New Mexico county will appeal a court ruling that requires local officials to have federal permission before removing trees in national forests.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that Otero County commissioners decided Thursday to appeal the U.S. District Court decision.
Judge Christina Armijo struck down a state law that gave New Mexico counties the authority to remove trees and clear overgrown areas on national forest land without having to get approval from the U.S. Forest Service. She said it violated the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
County Commission Chairman Ronny Rardin says the county has every right to manage national forest lands. He says the fight over forest jurisdiction has been an ongoing issue since he was elected to office since 1992.
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