Oil and Gas Activity Returns to Santa Fe County - Rio Grande Chapter

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Energy Your Action Needed to Stop Desert Rock We have had great victories on Desert Rock already, but you can help us do even more! On May 22, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Desert Rock Power Plant, which strongly supports it, and public hearings will be held starting in July. We need your help in commenting on the draft. We are continuing to work with groups in the area, including Dooda Desert Rock and San Juan Citizens Alliance, to make sure our voices are heard. Hearing: It looks like our comments and requests had some impact: hearings are scheduled for Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The original schedule has been canceled and a new schedule is expected to be announced for July. The new schedule will appear on the project website (www.desertrockenergy.com) and the Chapter website (http://riogrande.sierraclub.org). Comments: We need everyone to weigh in and say that they think this is a bad idea. It is best if you can come to one of the hearings and comment in person. The next best is to comment through a letter to the BIA. Please send your thoughts on the project to these two officials: Harrilene Yazzie, NEPA Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Regional Office, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, NM 87305; Jennifer Pyne, Project Manager, URS Corporation, 7720 North 16th St., Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Please copy the Sierra Club by email (carol .oldham@sierraclub.org) or by regular mail (142 Truman NE, Albuquerque NM 87102). The third best is to send your comments via email to the BIA. Please do this by clicking on the “Comment on the Project” tab at www.desertrockenergy .com and filling out the form. Again, please email a copy of your comment to us at the Sierra Club and indicate that you are doing so on the BIA comment form. The reason we want copies is in case the BIA misplaces what you send to them. If you are an expert in anything having to do with the project (energy, toxicology, economics, etc.), please contact Carol Oldham and we will work out a way for your comments to carry special weight. The actual text of the draft EIS can be found on the project website (www.desertrockenergy.com) under “Project Documents/Presentations.” For more information about the negative impacts of the proposed Desert Rock power plant, visit the Chapter website (http://riogrande.sierraclub.org), or contact Carol Oldham (243-7767, carol.oldham@ sierraclub.org). —Carol Oldham Congress Debates National Energy Bills The following article pertains to legislation in Congress that was under debate during the month of June. Given the nature of legislative debates, it is important to note that the statements below were accurate at the time of writing only. Just as temperatures are beginning to rise here in New Mexico, the debate in Congress on momentous energy legislation is starting to heat up. People could save big at the pump and on their monthly energy bills. The legislation, however, may end up being too weak to provide any meaningful benefit. It is critical that we continue calling and reminding our representatives that we want meaningful action on global warming and real change in our energy policies. There are several pieces of legislation currently being debated, each of which could help curb global warming, create good clean jobs, and cut our dependence on oil and other polluting sources of energy. Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) At the time of writing, there is a standoff in the Senate on RES legislation – a mandate requiring utilities to supply a certain percentage of electricity from renewable sources (wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal). Senator Bingaman is sponsoring an amendment that would set a federal RES of 15% by 2020. Although this standard is lower than the one recently passed by our state legislature (20% by 2020), Bingaman’s amendment is worthy of our support. This is because a federal RES of 15% would significantly curb global warming and improve public health by encouraging clean and safe energy generation rather than more coal-fired power plants. A federal RES would ensure furthermore that these benefits reach those people living in states that have not yet passed their own RES. The opportunity to adopt a strong Renewable Electricity Standard, however, may be squandered. Senator Domenici is currently leading a filibuster against Bingaman’s amendment. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards In June, the Senate passed the “DRIVE oil savings” amendment, which directs the Executive Branch to set federal requirements to achieve a 2.5 million barrelper-day (mbd) reduction in U.S. oil consumption by 2016 and a 10 mbd reduction by 2031. Also in June, the Senate approved a bill that would mandate that the average fuel economy for autos would increase to 35 mpg by 2020. For the first time, this legislation includes standards for light trucks. The Sierra Club is working hard to strike any exemptions for automakers as well as other measures that would limit the impact of the final legislation. Liquid Coal The emphasis in Congress has been mostly on smart energy solutions, which went a long way towards defeating attempts to establish a liquid-coal industry. The amendment sponsored by Senators Bunning and Domenici – essentially a mandate of 6 billion gallons of liquid coal by 2022 – as well as the Tester amendment ($10 billion in loan guarantees to less-polluting liquid-coal plants, co-sponsored by Senators Bingaman and Salazar) were both voted down in June. New amendments may surface, and given the record of our representatives, we will probably need to help them understand that liquid coal is in fact the dirtiest and most expensive energy gamble we could take. Several other pieces of legislation – namely energy efficiency standards and biofuels development – will come to the forefront over the summer, and we will need to respond immediately. With public involvement in the process, we can help ensure that our elected leaders seize the historic opportunity before them. Strong and resolute legislation must be passed if we expect to deal a serious blow to global warming and to lay the foundation of a new, safe, clean, and vibrant economy. If we want the laws that are passed to make a serious and lasting impact, then we all need to be organizers: to go out and talk to our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. And be leaders in our actions that make a real difference – turning our goals into reality. For more information, contact Shrayas Jatkar (243-7767, shrayas.jatkar@sierraclub.org) or visit the Chapter’s website (http://riogrande.sierraclub.org). —Shrayas Jatkar Club Moves into New Eco-Office Our new Eco-Office (ēo) functions as an adaptive entity, responding to climate and community and reflecting the intentions and values of the people and businesses it houses: the NM Wilderness Alliance, the Sierra Club, Quercus, and Environmental Dynamics, Inc. (EDI). Our landlord, EDI, is based on the vision of integrating building systems with green technology and sustainable resources to create desirable living and working environments. Site Treatment Developed land has a diminished capacity for absorbing rainfall. The resulting stormwater runoff can erode the earth’s surface and degrade streams and lakes. We increased the permeability of our site by breaking up asphalt and concrete slab and replacing it with xeric plantings. The reconfigured roof slopes will capture all the rainwater off the roof and store it in a future underground cistern system, which will irrigate our landscape and serve as a thermal battery in our radiant/solar heating and cooling system. Our new “cool” roof is well-insulated and covered with a highly reflective surface. On a portion of the roof, we have also installed the first demonstration green roof in Albuquerque. Water In addition to using captured rainfall for landscape irrigation, all existing fixtures were upgraded with water-saving aerators and devices that use lavatory wastewater to flush toilets. Newly installed fixtures are the most water-efficient presently available on the market. By using these strategies, we have achieved an estimated 30% of water savings as compared to baseline performance. Energy At ēo, we have reduced loads by optimizing the building envelope (better windows and doors and a new roof), introducing daylighting, and installing efficient lighting throughout the interiors. We are in the process of developing an innovative, synergistic prototype for heating and cooling that integrates solar thermal and PV panels with interior radiant and heat exchange systems as well as passive solar and ventilation technologies. This new system is expected to meet all energy needs and actually “spin the meter backwards,” generating energy for the city grid. Materials and Resources In addition to reusing 50% of the existing shell and structural elements of our building, over 5% of our purchased construction materials were reused, refurbished, or salvaged. Most of the building products have recycled content or content that is extracted and manufactured regionally and made from rapidly renewable materials. Over 30% of our construction materials have recycled content, come from regional sources, or are made from rapidly renewable materials. The innovative lime stucco application (manufactured from regional and recycled materials) we used on the building’s exterior reduces “heat-island” effect and protects the building’s interior. We have ensured indoor air quality by increasing outdoor air ventilation, eliminating the use of paints and carpets that emit VOCs, using high-performance filters, and designing for thermal comfort. Through the use of skylights, clerestory windows, and overhead doors, ēo provides daylight and views for 100% of all regularly occupied spaces. —Stace McGee Rio Grande Sierran July/August 2007
