Tell Santa Fe County No to Fast-Tracking of the Oil & Gas Ordinance

Since Gov. Richardson's moratorium on OCD permits extends until mid July, and since he is calling for studies to discern the threats of O&G activity throughout the Galisteo Basin, there is more time to adequately address the ordinance drafting. As it stands, the revised draft ordinance is cobbled together from ordinances around the country, which raises concerns about it coming together as a collective whole. There are concerns about the revision in and of itself; however, review of the revised draft is not complete. Demand that the public hearings be postponed until after all of the studies are completed. In the meantime, work on the revised draft could continue as the needed studies to further understanding of the geology, hydrology, archaeology, adverse economic impacts, and other critical studies for the County and the Galisteo Basin are conducted. Studies need to be done for the basin as a whole. The interconnectivity probably spans beyond the basin. If so, then the studies would need to be broadened to better protect resources throughout the County.

Although oil & gas production has been the leading economic driver in New Mexico, once the resource is severed, it is severed permanently. Oil & gas depletion rates are rising. New Mexico must replace the oil & gas industry with sustainable economic drivers and clean renewable tax sources. The oil & gas extraction industry is not our future. To gamble the Galisteo Basin for a marginal, speculative, non-renewable gas & oil play would be reckless.

The critical management areas should be identified before the ordinance adoption. We also must learn more about the complex faults, fractures and the interconnected hydrogeology. There may be other areas along with the Galisteo Basin that should be absolutely protected from oil & gas activity in Santa Fe County. It is hoped that the County and the community can work on these critical issues together to protect the vibrant economy of Santa Fe County, as we protect our irreplaceable resources and our residential areas.

So, please write the County Commissioners, the County Attorney and the County Manager about the following:

• Demand the County stop the fast-tracking oil & gas ordinance drafting process and postpone the two official public hearings about the ordinance until baseline studies are conducted and a long-term management plan for the County is in place. The County should work with the State to coordinate the necessary studies of hydrology and geology. In addition, U.S. Senator Bingaman and Representative Udall sponsored the Galisteo Basin Archeological Sites Protection Act that has not been funded. Until a comprehensive study of the archeology in the Galisteo Basin is conducted and incorporated into the County management plan, all oil & gas activity in the basin should be deferred.
• The County should extend the County moratorium to match the State moratorium, at a minimum.