♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. OUR GUEST TODAY IS STEPHANIE GARCIA-RICHARD, A FRIEND AND A WONDERFUL PUBLIC SERVANT BECAUSE SHE IS THE LAND COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>STEPHANIE: LORENE, IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

>>LORENE: THAT'S BECAUSE I REALLY GET WHAT YOU DO FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

>>STEPHANIE: YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW.

>>LORENE: OF THE STATE, AND THAT'S WHY I KEEP ASKING YOU BACK.

FOR ONE THING, A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN, THE FIRST EDUCATOR TO BE LAND COMMISSIONER, AND THAT'S SO APPROPRIATE BECAUSE ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS, WELL YOU TELL ME WHAT THE LAND COMMISSION, WHAT THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC LANDS DOES FOR THE STATE AND WHO THEY RAISE MONEY FOR.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT, SO WE MAKE MONEY ON NEW MEXICO'S 13 MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC STATE LAND, WE MAKE MONEY FOR NEW MEXICO'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND HOSPITALS.

>>LORENE: AH, GOOD.

IN 2018 YOU WERE ELECTED LAND COMMISSIONER, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE YOU REALLY BRING TAILOR-MADE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS JOB.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT DON'T BRING TO IT AS MUCH AS YOU DO, SO WHY ARE YOU SUCH A GOOD FIT FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC LANDS?

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, AND FOLKS DIDN'T ALWAYS THINK I WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD FIT.

I AM AN UNUSUAL CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION, I'M NOT A CANDIDATE ANYMORE, BUT WHEN I WAS RUNNING SIX YEARS AGO, BECAUSE MY BACKGROUND WAS NOT IN THE INDUSTRIES THAT THE LAND OFFICE OVERSEAS, OIL AND GAS, AGRICULTURE, WE'VE HAD BANKERS AS LAND COMMISSIONERS.

>>LORENE: YOU LIST PEOPLE WHOSE LOYALTY WOULD BE QUESTIONED, ARE THEY LOYAL TO THE STATE?

>>STEPHANIE: EXACTLY.

SO MY LOYALTY WAS ALWAYS TO THE SCHOOLCHILDREN OF NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

>>STEPHANIE: SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS RUNNING, I SAID, WELL, WHO BETTER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MONEY THAT WE ARE MAKING MEANS IN A CLASSROOM BUT A SCHOOLTEACHER WHO'S ACTUALLY HAD TO GET BY WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE FOR CLASSROOMS.

>>LORENE: AND YOU ALSO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLTEACHER SPENDS OUT OF HER MEAGER LITTLE PURSE OR HIS PURSE TO BUY THINGS FOR THE CLASSROOM.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO EVERY DOLLAR, IF YOU KNOW A GOOD SCHOOL TEACHER USUALLY THEY'RE ONE WHO CAN STRETCH A DOLLAR LIKE A GOOD HOUSEWIFE FROM THE 1930S.

THAT WAS ONE THING THAT I REALLY FEEL LIKE I BROUGHT TO THE LAND OFFICE THAT PERSPECTIVE WAS NEVER THERE BEFORE, UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE TO A CLASSROOM.

I ALSO SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR SIX YEARS.

>>LORENE: AND YOUR ISSUES THEN WERE REALLY IMPORTANT, WORKED ON EDUCATION, GUN CONTROL, RAPE KITS PROCESSING BECAUSE SOME OF THE RAPE KITS WOULDN'T BE PROCESSED FOR 10 YEARS.

>>STEPHANIE: THEY WERE BACKLOGGED, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE, ESSENTIALLY THEY DIDN'T HAVE RESOURCES TO PROCESS THEM.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, AND NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW CAUGHT UP THEY ARE, BUT I KNOW WE'RE NOT 10 YEARS BEHIND.

THOSE PERPETRATORS ARE STILL OUT THERE, WE WANT THEM PUT AWAY.

ALSO, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU WORKED ON LEGISLATION PROTECTING THE CHACO CANYON MONUMENT, WHAT IS IT NOW.

>>STEPHANIE: YES, SO IT'S A CULTURAL HISTORIC MONUMENT, AND I WAS ABLE TO WORK ON THAT LEGISLATION WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEN WHEN I CAME TO THE LAND OFFICE, MY VERY FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT I ISSUED WAS TO PROTECT A 10-MILE BUFFER AROUND THIS VERY SACRED PLACE FROM ANY KIND OF NEW OIL AND GAS DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, RIGHT, THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

YOU ALSO, IT WAS CALLED, YOU MADE A LAND USE RESTRICTION TO PROTECT THE CHACO LANDSCAPE, WHICH IS NOT JUST THE RUINS THEMSELVES.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: THE SACRED ROAD.

