Preserve receives land donation

Santa Fe New Mexican, Local News in Brief:

"The Thornton family has donated 600 acres of open space to the Santa Fe-based nonprofit Commonweal Conservancy, a conservation-based community development organization.

The donated land, valued at $1.86 million, is in the center of the 13,522-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve.

The Commonweal Conservancy placed a conservation easement on the land and donated it to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust.

"This 600-acre gift ensures that the heart of the Galisteo Basin Preserve will be permanently protected," said Ted Harrison, president of Commonweal Conservancy, in a statement. "It is a gift that will be forever celebrated by residents and visitors to this remarkable region."

The Thornton family has been selling its ranch to the Commonweal Conservancy in phases since 2003. So far, the family has donated 9,135 acres for the preserve, most of which will be conserved as open space, including 50 miles of public hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The Santa Fe Conservation Trust will hold conservation easements over the preserve's larger open spaces to ensure their permanent protection. " Link>>>>

SPLIT ESTATE at Santa Fe Film Festival

Time: December 5, 2009 from 5:45pm to 7:45pm
Location: New Mexico History Museum
Street: 113 Lincoln Avenue
City/Town: SANTA FE
Website or Map: http://santafe.bside.com/20...
Phone: 505.988.7414
Event Type: film, screening
Organized By: Aaron Leventman, Bioneers


For flyer, click here>>>>

Santa Fe New Mexican, 10 Who Made a Difference, 2009

It is an honor and humbling to be recognized by the community as one who made a difference, but the honor belongs to the citizens for who were the ones that made a difference. Thank you.

Santa Fe New Mexican, "Johnny Micou, Guardian of Galisteo Basin."

State, Santa Fe County tough on oil, gas restrictions

Posted the article that has some the inaccuracies.

New Mexico Free Press

Written by Brad Buck

"All but one county in New Mexico relies on state rules to regulate oil and gas drilling. (Not accurate. Mischaracterizes the Santa Fe County Oil and Gas Ordinance.) That county? None other than Santa Fe County. Neighboring Rio Arriba County is considering an ordinance to further restrict oil and gas drilling. (Rio Arriba County has an oil and gas ordinance.) Here’s a little history on the stricter local regulations. Houston-based Tecton Energy bought (leased) 65,000 acres of mineral rights in the Galisteo basin from which to pull oil and gas. When Tecton started drilling for oil and gasoline in the fall of 2007, Santa Fe County officials put the kibosh on the idea (re-entered Black-Ferrill #1). County commissioners enacted a three-month moratorium on drilling until they could figure out how to control it. After the moratorium passed, Tecton pulled out and its lease expired. (Not accurate.) “It was an unusual event,” said Chris Fling, a partner in Tecton. “The citizens lost a lot: job opportunities, revenue.” (Not accurate.) He described the state and Santa Fe County as “politicized” regulators. Fling said he wishes Santa Fe County and the state would base their actions about oil and gas drilling on data, not emotion. Because they do not, he said, Tecton will not return to New Mexico anytime soon to drill. Oil and gas ordinance After the moratorium, commissioners passed an oil and gas ordinance in December 2008. “The county ordinance has (a) comprehensive set of environmental regulations which should render drilling as safe as it can be, given the tremendous forces inherent in the activity,” County Attorney Stephen Ross said. “That being said, we believe that drilling can be accomplished economically even given the requirements of the ordinance.” Commissioner Mike Anaya, who initiated the idea for the moratorium, did not reply to two e-mailed requests for comments for this article. His legislative liaison referred the questions to county spokesman Stephen Ulibarri. Commissioners wanted to regulate — not ban — oil and gas drilling, Ulibarri said. “You cannot prohibit oil and gas drilling,” he said. But you can make it difficult. The county’s ordinance requires eight reports or assessments be done by companies that want to drill here: A report that shows that what you’re planning to do is consistent with the county’s general plan. An environmental impact report. A fiscal impact report. A report that shows county facilities are sufficient to service oil and gas projects. Water availability assessment. In other words, how is the oil and gas drilling going to affect fresh water and subsurface water. A report that shows how easily your drilling might cause an emergency. Traffic report. Geohydrologic report. Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, sees the county’s ordinance as a virtual ban on drilling. “The Santa Fe County ordinance, which I refer to as a moratorium, is by design, and with its $1 million price tag, the toughest in the United States,” he said. “It has assured that Santa Fe County, its residents, hospitals, schools and governments will never see a penny of income from oil and gas.” At the same time, it has stripped the property rights of private individuals, which ought to open up the eyes of others who have non-oil and gas property rights, once the nose of the camel is under the tent, he said. “There is no comparison to other New Mexico counties or even to the state regs,” Gallagher said. “The very few who have them were completed utilizing sound science and common sense.”

