TOMORROW: Pecos Watershed Protection Act To Be Considered In Key Hearing

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET/ 12:30 p.m. MT, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will participate in a Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing on his legislation to protect portions of the Pecos Watershed in northern New Mexico from mineral development.

In the 1990s, a spill of toxic waste from a closed mine killed fish in the river for more than 11 miles. It took decades and millions of dollars to clean up that previous mine, and the last thing this area needs are new mines that would pose a new threat to the Pecos River.

Senator Heinrich introduced the Pecos Watershed Protection Act to withdraw all federally-managed minerals in the watershed from development. This would prevent leasing, patent, or sale of all publicly-owned minerals, including oil and gas as well as gold, silver, copper, and other hard rock minerals. A copy of the bill text can be found by clicking here.

View the livestream by clicking here.

Washington, D.C. - Wednesday, November 18, 2020