A New Day at IPANM

information & issues

Welcome to IPANM’s Information & Issues webpage!

IPANM is not afraid to take strong stances on many current issues threatening our industry. We have to! Seemingly minor changes to regulations or rules can have a major impact on the financial solvency of our small oil & gas producers. While we will never compromise on our duties to protect human health, fresh water and the environment in our daily activities, we will fight unnecessary government overreach when new regulatory proposals are not based on sound science and do little to protect the environment.

Below, we’ve identified serious issues facing our producers. Please click on the corresponding button to learn more about each issue and IPANM’s stance on the issue. (Note: Some of this content may be restricted for members only. To access this exclusive content, please join our association!)

Methane

Infrastructure

Hydraulic Fracturing

Produced Water

Cultural Properties

Royalties

Industry Benefits

Setbacks & Chaco Canyon

Administrative Penalties

Injection Wells

Endangered Species

Horizontal Drilling Rule

Drilling & Leasing

Spill Rule

Financial Assurance

Seismicity

Endangered Plants

Anti-Industry Politics

RECENT NEWS: All Issues

Governor's Budget Reaches $10.9 Billion; 7% Increase

The state's increased spending has come as revenue collections have exploded to record-high levels.Revised estimates released this week predicted legislators

Methane Emissions Continue to Decline Across U.S. Oil & Gas Basins

Energy In-Depth, IPAA (Dec. 12, 2024) - Methane emissions from the country’s top oil and gas-producing basins have fallen 44

IPAA Releases Energy Policy Recommendations To Trump Transistion Team

IPAA (Dec. 8, 2024) - IPAA’s priorities include equitable tax policies for energy businesses, sensible environmental regulations, reform of the

New Mexico Remains No. 2 Oil Producing State

EIA (Dec. 4, 2024) - As of 2024, the United States is still the single largest crude oil producer in

Trump Team Preparing Early Action to End Biden's LNG Pause

EnergyNow Media (Nov. 30, 2024) - President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is crafting an executive order to lift a moratorium

IPANM Issues Statement on NM Court of Appeal Methane Ruling

IPANM (Nov. 27, 2024) - On Wednesday, the New Mexico Court of Appeals issued a ruling in IPANM's legal challenge

EPA’s Last-Minute Methane Fee: A Desperate Attempt to Entrench Biden-Harris Policies

Power The Future (Nov. 21, 2024) - In a last-ditch effort to cement their radical climate agenda, the Biden-Harris administration’s Environmental

Interior Alumni Eye Return For A Second Trump Term

E&E News via Politico/Greenwire (April 24, 2024, Posted to IPANM Website on November 14, 2024) - A Trump administration Interior

Trump Blueprint Would Revive Interior ‘Energy Dominance’ Push

E&E News via Politico (February 5, 2024, Posted to IPANM Website November 13, 2024) - A former Trump Interior Department

Use Facts When Considering PFAS Rules for Oil and Gas

By Missi Currier, Jim Winchester, and Ben Shepperd | Nov 9, 2024 Published In Several State Newspapers (Nov. 9, 2024)

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Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico

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P.O. Box 6101, Roswell, New Mexico, 88202
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Natural Gas (NG)

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Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico

IPANM Administrative Offices
P.O. Box 6101, Roswell, New Mexico, 88202
Phone 575-622-2566

Search

Website designed by Siarza Social Digital

Natural Gas

WTI Crude Oil

The state’s increased spending has come as revenue collections have exploded to record-high levels.Revised estimates released this week predicted legislators will have $892.3 million in “new” money available next year — a figure that represents the difference between projected revenue and current total spending levels. The budget surplus is part of a multi-year revenue bonanza, fueled primarily by record-high oil and natural gas productions in southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin.

ABQ Journal (SANTA FE | Dec. 12, 2024) – Big spending infusions for New Mexico road construction, homelessness, child care and the state’s water long-term supply would be authorized under a $10.9 billion spending plan Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office rolled out Thursday. The budget proposal would boost overall state spending by about $720 million — or 7% — over current levels and would also provide pay raises for state employees and public school workers.

Top Lujan Grisham administration officials described the budget plan as prudent, even though recurring state spending has increased by 45% since the governor took office in 2019.

“I do think it’s sustainable,” Finance and Administration Secretary Wayne Propst said Thursday.

While the governor’s budget plan typically is not unveiled until January, just before the start of the legislative session, he said the decision was made to release it earlier this year.

“We feel that in the interest of transparency and to give time for public input … there’s no reason to wait until a week before the session,” Propst said.

The budget plan released Thursday does not call specifically for tax cuts or rebates, though top Governor’s Office aides said those proposals could be considered during the upcoming 60-day legislative session. The state has issued several rounds of tax rebates in recent years amid an ongoing revenue boom, including $500 per taxpayer rebates that were sent out in the summer of 2023.

But Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, the chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, said during budget hearings this week the past rebates were “pretty much a waste of money.” He said the state could have better put the money to use by funneling into trust funds to be invested for future use.

While state spending has increased, lawmakers have also set aside millions of dollars from the revenue windfall in trust funds. The money in those funds is then invested for future use. An early childhood trust fund established with a $300 million appropriation in 2020, for instance, has ballooned to a projected $9.6 billion balance in the current fiscal year.

The governor’s spending plan would allocate more money to several existing funds, including $50 million for a rural hospital fund and $110 million for a matching fund that provides money for state agencies, cities, counties and tribal governments to leverage against federal dollars. It also calls for $100 million to be spent on expanded behavior health care programs, which could include new mental health and substance abuse facilities. That money could be set aside in a new trust fund, or spent directly.

Governor’s Budget Reaches $10.9 Billion; 7% Increase

Energy In-Depth, IPAA (Dec. 12, 2024) – Methane emissions from the country’s top oil and gas-producing basins have fallen 44 percent since 2011, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. This plunge in emissions comes even as the country has managed to shatter energy production records – the United States produced more crude oil than any nation at any time for the past six years in a row.

These newest figures on methane emissions come following the release of 2023 data from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The data, which can be broken out by basin, reveals that the massive reduction in methane emissions holds true across the board: each of America’s top seven oil and gas producing basins saw a decrease in their total methane emissions over recent years.

Methane Emissions Continue to Decline Across U.S. Oil & Gas Basins

IPAA (Dec. 8, 2024) – IPAA’s priorities include equitable tax policies for energy businesses, sensible environmental regulations, reform of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/permitting reform, access to federal lands and waters, reforms to the Endangered Species Act, and lifting the pause on issuing permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities. We also want to shift the policies of the federal government from meeting international climate goals to focus on energy security for Americans and increasing U.S. business competitiveness internationally.

The choices our nation makes regarding energy policy will have an enormous impact on America’s economy and our position in the world. We urge the administration to take positive actions to support America’s small oil and natural gas producers and develop a robust energy policy that will unleash American entrepreneurs, expand our economy, and make the United States an energy superpower once again. This will not only benefit the United States, but nations around the globe.

Linked below is a booklet of several issues the IPAA believes are key to helping the United States remain at the forefront of energy development in the coming years. In addition, attached is a more detailed issues document outlining specific actions IPAA believes are necessary for the United States to remain the global energy leader in the years ahead. America’s independent oil and natural gas producers play a critical role in our country’s domestic energy development, and we look forward to collaborating with you and your administration to find innovative solutions to address America’s energy challenges.

IPAA’s Transition Issue Priorities

EIA (Dec. 4, 2024) – As of 2024, the United States is still the single largest crude oil producer in the world, a position it has held since 2018.

However, the U.S. is not a monolithic entity, and the amount of oil that a given area can produce is limited by how much crude is actually underneath it. As such, crude oil production varies from state to state. And though some states continue to pump out crude oil in enormous volumes, many have been experiencing a dwindling output over the years.

Here’s what to know about the top six oil-producing states, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and their respective petroleum industries.

1. Texas

· Total barrels annually (2023): 2.01 billion
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 42.61%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 180.36 million

2. New Mexico

· Total barrels annually (2023): 665.55 million
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 14.1%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 64.85 million

3. North Dakota

· Total barrels annually (2023): 431.72 million
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 9.14%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 36.24 million

4. Colorado

· Total barrels annually (2023): 166.79 million
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 3.53%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 14.09 million

5. Oklahoma

· Total barrels annually (2023): 156.78 million
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 3.32%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 11.92 million

6. Alaska

· Total barrels annually (2023): 155.47 million
· Share of U.S. production (2023): 3.29%
· Barrels per month (August 2024): 12.28 million

New Mexico Remains No. 2 Oil Producing State

EnergyNow Media (Nov. 30, 2024) – President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is crafting an executive order to lift a moratorium on natural gas export permits that was put in place by the Biden administration, people familiar with the matter said.

The move is part of broader package of actions on US energy planned for Trump’s early days in office, said the people who asked not to be named because the information is private. The LNG executive order could mandate that the Energy Department approve pending export permits, or it could direct the agency to resume its review of applications as part of directives on energy policy, though a final approach has not yet been determined, the people said.

The measures are also expected to include plans to make good on Trump’s campaign promises to increase drilling on federal lands and waters and repeal new environmental regulations for coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants, according to Reuters, which reported on the plans Monday.

A Trump transition team representative did not respond to a request for comment.

