New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act

Summary

Requires federal land managers in New Mexico to negotiate memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with recognized community land grants (land grant–mercedes) to define and coordinate historical or traditional noncommercial uses of adjacent federal lands. The law directs agencies to allow subsidiary agreements for specific projects, to describe permit/fee/vehicle/material rules, to consult Tribes, and to consider these uses when updating federal land-use plans, while preserving existing tribal, state, and valid federal rights.

• Requires Interior and Agriculture officials in New Mexico to negotiate MOUs with the New Mexico Land Grant Council to coordinate historical/traditional noncommercial uses on adjacent federal lands.
• MOUs must describe which uses need permits, how to apply, applicable fees, vehicle/equipment rules, use of nonnative materials, and consultation processes.
• Authorizes subsidiary agreements with individual qualified land grant–mercedes for specific projects consistent with MOUs and federal law.
• Directs federal land-use plans to, where appropriate and lawful, evaluate impacts on historical or traditional uses by qualified land grant–mercedes.
• Protects existing tribal treaty and other tribal rights, state water and wildlife authority, and valid existing federal rights; it does not create a new federal land use right.
• Narrowly defines covered lands and users, excluding reservation and trust Indian lands from the statute’s Federal land definition.
• Sets a two-year deadline for an initial MOU with the New Mexico Land Grant Council and permits renewal or revision of MOUs thereafter.