IT TURNED OUT IT WASN'T FOR COMMERCE, IT WASN'T FOR TRADE, IT WAS, TELL US ABOUT THAT ROAD.

AND THEN ON THE EDGE, KIND OF A DITCH ON THE SIDE, THERE WERE POTS AND KIND OF LITTLE OFFERINGS ALL THE WAY ALONG.

>>STEPHANIE: SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OUTLINE THAT WE EVENTUALLY CAME UP WITH FOR THE WITHDRAWAL, A MINERAL WITHDRAWAL OR A LAND USE RESTRICTION, IT'S KIND OF AN ODD SHAPE AND THE REASON IT HAS, IT LOOKS LIKE A PROFILE OF SNOOPY WITH A LITTLE SNOUT COMING OUT, AND THE REASON THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THIS ROAD THAT ACTUALLY, WE HAD TO HAVE ADVOCATES HELP US IDENTIFY THE SACRED PLACES THAT NEEDED TO BE PROTECTED AND HELP US DRAW THAT BOUNDARY AND WHAT WAS APPROPRIATE LINES FOR THE BOUNDARY.

SO WE HAD A WHOLE CHACO WORKING GROUP THAT INCLUDED NATIVE INPUT, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES, AND WE MET FOR ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR BEFORE WE ACTUALLY LANDED ON THE FIRST DRAFT MAP AND THEN LATER THE FINAL MAP AND THAT WAS ALL INFORMED BY THAT CHACO WORKING GROUP.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU PROTECTED A PRICELESS CULTURAL RESOURCE.

ONE OF THE PLACES I LOVE, ALTHOUGH I'VE NOT BEEN THERE, BUT THE SUN DAGGER.

THERE'S ONE ON A BUTTE, FAJADA BUTTE, THERE IS A PLACE WHERE AT THE, I DON'T KNOW, VERNAL EQUINOX AND AUTUMNAL EQUINOX, BUT THERE'S A DAGGER OF LIGHT GOES THROUGH A SPIRAL DRAWING RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

THEIR ASTRONOMICAL KNOWLEDGE WAS ASTRONOMICAL.

THAT YOU GUARD THOSE SPOTS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME, THANK YOU.

>>STEPHANIE: AND THEY HAVE A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE NATIVE POPULATIONS OF NEW MEXICO AS WELL, SO WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE IRREVOCABLY DESTROYED.

>>LORENE: ESPECIALLY BY A POLLUTING INDUSTRY, THEY'VE JUST GOT TO STAY PURE.

AND THE WATER, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH, HAS GOT TO BE PROTECTED TOO.

SO THEY CAN'T DO ANY OIL AND GAS DRILLING IN THAT PERIMETER.

>>STEPHANIE: ANY NEW OIL AND GAS DRILLING.

>>LORENE: OKAY, SO THE OLD ONES ARE GRANDFATHERED IN.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND YOU'VE DONE SOME WORK WITH THE BORDER WALL.

THERE'S A NEW THING DOWN THERE, TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE BORDER.

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, THERE WAS A WITHDRAWAL OF ABOUT 100,000 ACRES OF LAND THAT WAS THEN GIVEN OVER TO CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

THAT WAS ALL PUBLIC, SO OUR PUBLIC LAND IN NEW MEXICO, OUR FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND, THIS DOESN'T IMPACT THE STATE LAND OFFICE DIRECTLY, BUT IT DOES INDIRECTLY, SO ESSENTIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NOW OVERSEES THE BORDER AREA, THAT BLM, THE PUBLIC LAND MANAGER USED TO OVERSEE AND IT'S BEING USED AS FAR AS I KNOW FOR APPREHENSION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>>LORENE: AND INTERNMENT, IS THAT TRUE, I'VE HEARD THAT THAT COULD BE JUST A RUMOR.

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A PORTION OF THAT BORDER AREA THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO, IT'S BLM LAND, BUT IT IS SLATED FOR AN EXCHANGE WITH THE LAND OFFICE.

SO, THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL OF LAND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LAND THAT WAS HANDED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD BACK SOME OF THAT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO'S BEEN DOWN THERE AND LOOKED AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING?

