Saturday, March 29, 2008

Earth Hour

" On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund."

Thursday, March 27, 2008

"Commish-Eration," Santa Fe Reporter

From the Santa Fe Reporter, sfreporter.com, "Commish-Eration," about the Candidates Forum for Santa Fe County Commissioners Districts 4 and 5, "All eight candidates are Democrats running in the June 3 primary. And yes, all are opposed to oil drilling in the Galisteo Basin." (click here for full article)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

"Writer finds funny side to carbon-light life," - SantaFeNewMexcian.com

From the SantaFeNewMexican.com, "Writer finds funny side to carbon-light life," “After he bought the Funky Butte Ranch a couple of years ago, Fine traded driving his Subaru for a big ranch truck powered by restaurant grease. Lucky for him, he found a neighbor willing to collect and filter the grease. All he does is pay the guy for the "greasel" and fill up. "It's like a total dream," Fine said….

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

From denverpost.com, "Thawing oil spill sends 'something' downstream,"

“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 Parachute.

"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

"Guarding Galisteo," by the High Country News, "In Galisteo Basin, south of tony Santa Fe, ranchers and blue-collar laborers share fences with second-home owners and transplanted professionals. But when it comes to energy development, these New West neighbors have found a common voice. To what local reports call “thunderous applause,” Santa Fe County commissioners enacted a one-year drilling moratorium in February. The ban will keep drills out of the basin while the county researches the impacts of energy extraction....

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

Per the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, Natural Resources Department (Oil Conservation Division -- OCD), the following is the oil production of the Houston-based Tecton Energy, LLC Black Ferrill #1 in Santa Fe County New Mexico that has been temporarily abandoned:

Monthly oil production for Black Ferrill #1, which was drilled to 2740 to 2764 feet in the Niabara formation:
Sept. 07: 4 barrels
Oct. 07: 6 bls
Nov. 07: 2 bls
Dec. 07: 15 bls

Monthly
water production for Black Ferrill #1:
Sept. 07: 14 barrels
Oct. 07: 22 bls
Nov. 07: 22bls
Dec. 07: 20 bls


To look up information about oil & gas wells in New Mexico, go to Energy, Minerals, Natural Resources Department (ENMRD click here) and put in the County, such as Santa Fe or Bernalillo, then put in an operator and click continue.

Atrisco Land Grant flyer

Monday, March 10, 2008

Sunday, March 9, 2008

"My View(s)" SantaFeNewMexican.com March 9, 2008

From Ellen Cavalli, SantaFeNewMexican.com, "Now is the time to debunk oil industry myths:"
"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,

The Galisteo Basin Archaeological Coordination Group has recently submitted a Vision and Action Plan, and a Budget to the New Mexico Congressional delegation. The plan and budget, if funded, will finally allow implementation of the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act, passed by Congress in 2004. The prospect of future oil and gas drilling in the Basin makes it ever more important to obtain funding that will allow preservation and protection of some of the most important Puebloan and Spanish Colonial sites in the Southwest. Senators Bingaman and Domenici, and Representative Udall have been supportive of the Act, but because of the many competing demands for federal dollars, they need to hear from us.

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

From The New Yorks Times Outposts by Timothy Egan, "The common thread in all of this is oil. The Age of Oil brought us John D. Rockefeller’s monopoly, and corruption that reached into the White House. It may end with an industry too bloated by profit and too arrogant to pay the costs of its mistakes — and a president who is deaf to the sound an energy empire makes before it crumbles." (click here to go to full article link)

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

From www.greatfallstribune.com, "Kohlman Co. out of Billings took advantage of a 2006 federal bill aimed at protecting the Front from oil and gas development by agreeing to relinquish 22 leases on 33,411 acres south of U.S. Highway 2 in the Badger-Two Medicine area to Trout Unlimit­ed. The conservation group announced the news Tuesday.

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

From the SantaFeNewMexican.com, "A state district judge has upheld the state's move to tighten regulations on surface waste disposal from oil and gas operations over the protest of 16 companies.

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

From an EMNRD press release, "The State of New Mexico through the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department will host an Open House allowing the public to ask questions and make comments to representatives if various state agencies regarding proposed oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin area of Santa Fe County. The meeting will be held from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at the Santa Fe Community College at 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

'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

From an EMNRD press release, "The Oil Conservation Commission won an appeal in First Judicial District Court, County of Santa Fe, State of New Mexico against sixteen oil and gas companies that challenged the adoption of revised rules regulating surface waste management in oil and gas operations....'We are pleased with the court's decision,' said Mark Fesmire, Chair of the Oil Conservation Commission. 'Strengthening our rules on how industry handles surface waste management in oil and gas operations is about protecting public health, ground water, and the environment.'"

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)

From the same edition, another article, "The six people responsible for inspecting the 23,000 oil and gas wells in the San Juan Basin meet early every morning to talk about what they did the day before. ...

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")

In a related article from the denverpost.com, '"Capital is a coward," said Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. "It will always follow the path of least resistance, where there are fewer rules, less risk."


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)