More>>>>

Started to try to clarify the article, but too many problems.

Protesters to fight 'water grab'

El Defensor Chieftan Written by T.S. Last A Flood of Protests The Fight has Begun Taking Action

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 06:00

Residents of western Socorro County and Catron County are mobilizing in an effort to block what they describe as a "water grab" by Augustin Plains Ranch LLC. A meeting attended by about 35 people was held Nov. 10 at the Magdalena Public Library for the purpose of informing the public about the issue and coordinating efforts to defeat it. Don Wiltshire, of Magdalena, a member of the San Agustin Water Coalition — a citizens group that aims to protect San Agustin Plains water basin and functions as a blanket organization for protesters of the corporation's application — served as master of ceremonies. "We're all in this boat together and we're going to fight it together," Wiltshire told the audience. "That's what it's going to take to win this fight — staying together and hanging in there." The New York City based corporation filed an application with the state Office of the Engineer two years ago, to drill 37 wells with 20-inch casings in order to pump 54,000 acre-feet of groundwater (about 17.6 billion gallons) from the San Agustin Basin each year. The wells would be located north and south of U.S. 60 just inside Catron County's eastern boundary, between the Very Large Array and the town of Datil. An amended application, filed in May 2008 and approved by the State Engineer in August of that year, called for an increase in the depth of the drilling from 2,000 to 3,500 feet. It also expanded the area of proposed places of use to any areas within Socorro, Catron, Sierra, Valencia, Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties that are in the Rio Grande Basin." More>>>>

Public Input on (Santa Fe) County Growth Plan Changes Schedule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public Input on County Growth Plan Changes Schedule

Planning Team Incorporates Recommendations; Next Public Hearing on December 17

Santa Fe – November 16, 2009 – Public input received at the Santa Fe County Development Review Committee (CDRC) public hearing on November 12 has resulted in several changes to the Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP) process. There were five key themes that emerged from the public during that meeting: (1) residents of communities that have developed community plans would prefer that their plans not be altered; (2) the draft Plan is too long; (3) the public needs more time to absorb the draft Plan; (4) there should be opportunities for more citizen input; and (5) the draft Plan is not sustainable enough, it should require more sustainable protections. There also were other, specific comments and recommendations made by the public at the meeting.

The County Planning Team has reviewed the suggestions and is working to incorporate recommended changes. Integrating the new input and suggested changes will change the draft Plan and the Public Hearing schedule. The revised SLDP will be released for additional public review on December 7. The next public hearing on the SLDP will be on December 17 at 6:00 pm in the County Commission Chambers. The public hearing on the SLDP scheduled for December 3 has now been postponed. Additional public hearings will be scheduled for early 2010.

For more information on the Sustainable Land Development Plan and how to participate in the planning process, please contact Robert Griego, at 986-6215 or rgriego@santafecounty.org.

(San Miguel) County wants oil and gas regulations

Las Vegas Optic

Novemeber 16, 2009

By David Giuliani

"San Miguel County is looking at a proposed moratorium on oil and gas drilling permits while it drafts regulations for such activities.

No permits for oil and gas drilling are pending before the county. But County Commission Chairman David Salazar said he wants to make sure the county has sufficient rules in effect before companies come forward.

The county has a general ordinance that deals with conditional land uses, but it doesn’t contain any regulations specifically designed for oil and gas drilling.

Over the last year, Mora County has been reviewing its regulations to determine whether changes are needed to deal with proposed oil and gas drilling. A company has expressed interest in drilling in the Ocaté area and has already been in talks with landowners, some of whom have entered agreements to allow access.

But many in Mora County vehemently oppose drilling, saying it would affect the environment and their way of life.

Salazar said the current San Miguel County regulations are insufficient. At last week’s commission meeting, members generally agreed that they needed to form a task force to deal with the issue.

“Sooner or later, we’ll be having the same issues that Mora County is having, and we need to be satisfied with the regulations that we have,” Salazar said.

