KOAT-TV: Groups asking the governor for “health buffer zones”

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More than 34,000 children in New Mexico live or go to school near oil or gas wells, some telling us this puts their health at risk. According to the state’s oil conservation division, there are many schools in the Northwestern and Southeastern parts of the state that are within a mile of active oil or gas wells.

Thirty-nine environmental, health and advocacy groups throughout the state wrote a joint letter to the governor, saying those wells are putting children’s health at risk, and asking her to create “health buffer zones” to protect them.

Kayley Shoup, with Citizens Caring for the Future, also signed it, and said it’s not fair to children,

“It’s something that these children, they can’t consent to it and it’s just not OK that it’s something that we just take for granted and say, ‘This oil and gas well can be right next to this school because it funds our public schools.’ Right. And that’s just, you know, unconscionable, in my opinion,” Shoup said.

The governor’s press secretary, Caroline Sweeney, sent this statement in response.

“Gov. Lujan Grisham received the letter from groups concerned about oil and gas extraction near schools. As a governor squarely focused on improving the well-being of New Mexico children, she shares their concerns over potential health impacts on children and her administration has taken robust actions to ensure responsible development. She has also directed her administration to actively evaluate avenues for implementing setbacks in the oil patch.”

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National IPL President Susan Hendershot Joins Intefaith Coalition Seeking to Keep Government Funded

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WASHINGTON, DC – On September 26, 53 organizations representing people of faith across religious traditions and denominations delivered a letter to the U.S. Congress urging bipartisan action to keep the government operational or risk severe consequences on the most vulnerable members of society. Congress has until September 30, 2023 to pass a continuing resolution to avert a shutdown of the government’s most basic operations.

The signatories, which include NETWORK, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Interfaith Power & Light and the Franciscan Action Network, called on lawmakers to fund the government and work in a bipartisan manner to pass a stop-gap funding measure without harmful provisions. The complete letter and list of signatories is available below.

Here is a statement from Rev. Susan Hendershot, President of Interfaith Power & Light

 “As our beloved communities face growing threats from climate change through rising temperatures, wildfires, smoke hazards and rising sea levels, a government shutdown would further place our neighbors in harm’s way. People of faith fought to pass the historic clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act because we know acting on climate will create a more just world for all. It is a moral imperative that Congress protect these important programs to ensure a safe, equitable and clean future for generations to come.”

Read Full Piece from NETWORK  Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

Video: Tom Elmhorst Urges EPA to Finalize Methane Rule by End of Summer

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From leaking tanks to flaring, hear Tom Elmhorst’s #MyMethaneStory on why the Permian Basin needs swift action on methane emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (@EPA) can protect communities by finalizing its rule to #CutMethane pollution by the end of the summer.