>>STEPHANIE: YES, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN FROM THE STATE LAND OFFICE, WE HEAR FROM OUR LAND MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE, ALMOST A MILITARIZATION OF THE BORDER.

>>LORENE: THAT'S NOT VERY WELCOMING.

I BELIEVE AT ONE POINT, THERE WERE MAYBE THE CURRENT GOVERNOR AND OTHER GOVERNORS WHO WANTED TO HAVE THAT TRANSITION BORDER, TRANS-BORDER CROSSING AREA, A LITTLE MORE WELCOMING.

>>STEPHANIE: AND WE HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL ABOUT USING STATE LAND FOR THESE ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE STATE LAND.

STATE LAND BELONGS TO NEW MEXICANS, THAT IS NOT LAND THAT CAN BE SEIZED OR GIVEN OVER FOR ACTIVITIES THAT NEW MEXICANS DO NOT AGREE OR APPROVE OF.

>>LORENE: HOW RESPONSIVE ARE THE FEDS TO THAT SORT OF DEMAND?

>>STEPHANIE: IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE, I'LL JUST SAY IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.

BECAUSE DON'T FORGET, LORENE, I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER UNDER THE INITIAL TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND NOW THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING BACK AND FORTH.

>>LORENE: BUT THEY'VE SORT OF GOT THE BIT IN THEIR TEETH ABOUT WHATEVER, THE AGENDA WAS A LITTLE MORE HIDDEN IN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, NOW IT MIGHT BE MORE VISIBLE.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT, SO WE ARE TRYING TO STAND UP, PUSH BACK, AS WE DID SIX YEARS AGO, BUT WE ARE STILL STANDING FIRM ON NO USE OF STATE LAND FOR A BORDER WALL.

>>LORENE: BUT THE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT THE BORDER WALL IS IT DAMAGES LAND AND WILDLIFE, ENCROACHMENT, CRITTERS MIGRATE, AND IF EVERYTHING'S ALL FENCED OFF, AND IT'S SUDDENLY BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S HOTTER DOWN HERE, AND THEIR NATURAL THING TO DO WOULD BE TO MIGRATE NORTH, GET OUT OF THE HEAT, THEY CAN'T DO IT.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT, SO YOU HAVE SPECIES OF ALL KINDS OF SPECIES, BUT IN PARTICULAR, SPECIES HEAVILY RELIANT ON THAT REGION FOR MIGRATION, FOR MATING ROUTES AND MIGRATORY ROUTES AND ALL OF THAT IS DISRUPTED NOW.

SO I REMEMBER WHEN THEY BEGAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT THERE WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SAID THERE WERE ALL OF THESE NATURAL PROTECTION LAWS THAT WERE ACTUALLY BEING COMPLETELY TRAMPLED BECAUSE THERE WERE SPECIES BEING IMPACTED, HABITAT BEING IMPACTED, AND MIGRATION PATTERNS BEING IMPACTED.

>>LORENE: OH, I'M SO SAD ABOUT THAT.

IT'S JUST, THIS IS IN THERE AND DIDN'T SOMEONE, WAS IT IN COLORADO OR HERE, WHERE THEY BUILT A BRIDGE OVER AN INTERSTATE, WAS THAT IN OUR STATE?

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH, SO THAT'S MORE OF THE WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY THAT BOTH NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO ARE WORKING ON, WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY, BUT THAT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ISSUE, BUT YEAH.

>>LORENE: ALSO I'VE SEEN PICTURES AND IT'S VERY WIDE AND THEY PLANT NATIVE, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE WHATEVER'S GROWING ON THIS SIDE AND ON THE BRIDGE OVER, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL PLACE TO GO, YOU KNOW, WITH NICE THINGS TO GRAZE, IT'S BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

I APPRECIATE THOSE WILDLIFE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP THEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU COULD STOP THEM.

IT COULD BE FATAL TO STOP THEIR INSTINCTS TO MIGRATE.

THE OTHER THING, WHAT'S HAPPENING, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO REINTRODUCE YOU.

TODAY WE'RE TALKING WITH STEPHANIE GARCIA-RICHARD, WHO IS THE PUBLIC LAND COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, IT'S ONE HECK OF A JOB, AND YOU DO SO MUCH FOR US.

DID WE TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE SAVING THE INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER?

