Testimony on State Methane Rules: Marlene Perrotte

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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 Marlene Perotte, a Sister of Mercy and member of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light

Dear Members of the Environmental Improvement Board, 

I am _Marlene Perrotte, a Sister of Mercy and member of NM Interfaith Power and Light. I am writing today to encourage the EIB to vote to support and strengthen the New Mexico Environment Department’s draft rule to address Ozone Precursor Pollutants from oil and gas operations. These are ethical issues that demands protection of the Common Good.

  • Oil and gas operations also release hazardous air pollutants such as benzene that is proven to cause cancer, putting those living closest to oil and gas operations at the greatest risk. More than 130,000 New Mexicans live within a half-mile of oil and gas development.
  • New Mexico is home to some of the worst methane pollution in the county. New Mexico is home to two energy-producing regions that are among the nation’s most-polluted. Eddy, Lea, San Juan, Rio Arriba and Chavez Counties – the five New Mexico counties home to 97 percent of the state’s oil and gas wells – are all at risk of violating federal ozone standards of 70 parts per billion. 
  • More methane pollution means accelerated climate change and an uncertain future for New Mexico’s children. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in the near term. In fact, methane pollution contributes to about 25 percent of the global warming we are experiencing today.

This rule is critical for protecting both our health and climate by reducing smog-forming volatile organic compounds as well as methane – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for 25 percent of the climate change we are experiencing today. 

While the Environment Department has put forward a strong proposal, more work needs to be done to protect communities and address major pollution sources to meet Gov. Lujan Grisham’s goal of nation-leading rules to cut pollution. It is critical to include adequate funding for inspection, implementation of violations corrections and fines.

Please adopt a strong final rule that protects communities and addresses major sources of air and climate pollution.

Thank you,

Sr. Marlene Perrotte

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.