A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO WORK TOWARD IMPROVING LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROTECTING SURFACE VALUES IN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT.

     WHEREAS, the mineral and energy production and transmission industries provide substantial revenue to, as well as jobs and economic development in, New Mexico and the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the continued responsible development of our nation's natural resources, with a commitment to environmental and propery rights protection, is necessary to meet the nation's energy needs; and

     WHEREAS, exploration for and development, production and transmission of mineral and energy resources can result in damage, lost value and loss of uses of other real property and surface resources; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to protect the public welfare, which is also dependent on these other values and resources, and it is necessary to protect the economic well-being of the owners and users of such real property and surface resources; and 

     WHEREAS, an executive order of August 26, 2004 instructs federal agencies to take "appropriate account of and respect the interests of persons with ownership or other legally recognized interests in land and other natural resources" in their implementation of laws relating to natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, owners of surface resources should be fully compensated for injury to their persons or damage to and loss of use and loss of value to their property resulting from mineral and energy exploration, development, production and transmission;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that New Mexico's congressional delegation and the United States secretary of the interior be requested to support legal and administrative reform to protect the rights of surface owners and decrease the surface damage done during energy development; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation and to the United States secretary of the interior.