Preserving NM In the News

The Santa Fe County Commission on Tuesday banned oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin area for at least a year. The move was greeted with thunderous applause by most of the 100 or so people in attendance.

County officials say the ban is intended to give county staff more time to study environmental, geographical and archeological issues in the basin before completing the final draft of new oil and gas regulations.

"This is a beginning," Commissioner Paul Campos said. "It's going to be a tough job for the commission, staff and the community to evaluate, plan and create infrastructure. It's all going to be very expensive. We aren't always going to agree, but we will all do our best to come up with a model plan."

Gov. Bill Richardson ordered a similar six-month ban in January that directed state agencies to study the basin area, which has been singled out by federal legislation as rich in archaeological sites.

County staff began writing new oil and gas regulations last fall after Houston-based Tecton Energy announced plans to drill for oil in the Galisteo Basin.

Most of the faces in the commission chambers Tuesday were familiar ones, faithful Galisteo-area residents who have written letters, distributed literature and attended meetings for the past six months opposing the prospect of oil and gas development. About 15 people spoke in favor of the ordinance that created the ban.

Most commended the commissioners for taking a strong stance against encroaching oil and gas development.

But Anne Russ, a Kansas City, Mo., resident who said her family owns the mineral rights under the 57,000-acre Ortiz Land Grant, also attended the meeting. She didn't address the commission but said after the meeting that she appreciates the concerns raised by residents who fear oil and gas development and wants her family's resources developed responsibly. "We are about balance (between economics and the environment)," Russ said. "We aren't about scaring anybody off the field."

Russ, whose maiden name is Potter, said most of her family's mineral rights have been leased to Tecton. She said she was surprised by the length of the moratorium — which can be extended an additional six months — but she understands the need for it. "If it's going to be a thorough and transparent process, we can support it," Russ said.

Karin Foster, an attorney for the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, reminded the commissioners that the oil and gas thought to be trapped under the basin area is "a resource you have that needs to be developed and protected as well."

Foster, who confirmed Tecton Energy is one of the members of the Independent Petroleum Association, criticized County Attorney Steve Ross for making "inflammatory" statements about the industry by referring in his opening remarks to the "host of ills" that follow oil and gas development.

Foster asked the commission to consider the expense and staff time that would be wasted if the county tries to "reinvent the wheel" by doing studies that industry and environmental groups have already done. "Please make it balanced," Foster said. "Base it on science ... not public outrage."

Pressed by Commissioner Harry Montoya, Foster admitted most existing studies have concentrated on northwestern and southeastern New Mexico. "Because not much drilling has been done in Santa Fe, none applies directly to the basin area," she said.

Santa Fe County recently hired Bob Freilich, a land-use attorney, to assist county staff in writing new oil and gas regulations. Freilich will be paid $500 per hour to assist in writing several development plans for the county.

Montoya said the county has allocated $600,000 to fund the writing of the new rules that will govern oil and gas extraction.

Freilich said several weeks ago that he expects to have a first draft of the new rules completed by November.