>>STEPHANIE: NOT YET.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>>STEPHANIE: REMEMBER THAT THE NEW MEXICO STATE LAND OFFICE EXISTS TO USE OUR LAND TO MAKE MONEY FOR NEW MEXICO'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND HOSPITALS.

WE MAKE, TO THE TUNE LAST YEAR, IT WAS OVER $2 BILLION IN ONE YEAR.

SO WE BROKE THROUGH, VERY SOON AFTER I TOOK OFFICE, WE BROKE THROUGH THAT $1 BILLION MARK, THEN THE $2 BILLION MARK, WITH THAT EARNING OF $2 BILLION FOR PUBLIC SERVICES EVERY YEAR, WE ESTIMATE THAT WE ARE SAVING EACH TAXPAYER IN NEW MEXICO AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $3,000 IN UNPAID TAXES PER YEAR.

SO TAXES THAT THE NEW MEXICO TAXPAYER DOES NOT HAVE TO COME UP WITH BECAUSE THE LAND OFFICE MAKES THAT MONEY ON THEIR BEHALF.

>>LORENE: NOW, FOR YEARS YOU ADVOCATED FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RATE.

SINCE THE 1970S, THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, WHICH IS NOT A STRUGGLING ENTITY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY WERE ONLY REQUESTED TO PAY 20% AND NOW YOU, ALTHOUGH THEY COMPLAINED, THEY SAID IF YOU RAISE IT TO 25%, THEY'RE GOING TO RUN TO TEXAS AND USE ONLY THEIR OIL AND GAS.

AND INSTEAD, AS YOU SAID VERY CUTELY, THEY RAN FOR THEIR CHECKBOOKS AND PAID MORE AND THEY PAID SO MUCH.

>>STEPHANIE: WE HAD A RECORD LEASE SALE.

SO THAT WAS LAST TUESDAY AND IT WAS A LITTLE COUP FOR US FOR THE LAND OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE SORT OF EVERYTHING THAT MY STAFF HAD BEEN PREDICTING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT THEY WERE AFTER IN TERMS OF LEASES CAME TO FRUITION.

AND WE BROKE THROUGH A SINGLE-DAY LEASE SALE RECORD, THE LAST ONE HAD BEEN BACK, I THINK, IN 2018.

OURS SHATTERED THAT RECORD WITH EVEN FEWER TRACTS PUT UP FOR SALE, WE EVEN MADE MORE THAN THAT RECORD HAD BEEN.

>>LORENE: WAS ONE OF THE TRACT DID IT GO FOR EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, ONE ACRE.

>>STEPHANIE: EIGHTY THOUSAND PER ACRE, WE HIT A NEW PER ACRE RECORD AS WELL.

ONE ACRE OF LAND WENT FOR EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: WOW!

>>STEPHANIE: I MEAN, THAT'S HOW, THAT'S HOW LUCRATIVE, THAT'S HOW COMPETITIVE OUR LAND IS DOWN IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF AT THE LAND OFFICE AND MYSELF, WE HAD BEEN TELLING THE LEGISLATORS FOR SIX YEARS, IF YOU PUT THIS UP AT MARKET RATE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BALK.

AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY DID NOT PROVE US WRONG.

>>LORENE: BUT I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I WATCHED THIS FOR ALL THE YEARS YOU WERE TRYING TO DO IT.

IT MADE SENSE, EVERYBODY WINS, THEY CAN AFFORD IT, IT'S MORE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN, THE HOSPITALS.

>>STEPHANIE: IT'S VERY REASONABLE, SORT OF FISCALLY, I WOULD SAY IT'S A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BILL BECAUSE IT ASKS FOR MARKET RATE.

LET THE MARKET DICTATE WHAT THOSE TRACTS ARE WORTH.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

AND THE NAYSAYERS SAID, WELL, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO RUN, GO TO TEXAS AND EVERYTHING, BUT NO, THEY JUST, THEY DIDN'T BLINK.

>>STEPHANIE: THEY DIDN'T BLINK.

>>LORENE: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S A GIFT TO EACH TAXPAYER.

YOU SAID MAYBE PERHAPS SAVES EACH TAXPAYER $3,000.

>>STEPHANIE: EACH TAXPAYER.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN ONE TAXPAYER PER HOUSEHOLD, THAT'S A NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR NEW MEXICANS, AND I HOPE THEY LISTEN NOW AND WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT THE LAND OFFICE, THEY THINK, OH, YEAH, THEY'RE WORKING FOR US BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE.

