Posted on 04/19/2018 11:52:38 AM PDT by CedarDave
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The boom in New Mexicos oil patch is pumping up state revenue and economic development in Lea and Eddy counties, but its also raising many red flags for environmental organizations.
Activists say the unprecedented level of investment and activity flooding into southeastern New Mexico, which elevated the state last year to third-largest oil producer in the nation, foreshadows long-term environmental problems unless balanced development plans and firm regulations are in place to protect natural resources. That includes better control of methane emissions, plus efforts to protect water, vegetation and wildlife against overzealous development and industrial accidents such as oil spills.
Government and industry say theyre working diligently to protect the environment through careful monitoring and new technologies that help limit impacts on everything from wildlife and water to methane emissions.
All sides will weigh in on those things as the Bureau of Land Managements Carlsbad office develops a new resource management plan that it expects to conclude this year.
Until recently, activists focused more on other parts of the state, particularly methane emissions in the northwest San Juan Basin and industry development around Chaco Culture Historical National Park. But with the southeast boom gaining momentum, environmentalists are concentrating more on the oil patch, which many see as key in the battle over climate change.
Its the elephant in the room right now, said Thomas Singer, a western Environmental Law Center senior policy adviser. The Permian Basin is poised to be a major global player in the industry and also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. New Mexicans need to take responsibility, because the short-term economic gains from the boom come with huge environmental risks.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
NM list PING!
I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics
To see NM articles by keyword, click here: New Mexico Keywords
To see the NM Message Page, click here: New Mexico Messages
(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for FR member use; its use in the News Forum should not be for trivial or inconsequential posts. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
(For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after answering a question or watching a short video commercial.)
Activists are among the absolutely most useless people on the face of the Earth.
They’re forcing people to use reusable bags just like the Dark Ages ,LOL
Cucked New Mexico will screw that industry up.
Just leaves more for Texas ...
New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the country.An oil boom just might change that.
Yet they could care less about this story.....
The only huge risk is to his salary when enough people decide that he's touting an enormous scam.
In my opinion, that is.
Gender bending fish? Sounds politically correct to me.
The true lede should be “Drilling boom sparks liberal newspaper reporter worries.”
The envirosocialists know theyre screwed. They want to block off oil and gas production to force their ridiculous unicorn farts programs of wind and solar but New Mexico badly needs money and the profit potential is too great to turn down.
Enviro-Nazi Activists are pathetic watermelon losers. There is never any common ground or reasonable discussion with them. It’s all about Socialist/Communist power and very little problem solving. Many are well compensated to stir the pot and mobilize the sheep.
What garbage. They have been pumping natural gas (and some oil) in quantity from Eddy County for more than twenty years. There has been no problem in a region that is located at the tail end of any tourist’s dream vacation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.