Gov. Bill Richardson didn't waste any time diving back into New Mexico politics after dropping out of the presidential race. Friday afternoon, he called for a six-month ban on oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin.

"I feel that there shouldn't be drilling in the Galisteo Basin. In my judgment, it's a very fragile ecosystem that has archaeological and groundwater issues," Richardson told a group of reporters during a news conference Friday at the Roundhouse. He said the ban will allow time to study the water systems and archaeological resources of the area.

Oil Conservation Division director Mark Fesmire said he heard about the ban for the first time at the news conference but considers it an order from the governor, which his department will heed. He said the OCD will continue processing applications but won't allow drilling in the Galisteo Basin area sooner than six months from Friday.

Houston-based Tecton Energy announced plans to drill for oil in the Galisteo area in November, prompting local residents to form opposition groups, protest at meetings and write letters in an effort to stop or slow drilling activity in the county.

Santa Fe County passed a three-month moratorium on drilling permits Nov. 27 to allow itself time to write new oil and gas regulations. But drilling opponents have said the county is rushing the ordinance through the process.

The first public hearing on the county's new rules is scheduled for Jan. 22, but county spokesman Stephen Ulibarri said the date might change in light of the governor's ban. "We may slow down our process," Ulibarri said. "We don't know. The commissioners and the county attorney haven't had time to process this and decide what we do next."

Tecton has three drilling applications pending before the Oil Conservation Division. Such permits usually are approved in a few days, but because of the level of interest in this case, Tecton's permits will go through a public hearing process, probably next month, Fesmire said.

Richardson isn't the first one to call for a six-month drilling ban. Rep. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, made the same request in November. The OCD did not officially respond, but Wirth said Friday, "I'm certainly encouraged that we are slowing down. It seems there is a general understanding about the importance of this particular area."

Other politicians have begun to get involved, too. Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall wrote Santa Fe County in December asking for a delay on issuing oil and gas drilling permits in the Galisteo Basin until archaeological sites there have been studied.

Udall and Bingaman also wrote to federal Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle asking that funds be made available for an archaeological study of the area that was to have been done as part of the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act, passed in 2004.

However, not everyone is pleased with Richardson's six-month ban.

Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, said he was disappointed with the governor's actions and that they raise several legal questions. "I believe it sends the wrong message to the state's leading industry," Gallagher said. "If with a stroke of a pen or a sound bite, drilling can be stopped in the state of New Mexico, that greatly concerns the oil and gas industry."

Gallagher said he began talking Friday with Tecton representatives and his own legal counsel about action they might take in response to the ban.

"We will continue those discussions throughout the weekend and pause to make sure we are considering all the facts before making any decisions," he said. "I've also requested a meeting (among) the governor and Tecton and New Mexico Oil and Gas as soon as possible."

Tecton issued a release late Friday saying it was trying to "gain a better understanding of the implications and legal ramifications" of Richardson's announcement.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.