>>STEPHANIE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: ONE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT ALL THIS OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, ARE THERE PROTECTED AREAS OF COURSE AROUND CHACO CANYON AND I THINK THE PECOS RIVER VALLEY?

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH, SO THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF AREAS, AT THE LAND OFFICE WE SEE THEM AS TOO PRECIOUS TO DEVELOP, ESSENTIALLY.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR SACRED NATURE, EITHER TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, YOU KNOW, OUR TRADITIONAL HISPANIC COMMUNITIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO HAVE USED THESE LANDSCAPES FOR GENERATIONS.

SO, WE DON'T WANT TO CARVE THEM UP FOR MINING, BUILDING OF LARGE TRANSMISSION LINES, OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT, SO SOME OF THE LANDSCAPES WE'VE PROTECTED HAVE BEEN THE PECOS RIVER WATERSHED.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A MINING SPILL THERE A FEW YEARS BACK THAT HAD A PRETTY MASSIVE DIE-OFF OF FISH, WE WANT TO PREVENT ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

WE ARE PROTECTING AS WELL THE MOUNT TAYLOR REGION, SO NEAR THE ACOMA LAGUNA PUEBLO, THERE'S A LOT OF URANIUM POTENTIAL THERE, AND A LOT OF THAT URANIUM DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN FAST-TRACKED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, AND WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH BACK ON USING, AGAIN, OUR STATE LAND FOR A PURPOSE THAT NEW MEXICANS DON'T AGREE WITH, THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH BACK ON THAT.

>>LORENE: AND WAS THERE A GOLD, WHAT WAS THE BIG SPILL IN THE RIVER?

>>STEPHANIE: GOLD KING, WELL, NO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHURCH ROCK.

SO CHURCH ROCK WAS THE LARGEST URANIUM TAILING SPILL IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

THAT HAPPENED ACTUALLY BACK IN THE 70S IN THIS SAME REGION I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>>LORENE: ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT THAT FINALLY IS COMPENSATING, FINALLY, I MEAN, FOR YEARS THEY TRIED TO DO THIS.

>>STEPHANIE: FOR 80 YEARS.

>>LORENE: AND TINA CORDOVA OF THE TULAROSA BASIN DOWNWINDERS ASSOCIATION IS SOMEBODY WHO'S PUSHING FOR IT AND SO FINALLY, JUST THIS YEAR IN THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, THEY SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COMPENSATE EVEN THE PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY DIDN'T KNOW URANIUM WAS SO DANGEROUS.

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW URANIUM WAS SO DANGEROUS, PERHAPS.

WHAT I FIND FASCINATING IS IF YOU READ THE REPORTS OF THE AREA AT THE TIME, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TULAROSA BASIN.

THERE WAS ALL THIS DESCRIPTION OF IT BEING UNPOPULATED, THAT THERE WERE NO COMMUNITIES AROUND THERE.

I MEAN, IF YOU TRAVEL THERE, THERE WERE RANCHES, THERE WERE TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE PEOPLE LIVING, I MEAN, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF BEING THERE WHEN THE TRINITY BOMB WAS DETONATED.

SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS POPULATED.

>>LORENE: AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THAT DETONATION WAS THAT RADIOACTIVE ASH WOULD FALL, AND THE KIDS THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE SNOW, THEY MADE SNOWBALL FIGHTS, THEY PUT IT ALL OVER THEM, AND THAT WAS RADIOACTIVE.

>>STEPHANIE: AND THE LEGACY OF THAT DAY LIVES ON NOW IN THESE FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF THEIR RELATIVES DIE OF CANCER.

AND THESE ARE PARTICULAR CANCERS THAT CAN BE LINKED BACK DIRECTLY TO RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURE.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I'M GLAD THAT NOW THE ACT IS ACTIVE.

>>STEPHANIE: GOD BLESS TINA, SHE'S BEEN AT IT.

>>LORENE: SHE REALLY HAS.

SHE'S BEEN ON THE SHOW A LOT OF TIMES, I HAD HER ON RECENTLY TO CELEBRATE FINALLY.

THE FEDS ARE SAYING, OKAY, WE'LL COMPENSATE PEOPLE, AND YES, IT'S A LUMP SUM FOR PEOPLE WHO DIED THAT THEY CAN PROVE AND IT DOESN'T CONTINUE, EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN AFFECTED GETS A LUMP SUM.

