Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday weighed in on the controversial land swap proposal involving White Peak, a popular hunting spot in Northeastern New Mexico, calling the idea "a behind-the-scenes deal."

The area known as White Peak, sometimes referred to as Whites Peak, is a checkerboard of private property and state trust lands between the small towns of Ocate and Springer. Trust lands are managed by the State Land Office, which collects on 24 grazing leases and gets $200,000 a year from the state Game and Fish Department to allow sportsmen to use the lands.

"I'm extremely concerned about proposed land swaps between the State Land Office and private land owners in the Whites Peak area," Richardson said in a written statement. "I am told the swaps would result in a net loss of almost 4,000 acres to the state, much of it pristine mountain, alpine meadow, lake and riparian territory. These are some of the finest public hunting and sporting grounds in the state.

"I'm particularly concerned about the process by which this swap apparently has been arranged — namely, a behind-the-scenes deal with virtually no public input or notification, sealed bids, and inadequate opportunity for examination," Richardson continued. "This should not be acceptable for any major transaction involving public trust lands, much less lands that for centuries have been used for traditional purposes such as hunting, trapping and recreation."

Commissioner of Public Lands Patrick Lyons responded, "The governor is another victim of misinformation. He is welcome to come down to the Land Office for a full briefing so he can make an informed statement. If the governor has a better idea, he should run for land commissioner."

Richardson's comments are in line with the views of New Mexico Wildlife Federation and sportsmen interviewed this week who complained the proposed deal would affect hunting in the area and said the Land Office hasn't been good about keeping the public informed on White Peak.

Lyons contends that trespassing, vandalism and illegal off-road vehicle use in the area have been problems for years. He said the proposed swap would add two new public-access roads, which will benefit sportsmen.

Bidding on the 7,000 acres of mountainous state land in the area is open until Tuesday. Several bidders have emerged, but the party thought to be likely to win is the Stanley Ranch, which proposes to swap 3,300 acres nearby.

This isn't the first time Richardson has spared with Lyons over a White Peak deal. In 2003 Richardson was equally critical over another proposed land swap involving the area. That deal never came to pass.

Earlier this week Lyons, a Republican, and Richardson, a Democrat, exchanged fire over another issue — planned furloughs for executive branch employees to help ease the state's budget crisis.

Richardson charged that Lyons has "yet to take an active role in helping the state shore up its budget shortfalls." Lyons responded, "It's the governor's reckless fiscal policy that got us into this mess and now state employees are expected to bail him out."

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.