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More questions than answers about drilling in Otero Mesa

by Ken Whiton, President of REP's New Mexico Chapter
published March 25, 2004 in the Albuquerque Tribune

The Bureau of Land Management and the oil and gas industry frequently tell New Mexicans that environmental stewardship and drilling are mutually compatible.

Newspaper opinion pages are filled with government and industry hosannas to squeaky-clean energy production.

As President Reagan once said, trust but verify. So, I decided to do some ground-truthing and see real-life examples of "green" drilling. My simple question to BLM and the industry was: where is environmentally responsible drilling taking place on public lands in New Mexico?

After making 16 phone calls to BLM and industry over two weeks, my question still has not been answered. I spoke with many who didn't understand my question. Some seemed upset that a private citizen had the nerve to even ask.

My research, however, unearthed new information, which raised new questions:

Since the industry and BLM so quickly defend drilling on wild lands with rare and valuable natural features, why is it so difficult for their representatives to tell me where such wells can be seen?

The BLM has only 20 inspectors to monitor 50,000 wells. In other words, each inspector is responsible for checking up on an average of 2,500 wells.

In fact, the Las Cruces area of the BLM has one enforcement agent for 7 million acres. How often will each well be inspected?

Drought increases the difficulty of restoring lands after a well has ceased production. New Mexico is water-challenged at best and at worst may be heading into a prolonged drought as a result of climate change. Won't such circumstances make well restoration even more difficult?

The 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act strengthened environmental standards for commodity production on public lands. The law, however, grandfathered pre-existing facilities.

We can rest easy, so we're told, because the BLM is working with industry to clean up old problems. Will 28 years of negotiations be required to fix wells drilled on Otero Mesa?

Industry boasts of advances in drilling technology that will preserve and protect our fragile environment. However, the often-touted directional drilling technology requires a minimum depth of two miles, is very expensive, and requires sophisticated equipment.

Directional drilling is NOT planned on Otero Mesa.

And finally: Why have BLM and industry ignored repeated requests to identify ANY area in Southeast New Mexico that has been drilled and restored?

What are BLM and industry NOT telling us about the impacts of drilling on Otero Mesa?

They tell us to expect pipelines. That means miles and miles of pipelines snaking across wildlife habitat.

They tell us to expect roads. That means miles and miles of roads with heavy, noisy truck traffic emitting diesel pollution, compacting fragile desert soils and interfering with long-established ranching operations.

They tell us each well pad may occupy up to five acres. That means the area surrounding the wells will be stripped of topsoil and vegetation.

Requirements for land restoration after drilling are minimal, inadequate and poorly monitored. Remember, BLM only has 20 inspectors for 50,000 wells.

They tell us that lined pits will be netted to keep out wildlife if they are 16 feet or wider. What keeps wildlife out of smaller pits? What steps are taken to insure that any leaks in the pit lining will be detected and repaired?

The questions go on and on.

Smokestacks must be coned to keep birds out. How will air pollution be controlled?

Noise abatement is required if facilities are near dwellings. What about noise abatement to avoid disturbing wildlife?

We are told the facilities will look messy but this condition is temporary. How messy? How temporary?

BLM and uninvolved oil companies tell us there is probably not much oil or gas beneath Otero Mesa in the first place. Is any industrial development necessary, permissible or desirable in a special place that family ranchers and desert wildlife have called home for many years?

Another important question demands an answer. If we focused on using energy more efficiently, would it even be necessary to drill in special places such as Otero Mesa?

Through greater efficiency, New Mexicans can save money that otherwise would be spent on wasted energy. Greater efficiency means we can save treasured landscapes like Otero Mesa and still have the energy we need for our homes and businesses.

Real conservatives value stretching a dollar and getting the most out of existing resources. Real conservatives believe efficiency must be the foundation of our nation's energy policy.