IT DIDN'T INCLUDE ONGOING MEDICAL CARE, AND I HOPE THEY'LL REVISIT THAT AGAIN, BUT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>>STEPHANIE: IT IS A STEP, BUT IT'S ALSO, SO PART OF, TINA DID WANT THE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, ABSOLUTELY, BUT THEY WANTED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY HAD BOMBED THEIR OWN CITIZENS.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT SHE REALLY WANTED, BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED AND IMPACTED BY THE NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY HAD BEEN COMPENSATED EXCEPT FOR NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: I KNOW.

I MEAN, PEOPLE IN NEVADA, COLORADO, SOME OF THEM WERE LIKE 280, 238 MILES FROM THE TEST SITE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TWELVE MILES FROM IT, OBVIOUSLY MORE SEVERELY AFFECTED, WERE NOT INCLUDED, AND NOW THEY ARE.

BUT THAT'S AGAIN, POLITICAL AND IT TAKES PEOPLE LIKE TINA TO FIGHT AND FIGHT AND FIGHT.

>>STEPHANIE: AND IF I COULD ALSO JUST GIVE A SMALL SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SENATOR BEN RAY LUJAN.

I KNOW HE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON ENSURING THAT THESE RECA RECIPIENTS GOT THEIR DAY.

>>LORENE: YES, AND I THINK OUR SENATOR JEFF STEINBORN ALSO WORKED ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, THEY NEEDED HELP, WE DID IT, THEY HAD TO STEP UP.

THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY FILM MADE, FIRST THEY BOMB NEW MEXICO OR FIRST WE BOMB NEW MEXICO .

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH, WE DID A SHOWING OF IT AT THE LAND OFFICE.

>>LORENE: I KNOW.

IT'S PRETTY, IF ANYONE HAS A CHANCE TO SEE IT, IT'S SOMETIMES SCREENED AT CERTAIN CONFERENCES AND THINGS, IT'S REALLY WORTH SEEING.

>>STEPHANIE: WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT INTO NETFLIX OR SOMETHING TO HAVE A LARGER EXPOSURE.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>STEPHANIE: IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN IN EVERY SINGLE HISTORY CLASSROOM IN THIS COUNTRY.

>>LORENE: IF I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT, I'D LOVE TO, IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO WHAT DO OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PERSONAL AMBITIONS ARE.

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT, I MEAN, YOU'RE TERM LIMITED.

>>STEPHANIE: I AM TERM LIMITED.

>>LORENE: AND WE NEED YOU IN POLITICS.

>>STEPHANIE: YES, WELL, I CAN ANSWER THAT IN ONE MOMENT.

THIS IS THE WAY I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE LAND OFFICE.

YOU CAN HAVE RECORD REVENUE, HISTORIC REVENUE, AND NOT SACRIFICE PROPER CARE AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND AND WE'VE SHOWN THAT.

YOU CAN HAVE RECORD ACTIVITY OCCUR ON STATE LAND AND NOT BURN OUT YOUR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY LEAVE IN DROVES AND YOU HAVE HIGH VACANCIES, AND WE HAVE SHOWN THAT.

WE'VE GOTTEN NOW THREE REGIONAL TOP WORKPLACE AWARDS FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL , A PUBLICATION THAT IS NOT ALWAYS MY FRIEND.

SO WE'VE SHOWN RECORD REVENUE, HOLDING INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE, AND HAPPY STAFF IS THE TRIFECTA THAT CAN ALL OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE OTHER.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER THAT SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, OH, IF WE'VE GOT RECORD ACTIVITY ON STATE LAND, THAT MUST BE IT.

>>LORENE: YOU'RE CRACKING THE WHIP, THE SLAVES ARE WORKING OVERTIME.

>>STEPHANIE: SO WE HAVE SHOWN THE BALANCE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS AT THE LAND OFFICE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M PROUD OF.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU'VE GOTTEN SO MANY AWARDS FOR SUPPORTING YOUR EMPLOYEES.

IF IT'S POSSIBLE, YOU ALLOW THEM TO WORK REMOTELY AND ALSO, YOU'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE CRISES OF LIFE THAT COME UP AND SO YOU'VE BEEN NAMED THE BEST TOP EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE RELATION, EMPLOYEE SUPPORT, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S A SPECIAL ONE AWARD FOR WOMEN-LED ORGANIZATIONS.

>>STEPHANIE: WOMEN-LED ORGANIZATIONS, WE WON THAT TWICE.

