NMIPL IN THE NEWS

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Ruth Striegel

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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. This testimony comes from Ruth Striegel, co-chair of the NM-IPL board of directors and chair of the advocacy committee.

To the members of the Environmental Improvement Board,

My name is Ruth Striegel. I live in Albuquerque, where I’m a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, and I serve as a board member of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light. I appreciate this opportunity to comment on methane regulations.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit oil fields around Carlsbad. I met many citizens there who were suffering from asthma, bronchial conditions, rashes and odd cancers that citizens felt could be related to methane and associated gases that they were breathing daily. I was able to see gas escaping from several oil facilities through a FLIR camera, which makes gas emissions visible. I’m asking you to require frequent inspections to find and a leaks to protect the people living near oil and gas facilities. I’m asking you to create strong requirements for operators to control escaping gases during the completion of a well, or redevelopment of an existing well. I am asking your support of strong methane rules to protect health and God’s creation.

People living in oil and gas producing regions should not be made to suffer simply because they live near these wells. More often than not, the people impacted are children, the elderly, our native communities, and those living in rural communities. I’m asking you to enact strong methane regulations to help address health, environmental justice and climate justice concerns that affect people’s lives and the future.  Almost half the native American residents of San Juan County live within a half-mile of a wellsite. A half mile! Think of what it would mean to them to get up in the morning and breathe clean air!

Colorado and other states have enacted regulations curbing methane waste while still allowing for growth in the industry. Methane regulation actually creates jobs in mitigation and manufacturing. Cleaning up our air will result in healthier children, adults, and elders, making our communities stronger and more resilient. The idea that strong regulation will reduce our tax income and take away jobs simply isn’t true. That short-sighted narrative serves only to increase our societal imbalance and make our planet and our communities sicker and less able to cope with a climate, health and economically changing world.

In my faith tradition, we are asked to repent when we’re not living in a life-giving way. The word “repent” means to turn around, change course, and go in a new and better direction. In this time of climate crisis, we are all faced with a moral reckoning, but also the opportunity to head in a new direction, one that seeks to protect without fail the health and wellbeing of our communities. Please, help New Mexico find that new direction by enacting strong methane regulations that protect us all.

Thank you.

 

 

 

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Rhonda Newby-Torres

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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 following statement comes from Rhonda Newby-Torres, lay pastor at Luther House (Lutheran Campus Ministry for UNM and CNM).

Dear Pamela Jones, NMED, and Governor Lujan Grisham,

I am writing to ask you to protect New Mexicans. 

I am from Carlsbad, NM where you no doubt know that the oil and gas industry is centralized. I have watched the beautiful community of my hometown deteriorate over the last 15 years as the oil and gas industry has “boomed” and created chaos in Carlsbad. It is heartbreaking to watch my home community suffer because of the oil and gas industry.

However, it is far more heartbreaking when my friends and community members die due to the negligence of the oil and gas industry. Two young men who I grew up with both died due to gas leaks at a work cite. In addition, families and communities in Carlsbad are experiencing a multitude of health issues related to the excessive amount of oil and gas wells within the residential communities. 

We must protect our communities from the negligence of the oil and gas industry! Just 1 year ago the  gas cite directly across the street from my parents house exploded in the middle of the night. The fire did not make it to my parents house, but they did have to evacuate for their lives. This kind of negligence is unacceptable.

Finally, New Mexico is experiencing extreme weather conditions and drought. Our climate warming is directly linked to the amount of methane gas released during oil and gas production. We cannot continue this way.

NM needs more frequent inspections to find and fix leaks. We need stronger requirements for operators and we need to strengthen requirements to cut pollution from pneumatic controllers that are used in oil and gas production. 

Thank you for your time, consideration, and action,

Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres

Lutheran Campus Ministry of New Mexico

Broad Coalition in Permian Basin Supports Strong Methane Rules

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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

Carlsbad Current Argus. Sep. 3, 2020 New Mexico finalizes oil and gas wastewater regulations, lawmakers hear testimony (Rev. Nick King Quoted)

Las Cruces Sun-News,  Aug. 19, 2020, Report on solving climate crisis brings hope (Co-authored by Michael Sells, Clara Sims and Edith Yanez)

Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug. 15, 2020 Vote your values this November  (Commentary by Larry Rasmussen and Tabitha Arnold)