Commissioner Nicolas Leger said he wanted the task force to include people from both sides of the issue. He said an earlier task force on wind farm regulations appeared to be heavily weighted toward those against such activities.

“With the wind farms, there was some concern about balance. We need to get input from both sides of the fence,” Leger said.

Leger said he favored a more comprehensive ordinance.

“I don’t think the regulations we have are sufficient at all. The technology has changed considerably since that ordinance was enacted,” he said.

Pat Leahan, co-director of the Las Vegas Peace and Justice Center, said she was glad the county is paying attention to the oil and gas issue. She said the task force would have “excellent” resources locally to study the issue.

She said she hoped the task force would include representatives from land grants and acequia associations." Article>>>>

United Communities of Santa Fe CPO (County Community Planning Organization) Presentation

William Mee of United Communities of Santa Fe County converted his verbal presentation about Community Planning Organizations (CPOs) to Pojoaque Valley on November 11, 2009 to Power Point (5MB). He says, "In keeping with our ideas of becoming a "clearinghouse" of info for communities I thought this was a good start."

In his presentation, a CPO "is a development review body of elected/appointed members that works with a specific boundary approved by a BCC (Board of County Commissioners) Ordinance."

CPOs are organizations being considered by Santa Fe County under the Sustainable Land Development Plan.

Related posts for background:

United Communities of Santa Fe County launches blog

Santa Fe County Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP)

Residents demand answers

Janelle Stecklein / Amarillo Globe-News

Bushland residents attend a meeting with representatives of El Paso Corp. at Bushland High School. The session concerned last week's gas line explosion.

Amarillo Globe News

Web-posted Friday, November 13, 2009

By Janelle Stecklein
janelle.stecklein@amarillo.com

"BUSHLAND - More than 200 people filled the high school auditorium Thursday night to vent and ask questions about last week's massive natural gas pipeline explosion that shook the town.

El Paso Natural Gas officials sat on stage for more than two hours and fielded dozens of questions from residents affected by the Nov. 5 blast that destroyed one home, damaged others and temporarily displaced residents of the Prairie West subdivision.

"We know you have serious concerns," said Mike Catt, vice president of operations. "We may not have all the answers this evening."

The high school overlooks the site of the explosion. A large, black crater is etched in the landscape.

Residents shared stories of sleepless nights. Some said their children are afraid to sleep alone at night or leave the house.

All wanted to know what caused the explosion.

"The peace of mind out here is shattered," resident James Gillenwater said.

El Paso officials compiled and handed out a list of local counselors who can work with people.

Many residents said they were concerned other lines near the explosion site may have been damaged by the explosion. They fear another explosion.

Three members of the Torres family were injured in the explosion, and their home was destroyed. The family's mother and father, Alfredo and Agnieszka Torres, have been released from an Amarillo hospital. Franczeska Torres, 15, was transported to a Lubbock hospital's burn unit with serious burns. She is listed in stable condition.

Catt said officials plan to analyze the remaining gas pipelines next year. The company's proposed time line was met by angry grumbling from audience members, who wanted immediate analysis.

"I don't think any of us knew we were sitting on a mini nuclear weapon," said Dr. Jerry Gillis, who suggested rerouting the pipeline." More>>>>

Watchdog: New York State Regulation of Natural Gas Wells Has Been “Woefully Insufficient for Decades.”

Democracy Now!

"The New York-based Toxics Targeting went through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s own database of hazardous substances spills over the past thirty years. They found 270 cases documenting fires, explosions, wastewater spills, well contamination and ecological damage related to gas drilling. Many of the cases remain unresolved. The findings are contrary to repeated government assurances that existing natural gas well regulations are sufficient to safeguard the environment and public health. The state is considering allowing for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale watershed, the source of drinking water for 15 million people, including nine million New Yorkers. [includes rush transcript]" Video and link>>>>

Related post:

Hydraulic Fracturing (aka, fracing) in the News

Hydraulic Fracturing (aka, fracing) in the News

Two posts at Common Ground United regarding hydraulic fracturing in the news:
Help is on the way: EPA involvement in drilling review a plus
API publishes guidelines for safe fracing

Unconventional extraction utilizes directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are not disclosed and are considered proprietary. Decades of industry lobbying culminated in the evisceration of Federal oil and gas regulations and oversight by the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the oil and gas industry currently enjoys significant exemptions from major Federal environmental laws.

