Gov. Lujan Grisham Leads New Mexico to Establish Nation-Leading Rules to Slash Oil and Gas Pollution

(SANTA FE, N.M.) This week New Mexico’s Environmental Enchancment Board (EIB) preliminarily authorized a nationally main set of necessities that may curb oil and fuel air and methane air pollution.

Oil and fuel operators in New Mexico emit over 1.1 million metric tons of methane yearly alongside a further 300,000 metric tons of smog-forming VOCs. Decreasing this air pollution is critical to guard public well being throughout the state and in key oil and fuel producing counties with unhealthy air high quality, together with Eddy, Lea, and San Juan counties – all of which obtained failing grades for ozone air pollution from the American Lung Affiliation.

The foundations will likely be applied by the New Mexico Setting Division (NMED). Alongside requirements finalized by the Oil Conservation Fee final yr to finish routine venting and flaring, these guidelines can even assist cease unchecked waste of power assets and enhance power safety in gentle of the worldwide power disaster. New Mexico operators waste an estimated $275 million value of pure fuel yearly by methane venting, flaring and leaks, which interprets to roughly $45 million in foregone state income that might go to priorities like schooling.

The foundations embrace key provisions given unanimous EIB approval similar to complete and frequent leak inspections in any respect wells and compressor stations in addition to guaranteeing wells close to properties and faculties obtain probably the most frequent inspections. These enhancements have the help of a broad and numerous group of stakeholders together with environmental, group and public well being teams, NMED, the Nationwide Park Service and Oxy, the state’s second largest oil producer.

“The requirements finalized at present characterize historic progress for the well being and security of communities throughout New Mexico. Gov. Lujan Grisham’s administration is displaying the ambition wanted to cease unchecked oil and fuel air pollution, enhance power safety, shield public well being and deal with the local weather disaster. NMED’s guidelines, which tackle outsized emissions from smaller, leak-prone wells and shield these residing closest to improvement with extra frequent inspections to seek out and repair leaks, provide a robust instance for the EPA to construct on because it advances nationwide methane protections.”

• Jon Goldstein, Senior Director, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, Environmental Protection Fund