Testimony on State Methane Rules: Joan Brown, OSF

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Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony for hearings held by the Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry. Here are the comments from Joan Brown, OSF, executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light.

EIB methane hearing

Good Afternoon and thank you hearing officer and board for taking public comments on this important methane pollution rule.

My name is Joan Brown, a Franciscan Sister and Executive Director of NM IPL.  NM IPL works with faith communities and people of faith and conscience all over the state to reflect, pray and act on concerns of community, health and environment as it relates to climate justice.

We learned about methane concerns some 10 years ago and have educated our thousands of members and faith leaders and offered 100s of comments as part of  the process to regulate methane. We have worked with faith leaders in SE New Mexico and have been in homes of ordinary people who are concerned about the smells and voc’s.  On one occasion I visited with women, mothers in a lower income neighborhood who did not understand the terrible odors coming into their house. When we went into the field near their backyard we witnessed methane pollution with powerful cameras.  Going back on another occasion, we witnessed pollution months later. But, those affected do not often speak up because they are afraid of repercussions by those of power in our communities. Methane pollution is an environmental, economic and racial justice concern that needs attention and strong rules with recommendations to strengthen them  is vital.

It is immoral and unethical to continue with business practices that disregard God’s creation and our communities.  The only commandment that we are given from all religious traditions is to Love our neighbor and creation. Disrespect of health, the environment and life that we are given to cherish is not acceptable and it is not ethical business.

Later this week I will submit a letter signed by nearly 100 faith leaders from around the state who share the concerns about health, justice and climate.  The recent UN Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change report was called a “code red for humanity” by the UN Secretary-General António Guteres’. As faith leaders we understand that code red means we all must take urgent action to care for life and our sacred Common Home.

We have a choice to continue life sacrifice zones or live into our identity a True land of enchantment and a Common Home that respects the common good.

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Arcelia Isais-Gastelum

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Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony for hearings held by the Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry. Here are the comments from Arcelia Isais-Gasgelum, a member of the NM-IPL board of directors.

Thank you members of the Environmental Improvement Board

Good afternoon, my name is Arcelia Isais-Gastelum and I’m a board member with NMIPL. I’m here to ask that you vote to support and strengthen the New Mexico Environment Department’s draft rules to address Ozone Precursor Pollutants from oil and gas operations.

As a young adult who has dedicated my education and entire professional career working to address climate change, I believe stopping pollution is a crucial first step and is also necessary for protecting our communities. From a moral, physical, and spiritual standpoint, we can no longer afford to keep sacrificing the health of our people for short term economic gain. We saw how detrimental this was during the COVID-19 pandemic and we have an opportunity and responsibility to learn from these hardships and do better.

Our state has some of the worst methane pollution in the country. In addition to causing a quarter of the global warming we are experiencing, methane operations also release compounds into our air that cause respiratory diseases and increase risks of cancer. These effects have disproportionate impacts on our children, and it is for them that I wanted to draw attention to.

This country has repeatedly empowered industries who routinely put our children at risk. It’s become so normalized and expected, there’s now an entire generation of kids who are growing up and realizing they are beholden to a system that agreed to put their future at stake so previous generations could turn a profit.

It’s for these kids that we need to right these wrongs. They are acutely aware of everything that is going on at a level that has never been as accessible as it is today. They are watching and I ask that you show them we won’t keep sacrificing their well-being for temporary gains.

I share the concerns these kids have for our futures and for this reason, I ask that you strengthen the methane rules to ensure frontline communities are protected by routinely inspecting for and fixing leaks, where 70% of the methane emissions come from and by cutting pollution caused by pneumatic controllers.

Thank you for your time.

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Kayley Shoup

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Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony  for hearings held by the  Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s  (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry. The first comment is from Kayley Shoup, an organizer for NM-IPL affiliate Citizens Caring for the Future.

Hello my name is Kayley Shoup and I am an organizer with Citizens Caring for the Future in Carlsbad, and today I will be sharing why as a frontline community member in the Permian I strongly support the proposed methane and ozone rules. For years I believed, like many in my community still do, that regulatory agencies were doing their best to protect frontline communities like mine. As everyday I was learning of more young people being diagnosed with cancer, I continued to believe that we were being protected, that the pollution couldn’t be that bad, and that maybe I was just someone that was trying to find a reason as to why I was surrounded by so much tragedy.

Over the past year I have learned that all of those beliefs were false. Those of us in frontline communities actually aren’t being protected. I now know that the state does not have one air monitor that tracks methane or VOC pollution in the Permian Basin. I now know after being out in the field that the pollution is that bad and it is constant, and I also understand that two years ago I wasn’t just a girl trying to find meaning in seeing her loved ones ravaged by cancer but a girl that was starting to realize the danger that surrounded her.

Because of the abysmal lack of enforcement in the Permian we must have stronger rules such as those being proposed today. Rules that require things like frequent inspections, especially at sites near schools and neighborhoods. Rules that can be realistically enforced, such as I believe these rules can be. They are currently our only line of defense against methane and VOC pollution. I’m not sure how the Governor or NMED plans to slash methane pollution that they aren’t properly monitoring, but I do believe these rules are a start. As a community member in the region of the state that contributes the most to the New Mexico State Budget, I believe the least the state can do is implement the proposed rules. When we prioritize the needs of the communities most affected by methane and VOC pollution first and foremost. When we work to prioritize the health and lives of those human beings in frontline communities. When we value doing what is right and not just politically simple. We set off a ripple that becomes a wave, and THAT wave makes real and meaningful change. Thank you for your time.