At least the Independent Petroleum Association (API publishes guidelines for safe fracing ) is acknowledging that there are safety risks with fracing, but still are trying to control the levels of governmental concerns. It is not either the "state or feds?" but both, and the local level. Each level has its respective authority and concerns. All levels of government need to be involved in protecting health and human safety among other concerns.

See related Drilling Santa Fe post about natural gas drilling and radioactive produced wastewater:

Is New York’s Marcellus Shale Too Hot to Handle?

Is New York’s Marcellus Shale Too Hot to Handle?

Fluids made up of a combination of naturally occurring water from the shale formation and drilling mud are pumped into a lined retaining area behind the drilling rig on a farm in Houston, Pa., in October 2008. New York state is currently holding a public comment period for an environmental review of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)

by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - November 9, 2009 5:10 am EST

"As New York gears up for a massive expansion of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, state officials have made a potentially troubling discovery about the wastewater created by the process: It's radioactive. And they have yet to say how they'll deal with it.

The information comes from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which analyzed 13 samples of wastewater brought thousands of feet to the surface from drilling and found that they contain levels of radium-226, a derivative of uranium, as high as 267 times the limit safe for discharge into the environment and thousands of times the limit safe for people to drink.

The findings, if backed up with more tests, have several implications: The energy industry would likely face stiffer regulations and expenses, and have more trouble finding treatment plants to accept its waste -- if any would at all. Companies would need to license their waste handlers and test their workers for radioactive exposure, and possibly ship waste across the country. And the state would have to sort out how its laws for radioactive waste might apply to drilling and how the waste could impact water supplies and the environment.

What is less clear is how the wastewater may affect the health of New Yorkers, since the danger depends on how much radiation people are exposed to and how they are exposed to it. Radium is known to cause bone, liver and breast cancers, and the EPA publishes exposure guidelines for it, but there is still disagreement over exactly how dangerous low-level doses can be to workers who handle it, or to the public." More>>>>

The Tea Party Movement Corporate America's very real revolution.

November 8, 10:49 AMPhiladelphia Progressive ExaminerTim McCown

Excerpts:

"The Left had better wake up and smell the coffee. This isn't just a faux version of attempting to do the Right Wing version of the 1960's. This is a very real revolution. This revolution aims at nothing less than the final corporate takeover of our entire political system because democracy is tremendously inefficient by corporate business standards. What with its elections that can radically change the direction of this nation politically there always remains the risk that reform will benefit the people and that profits will be curtailed to provide real benefits to everyone."...

..."Over the course of the Reagan Administration through George Bush Juniors presidency Corporate America has worked in partnership with government to completely disenfranchise the American people. It is global capital after all not Left Wing Liberals that has the desire to create a New World economic order. Only a strong democratic American government is big enough to stand in the way of Global Capitals New World and defending its people from this order based on powerful corporations not governments. But to do this you have to sell the Ameican people on the desirability of losing our rights and freedom's for profits for the few."...

..."Think Progress found that AFP ( Americans for Prosperity ) had staffers at designated bus stops passing out signs, handing out talking points and passing out petitions. A number of these staffers like Tim Phillips the presdient of AFP and Ben Marchi, a former Tom DeLay staffer have direct ties to the Republican Party.

Americans for Properity has direct ties to the oil and natural gas industries through the Koch family funding of its operation. But it also has ties to the lobbying arm of the coal Industry Friends of Coal, and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, whose hired advertising agency was busted for writing phony grass roots letters to various Congress people. Tim Phillips has also had many ties to the Health Insurance Industry as well. He is paid to make sure we get no green jobs, new energy technology or health care that actually benefits us instead of our money lining Insurance companies CEO's pockets.

One wonders how many of the well meaning Tea Party protestors really understand that underneath all the hot revolutionary rhetoric they are being used to support policies that will boost the rich while keeping them poor and powerless, stripping consummer safety protections, allowing the banking industry to do its its own accounting, selling America the idea that mountain top coal removal is clean and beneficial and that only Socialists and Communists could possibly see it other wise." Entire article>>>>

Grass-roots power: Rural electric co-ops promote efficiency, renewable energy

Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 9/1

"The members of rural electric cooperatives can't control their electric rates any more than the customers of investor-owned utilities such as Public Service Company of New Mexico. But they have one advantage over PNM customers: They can change management at the ballot box.

Plus, their membership meetings can be almost as much fun as a professional wrestling match.

