Dear Environmental Improvement Board (EIB),

    As educators, leaders, pastors, business people, students, healthcare workers and ordinary citizens in the Permian Basin we are very concerned about the health and environment of our communities. This is why we support strong methane rules that will be enforced. In our communities there are many sites close to schools and in neighborhoods, which is why it is more important than ever to make sure that regulations are approved and enforced. 

The health of our children, elderly, and every citizen in the Permian Basin is at risk if we fail to do this. Just last year we received a F grade for ozone from the American Lung Association. We are here to say that this is unacceptable, and we must work to make sure that pollution levels are improved in our communities. In addition, some of our community members are very concerned about the effect of methane pollution on climate change, which affects future generations. These are serious ethical and moral concerns for the common good.

We  understand that truly improving the rate of methane and VOC emissions is an extremely hefty goal given the scale of the Permian versus the capacity of regulatory agencies in New Mexico.  Requiring frequent inspections to find and fix leaks is a common sense way to ensure that those of us on the front lines are exposed to fewer emissions than we currently are exposed to on a daily basis. Some of us have seen significant leaks through a FLIR video camera at sites mere feet from homes and schools. We have revisited many of these sites months later, and have observed that the leaks are still occurring. It is extremely hard to go home and sleep at night after seeing these emission events because we understand the harm that they bring. 

People living near sites that are going up are unable to sleep because of constant noise, have headaches because of the fumes, and deal with horrible traffic near their homes when new sites are being enacted. We believe that it is essential that these operators are required to control pollution. These concerns are a matter of health and quality of life.

 We commend NMED for setting out strong methane rules that can lead the nation, but we also understand the power of the oil & gas industry that doesn’t take into account the quality of life and the health of the people that live in this region. We know that if the industry can find a loophole in regulation then they will utilize the loophole, and we also know that the odds of finding and holding polluters accountable are slim. These rules must acknowledge those realities for them to have any effect out here in what we like to call, the Wild Wild West.

Kayley Shoup, Community Organizer with Citizens Caring for the Future, Carlsbad 

Robyn Hayes, NMSU Professor Emeritus, Carlsbad

David Shoup, Carlsbad Municipal Schools Board President & Owner of Constructors Inc, Carlsbad 

Pastor Nick King, Mennonite Church & Owner of King Solar, Carlsbad

Ginger Price, Retired Nurse, Carlsbad

Joelle Boeglin, Carlsbad

Ford Stone, Carlsbad 

Christy Shoup, Business Owner, Carlsbad

Asia Corona, Student, Raised in Carlsbad

Karli Click, Teacher, Carlsbad

Anthony Lopez Cook, Science Teacher, Roswell (previous Carlsbad resident)

Arlene Aguilar, Carlsbad 

Gary Bradley, Teacher, Carlsbad 

Larry Henderson, Former Carlsbad City Council Member, Carlsbad

Gene Harbaugh, Retired Presbyterian Minister, Carlsbad

Bryce Thompson, Actor, Raised in Carlsbad & family is still there

Morgan Bradley, Student at NMSU, Raised in Carlsbad & family is still there

Julius Doubrava, Former Eddy County Commissioner & Carlsbad City Council Member, Retired in CA

Stephanie Harmon, Retired United Methodist Clergy, Carlsbad

Sydney Shoup, Speech Therapist, Raised in Carlsbad & family is still there

Quay Dominguez, Student, Carlsbad

Victoria Pena-Parr, Spanish Teacher, Raised in Carlsbad & family is still there

Kennedy Allen, Student, Raised in Carlsbad

Abigail Kayser, Student, Raised in Carlsbad

Sonia Soto, New Mexico State Employee and Carlsbad Resident 

DeAndra Carrasco, Photographer, Raised in Carlsbad

Abigail Hervol, Nurse, Raised in Carlsbad & family is still there

Garrett Carrasco, Student, Raised in Carlsbad

Kaylee Johns, Raised in Carlsbad

Christopher Fierro Jr, Student, Raised In Carlsbad

Victoria Vasquez, Raised in Carlsbad

Gage Shoup, Student, Raised in Carlsbad 

Jameson Lucas, Graphic Designer, Former EC Health Council Coordinator, Carlsbad

Briette Mendoza, Student at UNM, born and raised in Carlsbad, family is still there 

Madie Riley, Communications Specialist, Raised in Carlsbad and signing for family still in town

Cecilia Doubrava, Retired Carlsbad Schools, Born & raised in Carlsbad 

Kyleigh McGilvary, Speech Therapist, Raised in Carlsbad & still has family in the area

Jordie Alvarez, Register Dietician, Raised in Carlsbad & still has family in the area

Karen Boehler, Retired, Roswell, NM

Gene Harbaugh, Retired Pastor, Carlsbad, NM