On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to rescind unspent funds from Biden’s signature climate law, get producers pumping more oil and gas and bring down energy costs as well as declare a national emergency to achieve a massive increase in domestic energy supply.

New permits to export LNG to key Asian nations and other countries that aren’t free-trade partners with the US have been on hold since January while the Biden administration examines the climate, economic and national security implications of increasing US exports of the fuel. The Biden administration could issue a study with the results of their findings as soon as this week. The

Biden’s moratorium on export approvals has threatened to disrupt plans for multibillion-dollar export projects by Venture Global LNG Inc., Energy Transfer LP and Commonwealth LNG, among other projects with permits pending before the Energy Department.

Trump has promised to end Biden’s permitting pause his “very first day back.”

Trump Team Preparing Early Action to End Biden’s LNG Pause

IPANM (Nov. 27, 2024) – On Wednesday, the New Mexico Court of Appeals issued a ruling in IPANM’s legal challenge to the New Mexico Ozone Precursor (Methane) Rule. The full ruling can be found here.

In response to the ruling, IPANM has released the following statement:

“We respectfully disagree with the New Mexico Court of Appeals ruling on IPANM’s legal challenge to the Ozone Precursor (Methane) Rule. As our arguments indicate, we support the goal of the rule to reduce emissions, but not with current provisions in the rule that overreach by wiping out a secondary market for marginal wells that may otherwise continue to safely produce oil & gas to the benefit of all New Mexicans. While we are disappointed, we are reviewing our options moving forward in this case.

Unfortunately, this rule and many other overzealous regulations being pushed out by New Mexico state regulators continue to disproportionately hurt independent operators. The current state administration needs to stop it’s “death by a thousand cuts” hostility to the smaller, family-owned, New Mexico-based operators.”

–Jim Winchester
IPANM Executive Director

Power The Future (Nov. 21, 2024) – In a last-ditch effort to cement their radical climate agenda, the Biden-Harris administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new rule imposing a hefty methane fee on oil and gas companies. Just as the administration, which voters rejected at the ballot box, is on its way out, the EPA is scrambling to push through as many action as possible before former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin takes over.

According to an EPA press release, “$900 per metric ton of wasteful emissions in CY 2024, increasing to $1,200 for CY 2025, and $1,500 for CY 2026 and beyond.”

This methane fee is yet another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s heavy-handed approach to environmental policy. By imposing such a steep fee, the EPA is essentially penalizing American energy producers and driving up costs for consumers. This rule is not about protecting the environment; it’s about pushing a radical agenda that benefits special interests and hurts American workers and families.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. Lee Zeldin is expected to be appointed EPA administrator and has made it clear that he will seek to undo much of the Biden-Harris administration’s overreach. Zeldin understands that a strong energy sector is essential to America’s economic prosperity and national security. He will work to reverse misguided policies like the EPA’s methane fee and restore common sense to environmental regulation. According to PTF Executive Director Daniel Turner:

“As a conservative fighter from deep blue New York, Lee Zeldin knows how to win in the toughest political terrain. There is no greater priority for the incoming administration than rolling back the maze of regulations and red tape imposed by the Biden Administration on America’s energy producers. The EPA has been a chief culprit in this misguided endeavor, and we look forward to Administrator Zeldin restoring common sense, starting by rescinding their reckless mandates on methane and electric vehicles.”

The EPA’s last-minute methane fee is a desperate attempt to entrench the Biden-Harris administration’s failed policies before they leave office. This rule will only serve to burden American energy producers and drive-up costs for consumers. Fortunately, Administrator Zeldin will be committed to undoing this and other misguided policies. It’s time to restore common sense to environmental regulation and prioritize the economic well-being of American families. The EPA’s last-minute scramble is a clear sign that their days of overreach are numbered. With Zeldin at the helm, we can look forward to a more balanced and sensible approach to energy policy.

EPA’s Last-Minute Methane Fee: A Desperate Attempt to Entrench Biden-Harris Policies Before Zeldin Takes Over

E&E News via Politico/Greenwire (April 24, 2024, Posted to IPANM Website on November 14, 2024) – A Trump administration Interior Department 2.0 — if it happens — could well turn out to be a reboot of the original.

Particularly at the department’s upper levels, Interior veterans of the first Trump administration are being cited by their former colleagues and others with skin in the game as strong potential candidates to serve again, if former President Donald Trump wins against President Joe Biden in November.

“I think there are going to be a lot of familiar faces that will want to go back,” said Cole Rojewski, Interior’s congressional liaison between 2019 and 2021. “I think a lot of people enjoyed their experience in the Trump administration.”

Many remain hesitant to publicly ‘fess up to specific Interior ambitions right now. But in interviews with former Trump administration officials, Capitol Hill veterans, GOP-connected lobbyists and others, a number of names keep popping up.