Take the Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative that serves more than 10,000 people in four counties, including a little corner of Santa Fe County. Two years ago, the members voted at the annual meeting to reduce the board's size from 11 to five. Six months later, the board called a special election in the middle of the week in the little mountain village of Mora to re-vote on the matter.

"Some of the board members that were going to be kicked off because of the earlier vote cooked up the special election in the middle of day and middle of week when everyone was working," said Ed Littleton, a cooperative member from Ojo Feliz, N.M., who attended the meeting.

More than 850 people — three times the usual number who participate in the annual elections — took time off from work and braved icy roads to show up for the special election at the VFW building. "It got into a screaming match, and almost a fistfight, between board members who were losing positions and some of the co-op members who were championing the reduced board size," Littleton said.

The members voted overwhelmingly to uphold the board reduction.

A similar issue drew heated debate at the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative's annual meeting in June. State Rep. Al Park, an Albuquerque attorney, was invited to act as parliamentarian because the meeting was expected to be controversial. And Park was impressed. As a PNM customer, he said, "I don't get to say anything. They read my meter and I pay the bill." This was different. "It is not representative democracy. It is democracy in action," he said."

Going renewable>>>>

U.S. natural gas supply may dry up within 30 years, T. Boone Pickens says

12:00 AM CST on Friday, November 6, 2009

By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News
esouder@dallasnews.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

"T. Boone Pickens, who has spent more than a year telling Americans the answer to their energy woes is natural gas, said Thursday the U.S. natural gas supply will probably dry up in about 30 years." More>>>>

So in the meantime is it "drill, baby, drill" all through the United States using dirty, unconventional extractive techniques and spending vast sums of money to retrofit the refueling infrastructure while subsidizing oil and gas companies to drill for a so-called "bridge fuel"?

CRUDE opens in Santa Fe for ONE WEEK ONLY(!), starting Friday, 11/06

{click on poster above for larger image}

11/06-11/12 @ THE SCREEN 1600 St. Michael's Drive :: Santa Fe, NM 87505 :: 505.473.6494


The film's subject matter is the largest environmental lawsuit in global history--what's been dubbed the "Amazon Chernobyl" case. It is a class action lawsuit filed 16 years ago by 30,000 Ecuadoreans against Chevron, where the impending $27 billion judgement will no doubt set a precedent for how transnational corporations will be held accountable in the future.

Three years in the making, this cinéma-vérité feature from acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) is the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet. The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case, Crude is a real-life high stakes legal drama, set against a backdrop of the environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures. The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of the Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, and a multiplicity of other health ailments. Presenting a complex situation from multiple viewpoints, the film subverts the conventions of advocacy filmmaking, exploring a complicated situation from all angles while bringing an important story of environmental peril and human suffering into focus.


PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VIEW THE TRAILER: www.crudethemovie.com

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=156807423882&index=1

"Bushland Pipeline Explosion" and "Gas company releasing gas in southwest S.F. while replacing pipeline"

After by chance reading the two following articles in a row, found it ironic enough to post:

From Channel 10 News, KFDA:

"A major pipeline explosion happened just after 1:00 Thursday morning about one mile west of Bushland High School.

Residents in the area have been evacuated. We know that at least three structures are involved. Several fire crews are currently on the scene battling the fire. We have unconfirmed reports that there are only a few minor injuries." More>>>>

Santa Fe New Mexican:

"New Mexico Gas Co. workers made a scheduled release of natural gas on the southwest side of Santa Fe early Wednesday morning as part of the earthwork under way for a new Walmart Supercenter.

An additional release from a gas pipeline near the southwest end of Cerrillos Road will take place this afternoon, said NM Gas.Co spokeswoman Monica Hussey.

"We are replacing a 12-inch line," she said, adding that the time of the second release was not available.

Santa Fe County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Neely said four units, two fire engines and two medical emergency teams, responded early Wednesday morning after the department received calls about the odor of gas in the area of Interstate 25 down to the intersection with N.M. 599." Link>>>>

Related post:

Santa Fe, "The City Different," A Contradiction?