WE HAVE TWO NATIONAL TOP WORKPLACE AWARDS AND THREE REGIONAL TOP WORKPLACE AWARDS.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THERE'S HARDLY ANY TURNOVER IN YOUR AGENCY.

PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO APPLY, THEY WANT TO WORK THERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU RESPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOUR TEAM TOGETHER.

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, REMEMBER THAT I WAS A PUBLIC-SCHOOL TEACHER.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WANT TO FEEL THAT MY MANAGEMENT TRUSTS ME TO MAKE ADULT DECISIONS ABOUT MY PRODUCTIVITY, MY SCHEDULE, AND I HOPE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES FEEL TRUSTED BY US, THAT WE TRUST THEM TO NOT DROP THE BALL, TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND FIT THAT INTO THEIR LARGER LIFE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, BUT NOT MANY EMPLOYERS DO THAT, AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOTTEN SO MANY OF THOSE AWARDS AND WHY PEOPLE WANT TO WORK FOR YOU, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>>STEPHANIE: SO, LORENE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AT THE STATE LAND OFFICE, ELEVATING THIS OFFICE TO MAKE IT SOMETHING IT NEVER HAD BEEN BEFORE, I HAVE MY EYES NOW SET ON THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING.

I THINK THESE STATEWIDE OFFICES REALLY COULD GROW AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO NEW MEXICANS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.

>>LORENE: YES, THAT'S TRUE, AND WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF WONDERFUL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS, BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.

THEY ACT AS GOVERNOR WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS OUT OF STATE, IT COULD BE MORE ACTIVE, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A GREAT TITLE AND THESE ARE VALUED PUBLIC SERVANTS, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION, AND SOMEONE WITH YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR VISION COULD REALLY DO WONDERS THERE.

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN, WE'VE GOT ALL OF THIS PRESSURE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NEW MEXICANS ARE VULNERABLE, I THINK, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAN ON OUR STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROTECT NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: WELL, THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME, VERY CHALLENGING TIMES.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON TO LET OUR NEW MEXICANS KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THEIR BACK.

YOU'RE SAVING THEM A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND YOU'RE PROTECTING THE STATE AT THE SAME TIME, PLUS PROVIDING A WONDERFUL WORKPLACE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>>STEPHANIE: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>>STEPHANIE: IF I COULD JUST GIVE THE WEBSITE.

>>LORENE: YES, PLEASE.

>>STEPHANIE: EVERYTHING CAN BE FOUND OUT ON OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INTERACTIVE GIS MAP THERE.

>>LORENE: OH, REALLY AND WHAT'S THE WEBSITE?

>>STEPHANIE: NMSTATELANDS.ORG NMSTATELANDS.ORG >>LORENE: DO YOU HAVE ANY RECREATIONAL RESOURCES THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>>STEPHANIE: ABSOLUTELY.

ALL OF OUR DESTINATIONS ARE SHOWCASED ON THE LAND OFFICE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN APPLY FOR YOUR REC ACCESS PERMIT ON THE STATE LAND OFFICE WEBSITE.

RECREATION ACCESS PERMIT.

>>LORENE: OH, REC ACCESS.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT.

REMEMBER THAT IT'S $35 FOR YOU AND 10 OF YOUR TIOS AND TIAS TO RECREATE ON STATE LAND FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

>>LORENE: OH, MY GOSH.

>>STEPHANIE: VERY REASONABLE.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S GREAT.

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR SITES?

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, YEAH, WE'VE GOT THE GILA BOX DOWN IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS, RIGHT DOWN IN GRANT COUNTY IN THE GILA WILDERNESS.

>>LORENE: IS THAT WHERE THE CATWALK IS?

>>STEPHANIE: THE CATWALK IS NEAR THERE.

>>LORENE: AND OTHER ONES?

>>STEPHANIE: UP IN THE WHITES PEAK REGION OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO IN MORA AND SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES IS ALWAYS INCREDIBLY POPULAR YEAR-ROUND.

>>LORENE: OH, GOOD.

WELL, I HOPE OUR VIEWERS ARE TAKING NOTES AND THEY GO TO YOUR WEBSITE.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL SPEAKING WITH YOU TODAY.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD, THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AS A NEW MEXICAN, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR US.

>>STEPHANIE: THANK YOU, LORENE.

>>LORENE: AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>>STEPHANIE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>LORENE: AND I'M LORENE MILLS, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON A VERY INTERESTING EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA F. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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