefit of the village of Questa and surrounding communities;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the development of an action h plan that supports environmental remediation and reclamation ofSM u69 »Page r2 of the former mine site while concurrently enabling the divestment t h g e l i of former Questa mine water rights for the benefit of the h r i s village of Questa and surrounding communities be deemed h , e h beneficial;

and t u g e b l e e , gh BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this action plan be a n d d i = = o h collaborative partnership between the state engineer and l ] b ,d i a º r representatives of the former Questa mine, the village of e r = t e w d m a n o Questa and the Questa economic development fund;

and dBE mIT :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 county.

bSM r69 ePage t º o t n = .226068.1AIC March 17, 2023 (2:30pm) s k m e - 3 -25 e a n e d r e l u [ A d 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 county.

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b r e t º o t n = .226068.1AIC March 17, 2023 (2:30pm) s k em e e a n e d r e l u [ A d