Those among the frequently mentioned range from former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt down to other political appointees now leading agencies in Republican-led states.

“I think there are some great people,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), Trump’s first Interior secretary, told E&E News, adding that “there are a lot of areas where the president is going to need some help [and] there are some folks that served before and understand the issues.”

Zinke stepped down after two years in the top job in the face of ethics inquiries that he called partisan and unfounded. He was subsequently elected to a House seat that he had held previously. Zinke said both that he has “not been asked” about a possible second appointment and that a “president is hard to say no to.”

The former Navy SEAL officer further stressed that “there are a lot of variables” affecting the decisionmaking both of an incoming president and a potential appointee. Down-ballot election results, partisan balances in the House and Senate and the idiosyncrasies of Trump’s approach to team-building all play a role.

“There are a lot of people who [were] involved in his first term and played a significant role and made a great contribution. I’m sure they’d be keen on going back and completing the work that we began,” said former Trump-era Bureau of Land Management official William Perry Pendley.

For Full Article: Interior Alumni Eye Return For A Second Trump Term

E&E News via Politico (February 5, 2024, Posted to IPANM Website November 13, 2024) – A former Trump Interior Department official has one overarching recommendation for his old boss, should former President Donald Trump win a second bid at the White House: undo what President Joe Biden did.

That directive from William Perry Pendley — who served as the de facto head of Trump’s Bureau of Land Management from 2019 to 2021 — is part of a policy road map advanced by the Heritage Foundation along with dozens of conservative groups, called Project 2025, that would help Trump swiftly reestablish his policy prerogatives should he prevail in the November election.

The road map’s Interior section, written by Pendley, would reinstate some of the department orders from Trump’s first stint in the Oval Office that Biden reversed. Pendley’s plans include reopening most of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil and gas developers, cutting new protections for migratory birds, and relocating the BLM national headquarters back to

Pendley called for a reinstatement of Trump-era secretarial orders, revoked by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for being “inconsistent with protecting public health and the environment,” to limit National Environmental Policy Act reviews and expedite permitting for oil and gas developers.

For full story: Trump Blueprint Would Revive Interior ‘Energy Dominance’ Push

By Missi Currier, Jim Winchester, and Ben Shepperd | Nov 9, 2024

Published In Several State Newspapers (Nov. 9, 2024) – The Oil Conservation Commission will consider changes to PFAS rules in New Mexico related to oil and gas use. This rulemaking request was made by WildEarth Guardians and New Energy Economy.

The New Mexico oil and gas trade associations and these environmental nonprofits (eNGOs) agree — PFAS should not be utilized in oil and gas production. However, we differ on what we see as fearmongering tactics that utilize half-truths and purposely ignore the best available science and PFAS facts. A common tactic used by eNGOs is playing on people’s fears in the pursuit of a much more sinister agenda — to shut down one of the most valuable industries in our beloved state.

PFAS are everywhere and are safely used in your everyday life. PFAS are a diverse class of thousands of fluorinated substances that have been used extensively in industrial, commercial and consumer applications, including electronics, gaskets and seals, friction reducers, outdoor gear and clothing, and nonstick coatings for household products.

PFAS are not intentionally used in fracking in New Mexico. Some PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and come from sources such as municipal water, surface water and private well water. So, while your municipal water may have PFAS, so might the water used in fracking — and because of that, opponents of oil and natural gas claim fracking uses PFAS. This is a half-truth that conveniently leaves out the scientific research on PFAS in water sources.

Opponents of the industry are implementing additional scare tactics. For example, they are claiming oil and gas operators are not required to disclose their proprietary chemicals and they are actually trying to hide PFAS in their operations. These are false claims.

The New Mexico Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure mandates all oil and gas operators report the composition of the hydraulic fracturing fluid used during hydraulic fracturing operations. FracFocus records everything from the trade name to the supplier to the purpose of the ingredient and maximum concentration. Proprietary ingredients are recorded in the national database in a way that does not waive recognized trade secret protections. Translation: The industry is already required by law to report their chemical usage and ensure that PFAS are not intentionally utilized while protecting proprietary information and trade secrets that keep American companies competitive.

Industry opponents continue to use fearmongering and your tax dollars to engage in an unnecessary and costly state rulemaking process to address an issue that is simply not an issue.

As leaders in the energy sector, we are committed to ensuring New Mexico remains a safe and healthy place for all residents. We will continue working with regulators and researchers to ensure the safest and cleanest operations based on the full, factual picture from the best available science. Most important, we are committed to working with facts, not fear.

Missi Currier is the president and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association; Jim Winchester is the executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico; Ben Shepperd is the president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

A New Day at IPANM

information & issues

Welcome to IPANM’s Information & Issues webpage!

RECENT NEWS: All Issues

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