Tom Udall: “the Valle Vidal, located in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in my district in northern New Mexico, is a lush…”

“the Valle Vidal, located in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in my district in northern New Mexico, is a lush 100,000-acre mountain basin in the Carson National Forest. In 1982, the Pennzoil Company donated the unspoiled Valle Vidal to the people of the United States. It was the largest and most valuable gift of private land ever to the Forest Service. This ``valley of life'', as Valle Vidal translates in English, is home to abundant populations of Rocky Mountain wildlife, including the largest herd of elk in our State and some of the finest trout streams in the Nation. Sportsmen, outdoor recreationists, cattle ranchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and horseback riders all enjoy the Valle Vidal's well-managed and accessible blend of wildland resources. The Valle Vidal is also a unique place for the Boy Scouts of America who have for decades come from all over the country to the adjacent Philmont Scout Ranch, the national high adventure base of the Boy Scouts of America. That is why the Philmont Staff Association, a non-profit organization of more than 2,200 current and former members of the staff the ranch, has publicly stated that the Valle Vidal should be maintained as a wilderness experience, free from the impact of coal bed methane development. During my time in Congress, I have closely followed numerous events concerning both the Valle Vidal and our Nation's energy situation.…”