Overflowing crowd demands more restrictions in light of proposed
Galisteo Basin drilling

Tight controls promised for drilling

Phaedra Haywood | The New Mexican

11/15/2007 -

Santa Fe County Commissioner Mike Anaya gave his word Thursday night that the oil-and-gas ordinance the county is working on in anticipation of drilling activity in the Galisteo Basin will be as strong or stronger than the existing ordinance.

"I'll assure you right now that it will be stronger," Anaya told about 600 residents gathered at El Dorado Elementary School to hear state and county officials discuss the government's role in prospective drilling activities in the county.

County Commissioner Jack Sullivan said the first draft of the new ordinance will be ready for pubic review Nov. 27 and will be posted on the county Web site.

Oil and Gas Conservation Division Director Mark Fesmire, State Energy and Minerals Secretary Joanna Prukop, state Reps. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, Rep. Rhonda King, D-Stanley, and all the county commissioners attended the meeting, which was billed as a question-and-answer session but generated far more comments than questions.

For more than an hour, audience members took their two minutes and sometimes more at the microphone to tell officials their concerns about drilling and to beg, threaten and cajole them to impose strong restrictions on mining companies.

"I see it as your job to make Santa Fe the most business unfriendly, unreasonable environment for oil and gas exploration in the history of the United States," said Dennis Marker. "Write ordinances that make sure nobody wants to drill for oil here. ... If we let this drilling continue, our slogan will become Santa Fe the stupid. It's your job to make sure that doesn't happen."

Santa Fe County hasn't received or granted any drilling permit applications yet. But Tecton Energy's purchase of 65,000 acres of mineral rights in south Santa Fe County last spring has spurred area residents to form nonprofits, write letters and attend public meetings in an effort to prevent any possibility of drilling.

The Houston-based company has said it plans to drill as many as eight exploratory wells in the area in search of what it estimates are about 50 to 100 million barrels of "sweet light crude" in the basin area. Tecton announced last month it would submit applications for drilling permits in November.

Tecton has held two public meetings in the past few months. Both were well-attended by vocal crowds who voiced strong opposition to any exploration in the county.

Thursday's meeting, which drew the biggest crowd yet, was the first time the public has had a chance to address county officials on the matter.

Fesmire addressed the issue foremost in many people's minds: whether the county, which drilling opponents have accused of not being aggressive enough to regulate the industry, has any power to do so. "A lot has been said about Santa Fe County not having the authority to regulate oil and gas," Fesmire said. "I don't' think that is an accurate statement."

Fesmire said the state regulates all subsurface mining activity, but the county's jurisdiction over surface issues such as roads, noise, lighting and water protection grants it significant authority. "There is room for the citizens of Santa Fe to put some conditions on oil and gas drilling in Santa Fe," Fesmire said to thunderous applause.

Fesmire also reminded the crowd that mineral extraction has a huge economic impact on New Mexico, saying the state produces about 60 million barrels of oil and about 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas every year.

Asked the best way for the public to be involved in the process, Sullivan told the crowd to send comments in writing to County Manager Roman Abeyta, who also attended the meeting. In the midst of impassioned statements about the protection of Mother Earth and Tecton's claims that no contamination will result from their drilling, one audience member turned the spotlight back on the audience.

"How many of you drove (sport-utility vehicles), pickups and other large vehicles here tonight?" the speaker asked. "Practice what you preach!"

His comment drew little response.

Gordon Bruen of Eldorado said he felt Thursday's meeting was definitely helpful. "It was much better than the last one," he said. "People have really gotten educated. I think (the county commissioners) are going to do a good thing," he said. "They are going to do their best. What incentive do they have to do anything else?"

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