Lewisville, TX— Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement following the announcement from the Bureau of Land Management to defer the sale of a parcel of land located under Lake Lewisville as part of a planned mineral rights auction in New Mexico.

“Following a continued and comprehensive dialogue between my office, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Fort Worth U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), BLM has announced that it will defer the sale of a parcel of land located under Lake Lewisville as part of the April 20 mineral rights auction.

“On February 16, 2016, I sent a letter to the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Mr. Neil Kornze, requesting a delay in the sale of mineral rights until further evaluation can prove beyond a doubt that drilling under Lake Lewisville will pose no safety issues to the dam or our source of drinking water.

“A decision with such potential significant repercussions, as this sale has, deserves substantially more time for adequate evaluation and for the community that will be effected to weigh in. The safety and health of the residents of the 26th district should be the top priority for any agency or organization looking to operate within our district.

“I remain committed to continuing to work with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

Read the announcement from BLM here. 

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