Public Lands More Support Needed to Push Otero Mesa Drilling Moratorium For more than five years, the debate over drilling in Otero Mesa has been waged in the press and on the ground. For many it has been a fight about protecting the largest and wildest Chihuahuan desert grassland remaining on our federal public lands from the ravages of oil and gas development. Recently, more awareness has focused on the vast quantities of fresh water that lie just beneath Otero Mesa, in what is known as the Salt Basin. Conservative estimates generated by the U.S. Geological Survey, Interstate Stream Commission, and Sandia National Labs say that there’s enough fresh water in the Salt Basin to supply 1 million New Mexicans for 40 years. This is a lot of water that must be preserved for the future quality of life of southern New Mexicans. In late April, 200 people showed up to a public forum in Alamogordo to learn more about the wildness of Otero Mesa and the water potential of the Salt Basin. This was not a group of rabid environmentalists; rather, it was a cross-section of the community— ranchers, sportsman, housewives, retirees, and citizens from Ruidoso, Capitan, Carrizozo, and Las Cruces. What came from that meeting was a strong determination by the people to see a three-year moratorium put in place to stop any oil and gas development while state and federal agencies continue to study the large Salt Basin aquifer. It makes absolute sense for the federal government to put the breaks on and be prudent when it comes to our future water supplies, especially given all of the cases of groundwater contamination due to oil and gas drilling. In 2005, a report released by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department documented 1,400 cases of groundwater polluted by drilling operations. Preliminary reports of the Salt Basin show that the recharge areas of the Salt Basin are generally vulnerable to the introduction of contaminants. The Basin also contains areas of rapid groundwater movement, which can make the entire system vulnerable to the rapid spread of pollution. In February, Governor Richardson secured $1 million to study the aquifer of the Salt Basin and has repeatedly asked that Otero Mesa be protected. This spring, Senator Bingaman, Senator Domenici, and Congressman Udall wrote letters to the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting a moratorium on any oil and gas drilling and leasing in Otero Mesa. This bipartisan leadership clearly demonstrates that New Mexico’s fresh water is more important than a few days’ worth of oil and gas. However, on June 1, the Bush Administration rejected the unprecedented bipartisan request for a moratorium by our congressional delegation. This is a slap in the face to New Mexicans, Senators Bingaman and Domenici, and Congressman Udall. The Bush Administration is out of touch with the needs of New Mexicans, and the Congress and local elected officials that represent them. There has been a groundswell of support for deferring oil and gas activity at Otero Mesa. In addition to the delegation’s letters supporting a moratorium, the Doña Ana County Commission passed a resolution supporting a moratorium. Please contact Senators Bingaman and Domenici (see contact info page 3) and urge them to add a legislative moratorium amendment to the New Mexico Aquifer Assessment Act of 2007. The act, if passed, would study several aquifers in New Mexico, including the Salt Basin, to determine water recharge rates, Valles Caldera Coalition Passes the Torch to Caldera Action! With summer greening the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a new group has formed to advocate for the wild, natural, and cultural values of the Preserve and appropriate public access to this 89,000-acre gem of public land. Our new organization, called Caldera Action!, has a board of directors that includes steering committee members from the former Valles Caldera Coalition. Our 501(c)3 status is pending, and we invite vigorous participation from all who share our awe of and concern for the Valles. Here are the mission and vision guiding our work: Vision: Inspired by the majesty of the Valles Caldera, we envision the restoration and protection of its unique natural and cultural heritage, so that present and future generations can experience the sense of wonder that comes from individual discovery in this ecologically and culturally significant landscape. Mission: Our organization fosters active citizen participation in the restoration, protection, and appreciation of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, for the long-term benefit of the place itself, the American public, and visitors from around the world. Meanwhile, the Valles Caldera Trust is finally beginning formal, long-range, preserve-wide resource management planning at the Preserve. Rather than complete a comprehensive plan for the Preserve as many have long advocated, three separate National Environmental Planning (NEPA) processes will occur, led by “Forage Management” (addressing grazing by elk and cattle, and other uses of the grasslands). This will be followed by “Public Access” (addressing recreation, education and research), and “Forestry” (addressing forest and fire management). An open house in mid-June launched the forage/ grazing planning process. Anyone interested in elk and cattle at the VCNP can now express their views formally to the Trust’s board and staff. This is a critical opportunity for shaping the troubled cattle program at the Valles as well as elk management. We now have a chance to address serious water-quality and woodyplant reproduction problems at the Preserve as well as economic aspects of cattle grazing. Contact the Trust’s Natural Resources Coordinator Marie Rodriguez (661-3333, mrodriguez@vallescaldera.gov), the public outreach coordinator for Public Access planning specifically (mary@maryorton.com), or our organization (info@vcc.org). Three new trustees officially joined the Valles Board of Trustees at a public meeting in mid-June in Los Alamos. Appointed by President Bush, they are Stephen Henry (Fish, Wildlife and Recreation), James D. Range (Conservation), and Edward R. Tinsley (Financial Management). The next public board meetings are scheduled for September 6 in Jemez Springs and December 11 in Santa Fe. These meetings offer opportunity for direct public comment and oversight. For more information, contact Tom Ribe, President of the Caldera Action! organization (690-0305), and Vice President Tom Jervis (info@vcc.org). —Tom Ribe Otero Mesa grasslands. (Photo by Stephen Capra) the relationship between surface and sub-surface water flow, and the vulnerability to contamination. However, there is nothing legally preventing the BLM from moving forward with its oil and gas leasing program in Otero Mesa. This is why a legislative moratorium is paramount if we are to fully study the Salt Basin aquifer under Otero Mesa. For more info, contact Nathan Newcomer, NM Wilderness Alliance (843-8696, nathan@nmwild.org). —Nathan Newcomer Chaco Gas Wells Halted, but County Pursues Paving On June 6, Cimarex Corporation officially tabled its proposed gas wells south of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, saying it had indefinitely postponed its exploration on the leases granted to them by the New Mexico State Land Office. Cimarex will seek compensation from the state to cover what it sees as a potential loss in income from its decision not to drill. Public pressure from many groups including the Sierra Club, the Chaco Alliance, and the San Juan Citizens Alliance was instrumental in halting this disastrous venture. San Juan County, however, has not backed off its ill-fated desire to pave the remaining 13 miles of gravel road into Chaco. Although some county commissioners support improvements other than paving, the tenaciousness of County Commission Chair James Henderson appears to have triumphed, and the County will begin an Environmental Assessment (EA), which will include the paving option. San Juan County has produced no supporting evidence, but it continues to use safety and access as reasons for paving. A quarter of a millon dollars will be used to do the EA, thus invoking important National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) standards. But Rep. Tom Udall (see contact info page 3) should call for an extensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), not simply the less-thorough EA. He must also be urged not to grant any more federal money for this project, and to support low-impact improvements to the road like good signs, good fencing, and better maintenance instead of paving. Please send emails to San Juan County Commissioner James Henderson (hendersonj@sjcounty.net) and Federal Highway Administrator J. Don Martinez (johndon.martinez@ fwha.dot.gov) in support of an EIS and against paving. Public meetings may begin this summer as part of the NEPA process. Visit www.dont-pave-chaco .com for meeting times and updates. —Anson Wright, Coordinator, Chaco Alliance July/August 2007 rio Grande Sierran
Page 1 and 2: Rio Grande Sierran News of the Rio
Page 3: Info for Activists & a Word from Yo
Page 7 and 8: Political U.S. Attorney Firing Scan
Page 9 and 10: Taos Branch News Sentinels Celebrat
Page 11 and 12: Northern Group News Sat Sun July NO
Page 13 and 14: Southern Group News Outings Please
Page 15 and 16: Preservation Live Earth Concerts to

Oil and Gas Activity Returns to Santa Fe County - Rio Grande Chapter

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