New Mexico Sun (July 5, 2023) — State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard recently signed a moratorium prohibiting oil and gas drilling within 1 mile of schools, other educational facilities and daycare facilities. The moratorium prevents new leases from being issued for drilling operations in areas that could affect schools and children.
“It’s my deep honor and privilege to be able to make this commitment to the students of New Mexico, that their health and their access to clean air and water is a right that we should be protecting with our policies,” Garcia Richard said in announcing the moratorium.
The moratorium comes after the commissioner received letters from community members in the Four Corners and the southeastern part of the state voicing concerns about pollution near their childrens’ schools. Garcia Richard also heard from environmental advocacy groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and Citizens Caring for the Future reporting concern.
Jim Winchester, executive director of Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, said there are questions about the scientific validity of some of the arguments in Garcia Richard’s decision.
“IPANM agrees that safe and reasonable setbacks are necessary between certain production sites and schools, however, we have concerns that the distance to be enforced under the State Land Office’s assumed discretionary authority is arbitrary and isn’t based on any definitive evidence of health impacts,” Winchester said in a statement he provided to the New Mexico Sun.
“While it would have been appropriate for the state land commissioner to consult with industry before issuing this order carte blanche, we will work with her office on a case-by-case basis if there are particular tracts of land that might otherwise be safely and responsibly developed to provide critical revenues to improve New Mexico’s schools,” he added.
