SENATE MEMORIAL 78
53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017
INTRODUCED BY
Mimi Stewart
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND BERNALILLO COUNTY TO DEVELOP REGULATIONS TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN BERNALILLO COUNTY.
WHEREAS, there is potential for oil and gas development in Bernalillo county, especially in the western portion of the county; and
WHEREAS, a special use permit application for oil and gas drilling near Rio Rancho was submitted by SandRidge energy, inc., but later withdrawn; and
WHEREAS, although no immediate oil and gas activities in Bernalillo county are planned, current financial and energy circumstances indicate that this lack of current activity could change at any time; and
WHEREAS, any risk of contamination to the water supply in Bernalillo county can be minimized by proper design, installation and completion of wells; and
WHEREAS, pollution prevention costs much less than pollution remediation, and in many cases, pollution remediation may be not be technically or economically feasible; and
WHEREAS, oil and gas drilling can provide highly valuable hydrogeologic information about potable and non-potable water resources; and
WHEREAS, the issues related to oil and gas surface activities include trucking, transfer and disposal of oil and gas, production water and other byproducts associated with exploration and development; water quality; air quality; traffic; noise pollution; road density and disturbance; public access to information; and cost-sharing for inspections and enforcement, and these surface activities are minimally regulated by the oil conservation commission; and
WHEREAS, the complex nature of oil and gas exploration and development suggests that input is needed from a multidisciplinary group of technical experts to ensure that potential oil and gas activities are conducted in a manner that benefits all residents of the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county while minimizing harm to the environment; and
WHEREAS, crafting technically sound oil and gas development regulations will take time and careful consideration of the facts, as well as consideration of public attitudes; and
WHEREAS, recent efforts that have taken place in San Miguel county illustrate the benefits of a proactive, collaborative effort between government, residents and technical experts to control the adverse impacts of oil and gas development; and
WHEREAS, taking a proactive position on the issue of oil and gas development in Bernalillo county and having regulations in place before oil and gas exploration and development activities begin will benefit the residents and the environment of Bernalillo county and the city of Albuquerque while allowing for prudent development of these resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Albuquerque city council and the board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county be requested to jointly convene a multidisciplinary task force to investigate the potential social, economic and environmental effects of oil and gas development in Bernalillo county; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Albuquerque city council and the board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county be requested to develop and implement appropriate regulations to minimize adverse social, economic and environmental effects of future oil and gas development in Bernalillo county; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the mayor and city council of the city of Albuquerque and the manager and board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county.
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