by NMELC | Jan 27, 2021 | NMELC in the News
By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
January 27, 2021
The Biden administration last week suspended for 60 days the regulatory authority of federal land managers in field offices across the country, meaning any decisions regarding leasing, permitting or other reviews and approvals have to be funneled to top officials with the U.S. Interior Department.
Virginia Necochea, executive director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, said the moratorium will force decision-makers in New Mexico and elsewhere to act more quickly on climate change and environmental justice issues. “This is our opportunity to end the practice of ‘profits over people.’ Now is not the time to exempt oil and gas operators from this critically necessary moratorium.”
by NMELC | Jan 6, 2021 | NMELC in the News
By Theresa Davis, Albuquerque Journal
January 4, 2021
Constant gas flares lighting up the sky over New Mexico’s oil fields may soon be a scene from the past, under new rules proposed by the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to reduce methane waste in the oil and gas industry.
The Oil Conservation Commission began two weeks of remotely held online hearings for the proposed rules on Monday with a full day of public comment.
Oil and gas operators would need to meet a 98% gas capture rate by the end of 2026 under the proposed rule.
But some commenters, including attorney Doug Meiklejohn with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, said nearly six years is too much time.
by NMELC | Dec 15, 2020 | NMELC in the News
By Paul Gibson, Retake Our Democracy
Call To Action: Since When Is Asphalt Agriculture
Retake Board Member, Miguel Acosta shared the info below. It is the second time now we have reported on an asphalt plant trying to expand their operations into residential or agricultural communities. Only a week ago, we reported on approval of an asphalt plant in South Santa Fe and now another effort in the Mountain View neighborhood of ABQ. With a Democratic Governor, State Senate, State House, State Land Office, and Mayor of ABQ, how is it that we are having to raise our voices to oppose such an obvious instance of environmental racism?
by NMELC | Dec 15, 2020 | NMELC in the News
By V.B. Price, Mercury Messenger
According to the New Mexico Environmental Law Center representing the neighborhood, the City of Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department just before Thanksgiving made what seems to me to be an utterly insensitive, monstrous assault on the public health of Mountain View.
by NMELC | Dec 3, 2020 | NMELC in the News
By Katherine Lewin, Santa Fe Reporter
A coalition of Santa Fe residents have come together to oppose the permitting of yet another polluting industry on the Southside.
by NMELC | Dec 1, 2020 | News, Press Releases
Mountain View Neighborhood Association & Mountain View Community Action Ask Air Quality Control Board to Void Permit for New Mexico Terminal Services Hot Mix Asphalt Batch Plant The Mountain View Neighborhood Association and Mountain View Community Action along...
