Since 1987, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center has worked every day to protect New Mexico's water, land and air from toxic pollution; and to assist its many and diverse communities protect their environment.
We Need Full Disclosure of the Chemicals Used in Fracking!
Tell the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) you want the full and public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking!
On Thursday, November 17th, the New Mexico OCC will consider adopting a new rule requiring the oil and gas industry to disclose the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) operations.
Industry has proposed a very weak rule. We have proposed a rule that would make New Mexico’s disclosure one of the best in the nation.
PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS HEARING and URGE THE OCC TO ADOPT A STRONG RULE!
WHAT: Meeting and Public Hearing before the NM Oil Conservation Commission regarding Application of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association for amendment of part of the code concerning hydraulic fracturing. (Get PDF of Hearing Announcement)
WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 2011. 9:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: 1220 South St. Francis Drive - Porter Hall, Wendell Chino Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico
It is anticipated that public comment will be taken before lunch. Lunch breaks vary widely so plan to come early. If possible, plan to participate in the entire hearing.
Continue reading and get talking points and more info…
Staff Attorney Eric Jantz Talks to the Santa Fe Radio Café About Upcoming Fracking Hearing
Staff Attorney Eric Jantz talks to KSFR’s Santa Fe Radio Cafe about an upcoming hearing where the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission will consider adopting a new rule requiring the oil and gas industry to disclose the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) operations.
Listen now:
New Mexico EIB Receives Testimony Evaluating Public Costs of Carbon Pollution Rules’ Repeal
Measures to Reduce Carbon Pollution Will Address Threats for Public Health, Drought and Wildfires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 10, 2011
SANTA FE, N.M.— New Energy Economy yesterday filed expert testimony with the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) that highlights growing threats posed by increasing rates of carbon pollution to New Mexico’s public health and economy.
“We’ve heard a lot from industries about the costs of reducing pollution, but they never acknowledge that their corporate profits are obtained at the expense of our health and well-being. PNM profits because it does not have to pay for the damage they cause to our health and the environment,” said Mariel Nanasi, Executive Director of New Energy Economy. “Asthma rates are rising and the historic drought and wild fires we see now have enormous costs and will continue to rise as climatic change intensifies. We must address this clear and present danger with policies to reduce carbon pollution.”
Cap-Trade Rule Under Fire; EIB Hearing Opens on Repeal of Controversial Emissions Regulation
SANTA FE - Opponents of a state cap-and traderule to reduce greenhouse gas emissions began giving testimony to the Environmental Improvement Board on Tuesday about why it should be repealed, revisiting many arguments made a year ago before the previous board adopted the measure….
In cross- examination, New Mexico Environmental Law Center attorney Bruce Frederick pointed out that department witnesses last year testified that environmental problems “require incremental solutions.“ Utility Products
Emissions Rules at Stake as NM Panel Hears Industry Petitions Aimed at Repealing Regulations
SANTA FE, N.M. — A top official with the New Mexico Environment Department on Tuesday pointed to concerns about higher utility costs as one reason the agency is no longer supporting state regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions…
Bruce Frederick, an attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, grilled Tongate about testimony the department gave last year in favor of the regulations. At the time, the agency said the cap-and-trade program would have a small but significant impact and that incremental approaches like those being taken by New Mexico would be necessary to tackle such a large problem. The Republic
NMELC’s Written Comments to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
October 24, 2011
Dear NEJAC Members:
With the renewed interest in uranium mining in the Southwest, and the uranium mining industry’s emphasis on using in situ leach, or ISL, mining techniques, the EPA’s role in protecting public health and the environment has become more important than ever. As a brief background note, ISL uranium mining involves injecting fluids into groundwater to chemically extract uranium from discreet ore bodies. The invariable result of this mining is widespread contamination of groundwater with heavy metals and radiation.
To date, no commercial ISL operation has been able to restore groundwater to pre-mining conditions. See, Hall, Susan, Groundwater Restoration at Uranium In-Situ Recovery Mines, South Texas Coastal Plain. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1143 (2009); NUREG 1910, Supp. 1, Environmental Impact Statement for the Moore Ranch ISR Project in Campbell County Wyoming at B-36 (Aug. 2010)(in response to comments that ISL operations cannot restore groundwater, the NRC replied, “that, to date, restoration to background water quality for all constituents has proven to be not practically achievable at licensed NRC IS[L] sites”). More often than not, groundwater contamination associated with ISL mining occurs in communities that are already burdened by radioactive and toxic contamination from historic uranium mining and milling.