Deep Water Miners Rush To File

Sunday, February 22, 2009

By Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writer / Albuquerque Journal North

"Some 16 companies and governments have laid claim to a sea of water under New Mexico big enough to serve a city four times the size of Albuquerque — and they may escape virtually all government regulation.

The water is in deep, brackish aquifers that are not regulated under current law.

A bill that would give the State Engineer's Office regulatory authority over wells more than 2,500 feet deep has cleared the state House of Representatives. But even if it passes the Senate, groups that have already filed notifications would be subject to only minimal oversight.

"We've been concerned for the past two years. We've been hoping there wouldn't be a run in notifications," State Engineer John D'Antonio said last week.

The notifications that have poured in since October have more than doubled the claimed unregulated water, bringing the total to 400,300 acre feet a year, according to State Engineer's Office records. That is enough to serve a city four times the size of Albuquerque.

Claims to more than 167,000 acre feet were filed in January alone...."

"...Seven of the nine limited liability companies that have filed claims appear to be formed by the same group. All seven were organized by Michelle Henrie and share an Albuquerque address on Third Street NW, according to state Public Regulation Commission records. Each company notified the state engineer it would drill for 15,000 acre feet per year for a total of 105,000 acre feet. In each case, the principal address for the seven companies is listed only as "out of state" in PRC online records.

Henrie, an attorney, said in an e-mail last week that she was not authorized to comment on the companies.

The other two companies that filed notifications in January did not have listings in the PRC's online database...."

"Deep Well Applications
In October:
• Westland Devco LP filed for 15,000 acre-feet a year in Bernalillo County.
In November:
• King Brothers Ranch filed for 25,000 acre-feet in Sandoval County.
In December:
• L Bar Energy LLC filed for 10,000 acre-feet in Sandoval County.
• Diamond Tail Limited filed for 100 acre-feet in Sandoval County.
• The city of Las Cruces filed for 5,000 acre-feet in Doña Ana County.
In January:
• Sandoval County filed for 32,000 acre-feet.
• Atrisco Oil & Gas LLC filed 15,000 acre feet in Bernalillo County.
• Sweetwater Rising LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Otero County.
• Down Low LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Otero County.
• Harmony Well Inc. filed for 15,000 acre feet in Santa Fe County.
• Phoenix & Avriel LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Santa Fe County.
• Eldorado Mines LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Santa Fe County.
• San Juan Peaks LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Santa Fe County.
• Monument Valley LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet in Santa Fe County.
• Grounded & Polite LLC filed for 15,000 acre feet each in Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties." More (subscription required)>>>>