Land Swap Tension Rises Lyons Faces Off With Opposition

The New Mexico State Land Office (SLO) headed by Pat Lyons has yet another controversy besides leasing State lands/minerals in fragile ecosystems of frontier areas such as the Las Vegas Basin for exploratory drilling or "wildcatting," the White Peak land swap issue has become another hot topic.

Albuquerque Journal North

Friday, February 26, 2010

By Phil Parker
Journal Staff Writer

"The heat generated over some White Peak land swaps was dialed up another notch Thursday with developments on three fronts.

• The State Land Office claimed that the Attorney General's Office is trying to limit the land commissioner's legal discretion and authority in challenging the land deal. This contention came in a response to an Attorney General petition in the New Mexico Supreme Court attempting to block the land exchanges.
• Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons faced the New Mexico State Game Commission and "war-painted" hunters vehemently opposed to the deal.
• The League of United Latin American Citizens filed a brief in support of the Attorney General's efforts in the Supreme Court, raising the issue of historic land grants given to Spanish settlers. " More>>>>

Related post:

Amid strife, first Whites Peak land swap closes