(The EPA is hosting three virtual public hearings on January 10-12. These hearings are an important opportunity for communities across the country to make their voices heard, and demand that EPA adopts strong, comprehensive methane safeguards to protect our health and our planet. We share ccomments from New Mexico and El Paso residents).

My name is Joan Brown, a Franciscan Sister and Executive Director of New Mexico & El Paso Region Interfaith Power and Light. I would like to thank the EPA and each of you for your work on the methane supplemental rule proposal that will help protect creation, and care for our climate and the health of our communities.

The people of faith in New Mexico have worked with the EPA on creating strong methane rules since the beginning of this process. All of our religious traditions believe it is a spiritual, ethical and moral duty to love and care for our neighbor and creation. Pope Francis in Laudato Si: On Care of Our Common Home said this work is not optional.

I have been traveling to and working with the people in Southeastern New Mexico, in the Permian Basin for ten years. I experience, first hand, growing concerns of health, quality of life, environmental pollution and deterioration of air quality. In New Mexico we are grateful for strong methane rules that have been adopted and implemented and are now beginning to make a difference, but air knows no boundaries and Texas does not have such strong methane rules.

The people of faith in New Mexico have worked with the EPA on creating strong methane rules since the beginning of this process. All of our religious traditions believe it is a spiritual, ethical and moral duty to love and care for our neighbor and creation. Pope Francis in Laudato Si: On Care of Our Common Home said this work is not optional.

One of our programs is an immersion retreat experience for people of faith and conscience to visit the Permian, listen to the stories of people, experience the effects of oil and gas production, pray for healing and guidance in the oil and gas fields and commit to action for change. I have heard many stories of families living close to oil and gas who suffer from terrible health conditions. On a recent trip we met with mothers and children living in Jal right next to Texas. These hardworking Spanish immigrant families shared their dilemma of the need to work, yet living in fear for their health and that of their children and those in the womb. In an educational session, they listened to ways they might protect their health and were given air purifiers through the Permian grassroots group Citizens Caring for the Future with whom we work. We promise to work with these families. But, we need the EPA. Strong methane rules that address flaring in Texas would help these families. We also need to address venting and flaring from smaller wells and facilities, which account for a large amount of the pollution.

New Mexicans suffered this past summer from devastating fires, and drought, which are now common. People of faith are on the frontlines working with immigrants flooding our border. Increasingly we hear stories that confirm growing climate refugees who face food insecurity, and displacement from devastating weather patterns. We must act now to stop the worst harm. It is urgent that we implement, strengthen, and finalize these rules and make sure there is industry oversight once they are in place.

Our faith communities also work with children, youth and young adults who suffer growing mental health concerns of grief, depression and hopelessness. The concerns of one of our young adult leaders always rigns in my ears. She said, “I do not know if I will have the strength to face all of the suffering that will result from climate change in my lifetime.”

Interfaith Power and Light in New Mexico and El Paso is working hard for the Common Good. We count on the EPA to work in good faith with us. We need to act quickly for strong rules. This ethical and moral work is not optional, it is the demand of loving service.

Thank you and peace and good.