Albuquerque Journal North
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Journal Staff Writer
State lawmakers on Tuesday struck down a bill that would have stripped Santa Fe County and other local governments of the authority to regulate the oil and gas industry.
Republican State Sen. Carroll Leavell of Hobbs said his legislation was meant to avoid a patchwork of regulations across the state. In recent months, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Mora counties have taken steps to impose rules on drilling. Leavell's bill would have put nearly all regulatory authority in the hands of the state Oil Conservation Division.
Leavell said OCD “has some of the most stringent drilling regulations in the nation.”
But OCD Director Mark Fesmire said the division doesn't have the authority to govern noise, dust, zoning and other issues that are often handled at the local level.
Without giving OCD additional new powers, the bill would create a regulatory gap, Fesmire said.
“The OCD is a creature of statute,” Fesmire said. “We have very limited powers.” More (subscription required) >>>>
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Journal Staff Writer
State lawmakers on Tuesday struck down a bill that would have stripped Santa Fe County and other local governments of the authority to regulate the oil and gas industry.
Republican State Sen. Carroll Leavell of Hobbs said his legislation was meant to avoid a patchwork of regulations across the state. In recent months, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Mora counties have taken steps to impose rules on drilling. Leavell's bill would have put nearly all regulatory authority in the hands of the state Oil Conservation Division.
Leavell said OCD “has some of the most stringent drilling regulations in the nation.”
But OCD Director Mark Fesmire said the division doesn't have the authority to govern noise, dust, zoning and other issues that are often handled at the local level.
Without giving OCD additional new powers, the bill would create a regulatory gap, Fesmire said.
“The OCD is a creature of statute,” Fesmire said. “We have very limited powers.” More (subscription required) >>>>
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