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Lawmaker looks to rein in oil and gas exceptions – Source New Mexico

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Lawmaker looks to rein in oil and gas exceptions – Source New Mexico


A New Mexico lawmaker prefiled three bills aiming to close exceptions for the oil and gas industry’s disposal of contaminated water from federal laws, seek more data on water use and pollution, and potentially limit oil and gas activity near school property.

Rep. Debra Sariñana (D-Albuquerque) said her background as a former teacher, and presentations on a 2023 lawsuit on behalf of people living around oil and gas hotspots in New Mexico, pushed her to act.

“Nobody’s really watching what’s happening, and nobody is holding anyone accountable,” Sariñana said.

The three bills would amend the state Oil and Gas Act.

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Only one would allocate money to the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), which has a division responsible for overseeing the oil and gas industry.

House Bill 30 would mostly ban oil and gas operators from using fresh water.

The bill also requires annual water use reports from oil and gas producers, documenting volume of fresh water, recycled produced water and treated produced water used in oil and gas operations.

Those reports would be sent to the Oil Conservation Division in the EMNRD. State regulators could note if the reports are incomplete or deficient. All reports would be published on the state’s website, according to the current version of the bill.

House Bill 31 adds fines for oil or liquid waste spills and requires state regulators to make rules on preventing accidents.

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The bill would regulate disposal of produced water under the Safe Drinking Water Act, closing a federal loophole that exempts hydraulic fracturing from the law when enacted in 1974.

HB 31 would use the fines to help plug dry and abandoned oil wells. It requires operators to give public notification for people living within two miles of any spill. The proposal also requires notice to any sovereign tribal nation in New Mexico with landwithin 10 miles of a spill.

The bill allocates $750,000 to allow EMNRD to hire five employees to carry out the work.

House Bill 32 would establish “Children’s Health Protection Zones,” add additional penalties for polluting in those areas.

The zones would include a one-mile setback from school property, limiting how close oil and gas production could be from schools.

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HB 32 seeks to ban that activity within those zones after 2028, except under very limited exceptions. If the current version passes, it would enact more stringent protocols for detecting leaks and giving public notification around schools when that occurs.

Sariñana is vice chair on the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources committee, where she said testimony during the interim showed her the gaps in cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells. She also heard concerns about issues reporting on freshwater use and pollution.

It’s not clear if the bills will make the call, which is set by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, but Sariñana said time was short to address the health and resource concerns.

Lawsuit: State allowance on oil and gas violates New Mexico Constitution

“We need to hold oil and gas more accountable than we ever have before,” she said. “For our kids’ health, for the people who live right by the extraction sites.”

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People living in high-production oil and gas areas in the Four Corners and the southeast portion of the state are calling on the state to make a change in court. The lawsuit, filed in May 2023, includes individual families and environmental organizations suing New Mexico top officials, state agencies and rulemaking bodies.

The complaint claims that the state of New Mexico failed to enforce pollution laws, violating a duty laid out in a 1971 amendment in the state constitution. It further says state action allowing more oil and gas production and failing to address pollution is discrimination against Indigenous people, youth and communities surrounded by oil and gas.

Sariñana’s bill proposals are a good start, said Gail Evans, the attorney representing the plaintiffs.

“In the end, we need setbacks, not just around schools, but around where people live and work and get their health care,” Evans said in an interview. “But this is a good first step in terms of protecting our children. Likewise, with the other bills, these are really good steps to begin to protect our land and our water from these spills.”

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New Mexico Gov. calls for special session regarding SNAP benefits on Nov. 10

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New Mexico Gov. calls for special session regarding SNAP benefits on Nov. 10


SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Thursday afternoon that she is calling a special legislative session to extend state-funded food benefits back to New Mexicans. This session on Monday, Nov. 10 at the State Capitol in Santa Fe is expected to last one day.

The session is happening 10 days after the governor released $30 million in emergency state funding to New Mexico residents using SNAP. This funding will run out on Monday, according to the governor’s office.

House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong issued this statement in response to the special session:

“We are being called into another special session because Senators Luján and Heinrich are refusing to fund SNAP benefits for the neediest New Mexicans. I would much prefer the Governor use her authority and influence to urge our Senate delegation to end this crisis by voting to reopen the federal government. Instead, they are holding vulnerable New Mexicans hostage for political leverage. The people of this state deserve more than the costly and dangerous political games Senators Luján and Heinrich continue to play.”

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Lt. Gov. Howie Morales is expected to serve as acting governor during the special session, while Gov. Grisham attends the U.N. Climate Change Conference.



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How one family is feeling the impact of the longest government shutdown

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How one family is feeling the impact of the longest government shutdown


Many families across the country are feeling hopeless as federal employees continue to work without pay during what is now the longest government shutdown ever.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Many families across the country are feeling hopeless as federal employees continue to work without pay during what is now the longest government shutdown ever.

A New Mexico man, Jason Richards, reached out to KOB 4 sharing his frustration with Congress. Richards has a unique experience with shutdowns, going through several during his 21 year career as a Chief of Interpretation for the National Park Service.

For Richards, seeing the Petroglyph National Monument gates locked brought some tears to his eyes.

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“It makes me emotional. It does. It’s sad, but it’s Congress’s fault. It’s not the American people’s fault. It’s Congress. Both sides are guilty,” said Richards.

Richards told us while some trails remain open, he’s worried for the safety of visitors and the public lands themselves as park rangers are not able to work full-time due to the shutdown.

“That’s my land out there. That’s your land out there. That’s our cameraman’s land out there,” Richards said. “It doesn’t belong to Congress. It belongs to the American people. Tear the gate down.”

A multi-generational problem

The pain is personal as Richards’ daughter followed in his footsteps and now works for the National Park Service on the East Coast. She hasn’t seen a paycheck since before the shutdown.

“She’s calling me and crying, saying, ‘Daddy, I don’t know what to do. I can’t pay my mortgage. I’m having hard time with getting food on the table.’ And her husband works for the government also.”

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KOB 4 also spoke to his daughter, Amberleigh Leitenberger, on the phone Wednesday afternoon. She told us, “I’m extremely passionate about the Park Service and the Park Service mission and being second generation is really important to me. But, it’s very difficult to have to go through this repeatedly.”

When we asked Richards if there is any hope left for him and his daughter, he said, “No, there isn’t.”

Richards says he only asks now for Congress to listen to the American people and do what is best for them, not their agendas.



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A look at results across Northern New Mexico

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A look at results across Northern New Mexico


Santa Fe County

Santa Fe mayor: City Councilor Michael Garcia has been declared the winner after the tabulation of the ranked choice votes. He led in the first round with 36% of voters, while Oscar Rodriguez trailed with 23%, Ron Trujillo with 14%, County Commissioner Justin Greene with 10%, JoAnne Vigil Coppler with 8%, Tarin Nix with 6%, Letitia Montoya with 3% and Jeanne O’Dean with 1%. The candidates were vying to succeed Mayor Alan Webber, who is not seeking reelection.

Santa Fe City Council District 1: Pat Feghali, who has been declared the winner after the tabulation of the second-round ranked choice votes, led with 40% in the first round, while Katherine Rivera and David Montoya trailed with 30% each. The candidates were vying to succeed Councilor Signe Lindell, who is not running for reelection.

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Los Alamos County

San Miguel County

Rio Arriba County

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Taos County



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