Santa Fe County Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP)

According to the Santa Fe County website regarding the SLDP, "The Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP) will replace the existing 1999 Santa Fe County General Plan/Growth Management Plan. New and challenging issues today require Santa Fe County to be proactive about how we grow and shape our communities. The SLDP is a guiding document incorporating local community values, goals and strategies on how to best manage and sustainably utilize the County's limited natural, economic, and cultural resources. The SLDP is a tool that addresses the existing and future needs of communities in Santa Fe County and serves as a guide for smart growth and development for all residents and businesses in the County. The SLDP will serve as the framework for the County’s Sustainable Land Development Code."

The SLDP will need to be approved by the Community Development Review Committee (CDRC) before passing on to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for approval.

Nearby upcoming CDRC schedule for the SLDP:
Nov. 5 Deadline for letters to CDRC re: Sustainable Land Development Plan

Nov. 12 CDRC Hearing (time to be confirmed)

Notice that County staff prepares packages a week in advance of CDRC hearings. If you want the CDRC to read your comments regarding the SLDP you will need to email or hand deliver to Paula, the land use secretary by THIS THURSDAY MORNING NOV 5TH.

Put in the SUBJECT something like: Comments For CDRC Members Nov. 12th SLDP hearing

If you miss the packet deadline ( Nov. 5) she will make copies for Jack Kolkmeyer to present at the hearing for the members of the CDRC.

Paula Sanchez, Secretary Land Use

Email: Paula Sanchez <paulasan@co.santa-fe.nm.us>

The snail mailing address is:

Santa Fe County, Att: Paula Sanchez, Secretary Land Use

102 Grant Ave.

Santa Fe, NM 87504

Related posts:

United Communities of Santa Fe County launches blog

United Communities of Santa Fe County

Santa Fe County Special County Development Review Committee (CDRC): The Sustainable Land Use Development Plan (SLDP)

"Split Estate" Screening at the United World College

Screening of film “Split Estate” & discussion of Oil & Gas Drilling Industry in San Miguel and Mora Counties

Sunday, November 8, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

United World College-USA, Kluge Auditorium, Montezuma, NM

Co-hosted by: UWC-USA Students for Peace & Justice and the Las Vegas Peace & Justice Center

Special screening of the just-released, highly-acclaimed, 76-min. documentary “Split Estate” (http://www.SplitEstate.com/) followed by a panel discussion on the impacts posed by the Oil & Gas Industry’s potential for drilling in San Miguel County and Mora County.

PANELISTS:
Debra Anderson, Filmmaker (Director, Producer & Editor of “Split Estate”)
Paula Garcia (President, Mora Land Grant)
Johnny Micou (Co-Founder, Drilling Santa Fe, & Executive Director, Common Ground United)
Linda Spier (Producer, Galisteo Basin Photography Project and Mora Photography Project)

We encourage UWC students, staff, faculty, San Miguel County and Mora County residents, land owners, public officials, community leaders and others to attend the film screening and discussion. This 2009 documentary shows the impacts caused by oil & natural gas drilling in Colorado and New Mexico. Tens of thousands of acres are being leased to the O&G Industry in San Miguel and Mora Counties right now. Come learn about the consequences for those in the path of this drilling boom. Oil & Gas development has arrived and we need to educate ourselves about the potential effects of this industry, and what we can do about it. Everyone is welcome. Please join us.

For more information, please contact: (505) 425-3840, (505) 617-6794,
lvpeacecenter [at] desertgate.com

Press Release UWC Screening "Split Estate">>>>

"Split Estate UWC Screening Flyer>>>>

Santa Fe, "The City Different," A Contradiction?

Photo, Santa Fe New Mexican

As the proportion of what makes Santa Fe unique and a destination spot grows less to a city of Everywheresville, now groundbreaking is occuring for a Walmart, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican article, "Crews prepare south-side sites for Walmart, Toyota," by Tom Sharpe>>>>

Juxtapose the Drilling Santa Fe post:

The City and County of Santa Fe going Green?

The City and County of Santa Fe going Green?

After the public outcry and subsequent oil and gas drilling moratoria and County ordinance to protect Santa Fe County and the Galisteo Basin from the adverse impacts of oil and gas drilling and development, it would seem only fitting that both the City and the County of Santa Fe take alternative paths to energy needs. There might even be a county-wide utility grid with mini- solar and wind farms in southeastern part of the County. This would require construction of some transmission lines from the farms to Edgewood, but from Edgewood to Santa Fe the existing power lines could be used.

For related articles, go to the Common Ground United posts below:
Santa Fe County takes initiative in renewable energy>>>>
City gets green light for solar power deal>>>>