By: Rodriguez S.R. No. 506
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Castner Range in El Paso is one of the most
rugged and pristine landscapes in Texas, encompassing 7,000
acres of undeveloped desert and foothills; and
WHEREAS, The land was previously known as the Castner
Range Complex at Fort Bliss and was used as a United States Army
artillery range, but the Department of Defense ceased operations
there in 1971; unexploded ordnance remained behind, rendering
the land unsuitable for development, and under the stewardship of
the army, it has been allowed to rest in its natural state; and
WHEREAS, Since 1995, the army has been clearing old
artillery rounds from the surface of the land; surface clearance,
as opposed to subsurface clearance, was found to offer the best
risk-reduction-to-cost ratio and is most compatible with a
minimal-disturbance future land use, such as passive recreation
on protected parkland; and
WHEREAS, Although the Castner Range is off-limits to the
public, El Pasoans have long cherished the area for its
surpassing beauty; bordering Franklin Mountains State Park on
the west, the range contains some of the most geologically
complex and visually striking parts of the Franklins and is
prized for its Mexican gold poppy, which carpets the lower slopes
in brilliant color in the spring; and
WHEREAS, Also remarkable for its biodiversity, Castner Range
provides a number of distinctive animal habitats, and its unique
soils and location combine to make this the only known site in Texas
where several rare plants can be found; moreover, the range holds
the greatest concentration of springs in the Franklins, supporting
unexpectedly lush pockets of vegetation; and
WHEREAS, Castner Range is further distinguished by
military history and archaeological sites; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, the Texas Legislature provided for the
adjustment of the boundaries of Franklin Mountains State Park in
anticipation of the future addition of Castner Range lands, an
idea strongly favored by area residents; both the El Paso City
Council and the El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously
passed resolutions in recent years advocating that the Castner
Range be left undeveloped and be conserved for recreational use;
furthermore, the Franklin Mountains State Park management plan
takes the range into account, envisioning a network of trails in
the canyons and lower elevations, and the United States
Department of Defense recently made a $300,000 grant to the
Frontera Land Alliance to collect data concerning a conservation
conveyance for the area; and
WHEREAS, The Castner Range is one of the Lone Star State's
unequaled treasures, and its conservation will provide enormous
benefits to future generations of Texans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby express its support for the conservation of
Castner Range; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward
official copies of this resolution to the president of the United
States, to the commanding general of Fort Bliss, to the secretary
of the United States Department of Defense, to the president of
the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the
United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas
delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be
entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress
of the United States of America.
_______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 5, 2011.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate