Otero Mesa Fight Unites Sportsmen, Conservationists (NM oil-gas location)

The Albuquerque Journal (subscription required) ^ | Sunday, November 16, 2003 | Jeff Jones

[CedarDave]

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Otero Mesa Fight Unites Sportsmen, Conservationists

By Jeff Jones

Journal Staff Writer

    One major battle pitting New Mexico sportsmen and conservationists against energy exploration is well under way, while another is brewing just over the horizon.
    Some hunters and conservation groups hope to limit oil and gas drilling on Otero Mesa, a 1.2 million-acre swath of southern New Mexico grassland that has been touted as having some of the state's best hunting for trophy pronghorn, desert mule deer, quail and doves.
    That basin is largely untapped, but the gas industry believes it could potentially hold large reserves. The federal Bureau of Land Management is in the process of forming new rules to guide oil and gas development there: the BLM's proposed plans are scheduled for release by the end of the year.
    Oscar Simpson, president of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, which lists hunters and fishermen among its membership, said Friday the BLM is not going far enough to protect Otero Mesa. In an open letter to Sen. Pete Domenici that appeared as part of a full-page ad in the Albuquerque Journal last month, Simpson and five former directors of the state Game and Fish Department criticized the BLM and urged Domenici to set aside the mesa as a National Conservation Area. The designation would mean heavier regulation of drilling.
    A Domenici spokesman said Friday if there are important reserves in the area, he would support drilling on Otero Mesa.
    Simpson said he voted for President Bush in the 2000 election— but Bush won't get his vote next year. He said other sportsmen he has spoken with feel the same way.
    In 2000, "Bush basically lobbied for sportsmen, saying he was going to do the right thing," Simpson said. Now, "everybody has a real sour taste— including me."
    In northern New Mexico, the U.S. Forest Service has begun to study the oil and gas potential beneath the Valle Vidal— a 100,000-acre gem of forest, streams and meadows known as a mecca for elk hunting.
    Simpson said his group will soon begin a campaign against drilling on the Valle Vidal.

Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal

[CedarDave]

Simpson is a long-term, rabid foe of the oil and gas industry and his position representing the NM Wildlife Federation does not enhance their reputation either.

[CedarDave]

PING

[CedarDave]

PING

[marron]

These people will never support any drilling anywhere for any reason. They will never support a pipeline anywhere for any reason. They will never support any kind of energy development of any kind anywhere.

Even "alternate" energy production is only acceptable as long as it is theoretical, offered as an alternative to whatever we are planning to do. But if you plan in seriousness some "alternative" they will come out in droves to oppose that as well.

Which means that you can safely ignore them. There is no appeasing them therefor there is no purpose to even listening to them. Tune them out, do what you need to do.

[CedarDave]

Even "alternate" energy production is only acceptable as long as it is theoretical, offered as an alternative to whatever we are planning to do. But if you plan in seriousness some "alternative" they will come out in droves to oppose that as well.

True enough. They want to tear down dams producing hydropower, and despite their talk about alternative energy, they oppose wind power towers in the ocean of the southern coast of MA, and I imagine other places as well (usually for aesthetic reasons). To me, large, tall wind generators going whoosh-whoosh in the wind act like giant fans to the health of any migrating birds nearby. Give me a fossil fuel generating station anytime -- here in the SW some coal power stations have large cooling ponds that provide year round warm water refuges for birds.

[CedarDave]

Speaking of towers and birds, here is an article where they even oppose stationary cell-phone towers as a danger to birds.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1022080/posts

[BOBTHENAILER]

In 2000, "Bush basically lobbied for sportsmen, saying he was going to do the right thing," Simpson said. Now, "everybody has a real sour taste— including me."

I seriously doubt that this Simpson puke has more than a handful of "sportsmen" on his side. Simpson and NWF and their ilk will be the first to scream bloody murder at high natural gas prices that their actions help to drive up.

Great post and thanks for the ping.