Contact:	Marilyn O'Leary, 277-7809 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915
April 23, 2002 UNM SCHOOL OF LAW UTTON CENTER FOCUSES ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES, CONFLICTS The Utton Transboundary Resources Center based at the University of New Mexico School of Law is named for internationally recognized water law professor Albert E. Utton, 1931-1998. Utton devoted more than 40 years to the resolution of transboundary resource issues using what he termed preventive diplomacy. The UNM Board of Regents renamed the law school's International Transboundary Resources Center in 1999. An active board of advisors comprised of some of Utton's former colleagues plus experts from all related disciplines provide advice and guidance to the newly organized Center. The Utton Center works closely with the UNM Water Resources program as well as with scholars, scientists, policy makers and other experts across the United States and Mexico. New Mexico water law attorney Marilyn C. O'Leary is center director. She oversees a small staff and plans to contract with specialists as the need arises. Due to the urgency and importance of water issues the Utton Center's initial focus will be on water resources, although work will proceed on other transboundary resources matters. In addition, the center will continue Utton's well-known and respected work on the U.S.-Mexico border. "Our mission is to promote equitable and sustainable management and utilization of transboundary resources through impartial expertise, multi-disciplinary focus, and preventive diplomacy," O'Leary said. "We bring together relevant parties to support fact-based decision making for sustainable resource management regarding all interjurisdictional boundaries, such as state vs. state, city vs. city, and even state vs. Indian tribes." The nonprofit center will serve as a resource to all water users, managers, rights holders and other stakeholders, governmental entities, lawyers, and scientists in the search for resolution of current conflicts and prevention of future discord. For more information, call The Utton Center at (505) 277-7809, or email uttoncenter@law.unm.edu. # # #

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981