Press Release: Practicing cultural traditions on public lands safely should be right for all vs. privilege for few

Albuquerque, New Mexico (December 27, 2020) -- Following the holiday at Petroglyph National Monument, a Navajo and Oneida man named Darrell House was repeatedly tased by a National Park Service ranger for stepping off-trail to maintain social distancing protocols when he noticed a crowd walking in his direction.

The site plays an important role for Indigenous people, and was designated after Native American activists sought to protect the stone carvings from vandalism and land development. House visited the national monument to pray before the petroglyphs, and to collect earth for ceremonies.

Statement: A Record Year for Voter Registration and Turnout, HECHO Congratulates President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris

HECHO is proud of the work that took place across the country to encourage communities to vote in what was a landmark year for voter turnout. We congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, and look forward to advancing opportunities to build connection to our nation’s precious landscapes, advocating for access to public lands, climate change solutions, environmental justice, and more.

Press Releases/StatementsCamilla SimonNovember 13, 2020Statement, Latino VoteComment

Press Release: Judge's Removal of Pendley a Win for Public Lands

Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2020) — Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), stands by the decision of the federal court ruling that William Perry Pendley has been illegally serving the Department of the Interior. HECHO is a strong proponent for the protection of our nation’s public lands, lands that Pendley fought to sell-off and dispose of by prioritizing mining in special places like the Grand Canyon National Park.

Press Release: The Great American Outdoors Act Passes the House of Representatives

With strong bipartisan backing, the Great American Outdoors Act today passed the House of Representatives and is one step closer to becoming law.

The landmark legislation fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will address the maintenance backlog in our national parks and public lands, as well as allocating funding to parks and habitat projects.

HECHO commends the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have come together to protect our nation’s state and local parks, trails, recreation facilities and public lands, fortifying our connection to our nation's diverse landscapes.

Statement: Trump Administration Weakens Key Standards under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

July 15, 2020 – As the country grapples with COVID-19, the Trump Administration announced a new final rule for the NEPA, the law that requires federal agencies to review and diagnose environmental, economic, social, or health impacts of all federal projects before construction begins. HECHO Executive Director Camilla Simon released the following statement:

Press Releases/StatementsGuest UserJuly 15, 2020Statement, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)Comment

Press Release: HECHO Celebrates Senate Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act

June 17, 2020 -- Today, HECHO is celebrating alongside countless others the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by the U.S. Senate. An act of bipartisanship (73-25) marks a major milestone for full and consistent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects and increases access to public lands and national parks, and addresses the significant maintenance backlog in our national parks.

Statement: In Solidarity Against Racism

We grieve the loss of George Floyd. His treatment by the police was inhumane, and the egregious abuse he suffered in police custody killed him. His death is a stark wakeup call that there is much work to do in the ongoing fight against racism and the battle for justice. We are part of a collective struggle, and stand in solidarity with the movements taking place across the nation bringing attention to the injustice our Black community members experience.

Press Releases/StatementsCamilla SimonJune 8, 2020Statement, JEDIComment

Joint Press Release: Conservation, civic organizations file amicus brief of stream access rule to state Supreme Court

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (New Mexico Wild, alternatively), the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors, and the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project have filed an amicus brief with the New Mexico Supreme Court in support of a petition asking the Court to invalidate a rule passed in the final days of the Susana Martinez administration that limits public access to New Mexico’s rivers, streams and lakes and risks privatizing many of the waterways enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts and traditional users.

Press Releases/StatementsadminApril 29, 2020New Mexico, Access, Water, Joint Press ReleaseComment

Press Release: New Recommendations Risk Public Health and Safety, Invites Uranium Mining at the Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF (April 23, 2020)—Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) opposed new recommendations released today from the Nuclear Fuels Working Group citing the audacity of its claims that the U.S. Government ought to “revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry” by streamlining “land access for uranium extraction”—a move that could open up uranium mining outside the Grand Canyon.

Statement: HECHO Statement on Halting Enforcement of Pollution Regulations Amid Public Health Crisis Despite Link Between Air Pollution and Covid-19 Deaths

Recent reports demonstrate the link between air pollution and deaths from COVID-19. This distressing connection underscores existing failures of the Trump Administration to prioritize public health-- from restricting access to health care to allowing corporations to pollute the air, land, and water-- making the Trump administration’s shamefully inadequate response to this public health crisis even worse. In response HECHO issued the following statement.

