Saturday, March 29, 2008
Earth Hour
Thursday, March 27, 2008
"Commish-Eration," Santa Fe Reporter
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
"Writer finds funny side to carbon-light life," - SantaFeNewMexcian.com
Most of all, Fine said, he's learned fossil fuel isn't necessary to a comfortable life. "Living on solar I hardly notice I'm on solar," he said. "You turn on lights, open the fridge, use the laptop, live your life. You don't need oil to power your life. I really did learn that."’ (click here for full article)
"Thawing oil spill sends 'something' downstream" - denverpost.com
“The blackened ice formed from November through February when four oil-and-gas-well pits leaked 1 million gallons of something into Parachute Creek, the source for the Lindauers' irrigation water as well as the irrigation water for the town of
"Something" is the word people around here use because they don't know yet what's in the spills that froze as they poured into Garden Gulch. They didn't even know there were spills until two weeks ago, when it was reported in a local newspaper.” (click here for full article)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
"Guarding Galisteo, " High Country News
Even as land-use control in the Galisteo Basin remains in a grey zone, one thing is unmistakable. Without strong public involvement and organization, Santa Fe County would have no muscle to flex against the oil and gas industry. “What’s really interesting about this is the human behavior,” says Herrell. “There’s a very high emotional level among the people in this area.” Among New Mexico’s counties, Santa Fe County’s tourism-based economy and high property values also set it apart. “It’s the capital and it’s the state’s cultural center, if you will,” says Lachelt, “so they’re more likely to push the envelope in terms of what authority they have.”' (click here for full article)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tecton Energy, LLC, Black Ferrill #1, Santa Fe County New Mexico, Oil Production
Monthly water production for Black Ferrill #1:
Sept. 07: 14 barrels
Oct. 07: 22 bls
Nov. 07: 22bls
Dec. 07: 20 bls
Atrisco Land Grant flyer
Monday, March 10, 2008
State of New Mexico Comment Form Regarding Proposed Oil & Gas Drilling in the Galisteo Basin Area of Santa Fe County
In regards to a previous post (Tuesday, March 4, 2008 State of New Mexico Hosts Open House Meeting), the comment form can be found by clicking here or here. The deadline is April 15, 2008.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
"My View(s)" SantaFeNewMexican.com March 9, 2008
"Our music comes on compact discs and iPods these days, but I'm old enough to remember what a broken record sounds like. And oh boy, do I hear it whenever the topic of drilling in the Galisteo Basin comes up. So I wanted to set the record straight about what I call the "Four Big Myths," which I hear again and again." (click here for full article)
From Kim Sorvig, SantaFeNewMexican.com, "Oil and gas welcome to play by same rules:"
"This industry is one of the country's worst polluters, producing: more volatile organic compounds air pollutants than all other sources combined in some regions; 6,700 contaminated waste pits in New Mexico alone; nearly 9 percent fouled groundwater; water pollutants like benzene or radioactive materials at 100 times the Environmental Protection Agency levels permitted for any other industry; stream-killing sediments from unregulated pads and roads." (click here for full article)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act
From an email alert, "Dear Friend of Archaeological Preservation,
So, please take a few minutes and send a letter or email voicing your support for funding of the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act. Senators Bingaman and Domenici, as well as Congressman Udall, also have contact pages on their websites, where you can enter your message and send it electronically.
Thank you for your help and support,
Bob Powers
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Coordination Committee"
US Senator Bingaman: click here
US Senator Domenici: click here
US Representative Udall: click here
Thursday, March 6, 2008
"Oil's End," Timothy Egan, The New York Times
Climate Activism Training and Lecture: Bill McKibben & Mike Tidwell
Climate Activism Training and Lecture
Bill McKibben: Featured Keynote Speaker
Mike Tidwell: Activist and Author
Wednesday, March 26th, Training: 5 – 6:30pm, Lecture: 7 - 8pm
Student Union Ballroom, University of New Mexico
Want to learn more about climate activism and what you can do to help fight global warming? Click here for directions and attend this inspiring and informative event! Click here for a map. Click here for more information about Bill McKibben.
These events are free and sponsored by Bookworks, 1Sky New Mexico and UNM.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
"Energy company cedes its oil, gas leases along Front," Great Falls Tribune online
Since 2006, 63,374 acres have been withdrawn from oil and gas development. In that year, Congress passed legislation banning future oil and gas leasing on 400,000 acres of federal lands along the Front.
The bill extended and expanded the 1997 decision by former Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor Gloria Flora to withdraw 365,000 acres of federal land in the Front from new leasing activities.
The 2006 legislation offered tax incentives to companies that give existing leases to conservation groups. Kohlman was the fourth lease-holder to give up control of its leases since the legislation passed. Questar, Epperson and Alberta Clipper previously gave up plans to develop natural gas on the Front....
“When we told them the area was blanketed by existing oil and gas leases, they couldn’t believe it,” Sentz said. “It’s really a very spectacular area.”
Another time, Sentz was guiding top-level U.S. Forest Service officials to Goat Mountain, where Chevron wanted to drill at the time.
One of the officials commented, “‘Good Lord, this should have never been leased in the first place,’” Sentz said." (click here for full article)
"Judge OKs stricter rules on drilling waste," SantaFeNewMexican.com
The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission won the appeal in state District Court in Santa Fe on Feb. 26 but didn't find out about the decision until Friday.
Mark Fesmire, head of the Oil Conservation Division, said the new rule primarily sets new limits on the amount of salt allowed in waste that is spread out on 'land farms" and remediated naturally. Under the old rule, he said, "we had not adequately controlled the waste generated during oil and gas drilling...'
Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, said he's not surprised District Judge Daniel A. Sanchez ruled in the commission's favor. 'Judge Sanchez has consistently allowed the OCD to virtually write every opinion he's penned,' Gallagher said." (click here for full article)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
State of New Mexico Hosts Open House Meeting
'Governor Richardson's Executive Order created a 6-month moratorium on activities related to new oil and gas drilling in Galisteo Basin. An important part of the work state agencies will be doing during the moratorium is gathering and evaluating public input' said Joanna Prukop, Cabinet Secretary for the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. 'This is an opportunity for citizens to provide meaningful comments in their areas of interest and concern.'
Citizens may provide written comments through the internet or at the Open House. An official comment form will be available beginning mid-day on March 10, 2008, at the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department web site: www.emnrd.state.nm.us . On the home page, click on 'Santa Fe Drilling Public Comments Form.' Instructions will also be published at this link. The comment period will close on April 15, 2008."
Monday, March 3, 2008
Oil Conservation Commission Wins Appeal
Saturday, March 1, 2008
"Drilling's hidden costs" -- SantaFeNewMexican.com
From the SantaFeNewMexican.com, "Fesmire said the fines for violating Oil Conservation Division rules are "a little anemic."
"It's the same fine structure as in the 1935 statues," he said. "You could really get compliance with a $1,000 fine in 1935. Not now."' (for the full article, click here)
Funding for the Oil Conservation Division was cut by $302,000 during the most recent legislative session.
The division staff and others, including Gov. Bill Richardson, have suggested the cuts were retaliation for the tougher environmental regulations proposed by the division.
"The public wants us to do our jobs. But our hands are tied with political things," Perrin said. "There's not enough money, not enough trucks; gas is too expensive."' (click here for the article, "Inspectors struggle to monitor vast area")
But regulators say drillers and producers should brace themselves for the prospect of new regulations throughout the West leaving few places "of least resistance."
"The industry is going to have to come to grips with the fact that the environment has to be protected, and in the arid West we have to protect water," New Mexico's Prukop said." (for full article, click here)