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MAY 20, 2012 |
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We
Don't Need NO Stinking Permit
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www.ocwebserver7.co.otero.nm.us
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Today's guest:
Ronny Rardin |
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RONNY RARDIN |
Otero County Commission
Chairman Ronny Rardin is standing up to the federal government and
preserving county citizens' rights to manage the portion of Lincoln
National Forest within the boundaries of Otero County.
"On Sept. 17, 2011, Otero County took one acre of land that the
United States national forest manages," Rardin proclaimed at the
Republican Party meeting in Otero County. "They don't own that land.
I can prove it. You own it. It belongs to New Mexico." |
Rardin believes any land ever given to the federal government has to
be done in two ways.
"State legislators have to agree to give it to them and congress has
to accept it," he said. "The White Sands National Monument was never
legally handed over to the United States government, but don't
worry, we're not after White Sands. We think it's a good idea to
have them out there. The national forest land that they manage under
the Organic Act, it's not their land. It's their timber. It's not
their people. It's me who you elected to help protect the health,
safety and welfare of the people. As long as ... I am in office,
that's what I have to do or I have not upheld my office as an
elected official."
Rardin said Holloman Air Force Base land has been given to the
federal government legally.
"On Sept. 17, we're going to take a 200-foot by 200-foot piece of
land up by Sleepy Grass (Campground)," he said. "We paid $80,000 of
your money for Dr.
(Lawrence D.) Garrett to do a forest plan. We thought it was a
bargain. There's supposed to be 70 trees an acre up there to be a
properly managed forest. When fire does start in a forest properly
it can be managed and mitigated. It burns through the bottom and
cleans out the brush."
Rardin said Dr. Garrett's plan is going to be implemented on Sept.
17 on one acre of land.
"We're going to implement Dr. Garrett's plan to a T," he said.
"We're going to clean up our acre of land then show everyone what
its suppose to look like in the rest of the forest. We believe they
have a right to manage the forest. We also believe we have a say to
protect it from fire danger. I don't want to manage the forest. I
want to enjoy the forest. I want to hunt and fish. I have no choice
but to go in and manage the forest. Let's dream ahead. Once the fire
danger is down, we back off."
Rardin said he and commissioners have exhausted all their avenues
with getting the federal government to manage the forest.
"We've tried to work with the local Forest Service managers," he
said. "There very cordial, but they go 'we can't do that. You're
stepping on the Endangered Species Act or another policy.' I was
floored when regional manager of the New Mexico and Arizona
District, Corbin Newman, told me he would look at our plan. It's
never happened before. We'll see if they'll implement it."
Rardin said he met with the Cloudcroft officials about a private
property ordinance.
"We showed them Ruidoso's ordinance, 'Fire Smart,'" he said. "It's
an ordinance that states private property owners will keep the fire
ladders down, the brush out and so many trees away from structures
and propane tanks. We're going to adopt the same one. If we're going
to hold the Forest Service to the fire danger, we're going to hold
the private land people to the same fire danger. We're going to be
enforcing that ordinance very soon." |
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Websites and
material mentioned on
today's program: |
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Commissioner Ronny Rardin's Document List |
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http://www.blm.gov/flpma/FLPMA.pdf |
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Tree Party Articles: |
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http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_18769064 |
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http://thearizonasentinel.com/tag/otero-county-tree-party/ |
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