Press Releases/StatementsadminApril 22, 2020Statement, Utah, Pollution, Mark Archuleta Wheatley, Advisory BoardComment

Statement: HECHO Commends Bipartisan Senate Effort to Ensure Full Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Yesterday, March 10, 2020, 56 U.S. Senators introduced legislation that would support full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The proposed bill, named The Great American Outdoors Act, would fully fund LWCF in addition to supporting national parks and public lands by addressing maintenance backlogs.

Press Release: Village of Pecos, City of Española, and Town of Taos Vote to Support Wildlife Corridors

The Village of Pecos, City of Española, and Town of Taos council members unanimously approved resolutions this week supporting the protection of wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande region. The resolutions also urge Congress to support the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 that would serve to protect wildlife corridors nationally. Pecos, Española, and Taos join Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Santa Fe Counties in passing wildlife corridor resolutions this summer.

Press Release: Rio Arriba County Commission Joins Growing List of Counties Unanimously Passing Wildlife Corridor Resolutions

RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, NM – Today members of the Rio Arriba County Commission unanimously approved a resolution in support of the protection of wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Region. The resolution also urges Congress to support the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act that would protect wildlife corridors nationally.

Press Release: Santa Fe and San Miguel County Commissions Pass Wildlife Corridor Resolutions

The Santa Fe and San Miguel County Commissions on Tuesday both unanimously endorsed resolutions in support of protecting wildlife corridors in the upper Rio Grande Basin. The resolutions also urge Congress to support pending legislation to protect wildlife corridors nationwide.

"Passing the Wildlife Migration Corridor Resolutions at this level sets a precedent, showing communities that our traditions, culture, and uses of these lands are valuable," Ulibarri said. "With so many barriers to migration patterns like highways and other urbanizing development, these corridors ensure the protection of genetic diversity, and the continuation of species.”

Statement: HECHO Heralds Passage of Historic Natural Resources Management Ac

The passage of the Natural Resources Management Act is a historic win for our public lands, outdoor heritage, and conservation across the country, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO) said today. HECHO urged the president to swiftly sign it into law.

Press Release: Congress Must Reject Shortsighted Public Land Bills

“We’ve been asking for commonsense updates to oil and gas leasing policies established in the 1920s for years, but this proposal is a loser. The fees we should be raising are oil and gas royalty rates, which currently offer up our public lands at rock bottom rates.

We at HECHO value both our public lands and our voices. This policy of ‘pay to say’ would not only charge $150 or more just to object to an oil and gas lease on public lands, but it would also have a chilling effect on our constitutional right to petition our government. Our deep ties to the land and generations-old traditions on the land compel us, as stewards, to reject any attempt to drown out our voices, especially when it comes to decisions being made about our public lands.

Statement: HECHO Joins Other Latino Organizations in Saying "No" to Rescinding Methane Waste Rule

Today HECHO sent two letters to the Department of the Interior saying “no” to rescinding the BLM Methane Waste and Prevention Rule. One letter was sent by HECHO alone, and the other was signed by 16 Latino organizations all in opposition to this proposed change.

Statement: Local Elected Officials Urge Administration not to Repeal Methane Waste Rule

On April 10 the San Miguel County Board in Northern New Mexico unanimously passed a resolution opposing the BLM’s proposed repeal of the Methane Waste Rule, intended to reduce methane leaking, venting and flaring from oil and gas operations. Introduced by HECHO Board Chair and County Commissioner Rock Ulibarri, the resolution was prompted by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s refusal to hold hearings on the repeal of this important Rule, which would save New Mexico approximately $10 million per year in revenue that could be used for education and other infrastructure.

Press Releases/Statements, Oil & GasadminApril 16, 2018Statement, Advisory Board, Rock Ulibarri, New Mexico, Methane WasteComment

Press Release: Latino groups unite over reducing natural gas waste, concerns for the future of BLM rule

Today, five Latino groups announced the formation of a new initiative, “Latino Partnership to Cut Waste, Protect Our Health.” The partnership includes Hispanic Access Foundation; HECHO; Chispa Nevada, League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance.

Press Releases/StatementsCamilla SimonFebruary 7, 2017Press Release, Methane Waste, Pollution, Oil and Gas, Public LandsComment

Statement: HECHO calls for New Administration to Continue the Conservation and Preservation of our Public Lands

“We call on the new Administration to make it a top priority to protect and conserve our natural resources, and to ensure that oil and gas resources are developed responsibly, with input from local governments and communities.

Press Releases/StatementsGuest BloggerJanuary 6, 2017Statement, Department of Interior (DOI), Public LandsComment

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