Drilling / Mining

In the first weeks after the oil platform “Deepwater Horizon” sank in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, the standard “Drill, baby, drill” Republican mantra was notably absent. As the biggest environmental disaster in American history unfolded, perhaps even the staunchest ultra-right-wingers realized, as a matter of their own self-interest, that it was not the best time to push for more oil drilling-—in the lower 48, in Alaska or offshore. Perhaps they feared an anti-conservative backlash, as Americans saw at first hand the risks of our addiction to petroleum.

Two northeastern New Mexico counties continue to try to navigate the uncharted territory of oil and gas exploration. San Miguel County Commission voted and signed into law a one-year oil and gas moratorium in winter 2010. The Las Vegas City Council doubled that protection, and enacted a two-year moratorium in May.

A fierce counter to New Mexico State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons’ White Peak “land swap” with local ranchers in Mora County took front page in New Mexico newspapers this past winter. Today, that deal lies in the hands of the New Mexico Supreme Court after the Attorney General intervened, but not without unprecedented efforts on the part of citizens who believe White Peak is land of the people, not a chosen few.

Two northeastern New Mexico counties continue to carve difficult paths through the uncharted territory of oil and gas exploration. San Miguel County Commission voted and signed into law a one-year oil and gas moratorium in winter, 2010. The Las Vegas City Council doubled that protection, and enacted a two-year moratorium in May.

This oil disaster should be a wake up call. It changes everything. If this can happen in the Gulf Coast, it can happen anywhere that drilling takes place (New Mexico). We need to protect our communities and our economies and switch to a clean energy future.

Send an e-mail to President Obama telling him that we need accelerate plans to build a clean energy economy. Click here.

The Albuquerque Journal reported on March 19 that Governor Bill Richardson stated that he would support an effort to consider National Monument status for Otero Mesa. The governor’s comments were in a letter sent on March 18 to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar.

Events continue to unfold in the drilling controversy brewing in Mora and San Miguel counties.

In 1998, Rio Grande Chapter excom member Margot Wilson who lives in Southern New Mexico heeded the call to attend a scoping meeting on drilling for natural gas on Otero Mesa. Heyco Energy group, an oil and gas drilling company owned by the Yates family of Southeastern New Mexico had flooded the BLM with applications to drill on the pristine grassland so the agency called for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In a very strong show of opposition, over 200 citizens came to a Mining & Minerals Division (MMD) hearing on December 1, 2009, on a permit application to drill five bore-holes 1,000 feet deep in Monticello Box.

The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club is seeking permanent protection of Otero Mesa from oil and gas development, through BLM administrative options and through federal legislation.