On March 20, the State Land Office sold oil and gas leases for numerous tracts in the Galisteo Basin. One lies along the bed of Galisteo Creek, immediately upstream from our community water wells. Our entire development would be endangered by oil and gas exploration on this tract alone.

I am shocked that the state would lease mineral rights on such environmentally sensitive land. Santa Fe County must block all exploration until and unless governmental hydrology studies guarantee that no damage will result to the water supply of any resident.

The new "Surface Owners Protection Act," of which the governor and the Legislature seem so proud, is a sham. The state must equalize our rights as surface owners with industry's rights to the minerals beneath, and it must give us recourse against the water, air, noise and light pollution generated by nearby oil and gas operations.

John C. Willett
Galisteo

The prospect of Tecton Energy and others like them coming to the "City Different" to drill for oil is a frightening prospect indeed. What makes it particularly so is that most people who own property in New Mexico don't own their property's mineral rights, so there's nothing they can do to prevent drilling on their property. This kind of archaic system of land ownership is called "split estate" and comes from homesteading laws from the 19th century that gave settlers free land while the government retained their mineral rights. Drilling companies are rushing to lease minerals from the Bureau of Land Management and the heirs who control minerals on private lands throughout the West. Our county and other elected officials must create stronger protections for their constituents, or they'll find themselves out of a job. It's as simple as that.

Alexis Higginbotham
Santa Fe

The message is clear in the bad air, the contaminated water, the degraded soil, the dying species, the sickened humans: "Trash Mother Earth and Mother Earth will trash you." Tecton will ultimately trash one of the remaining pristine landscapes.

This is a good place to draw the line. No. Unconditionally no.

Ellen Heath
Santa Fe

During the San Marcos School public meeting on Oct. 4, Tecton partner Bill Dirks was asked what Tecton would do if Tecton damaged or poisoned a well or the aquifer. He replied, "We would find a way to replace the water."

Anyone who lives in rural New Mexico knows it's almost impossible to find alternative drinking water, especially for an entire community.

Specifically how would Tecton replace a water source in perpetuity? Tecton is a limited liability company. Once they fold their tents and leave, then the community is left with bad or no water, plus a drilling mess to clean up. Tecton's $10,000 to $20,000 state bond will not start to cover the damages. If this drilling nightmare proceeds, Tecton and all other oil companies must be held by Santa Fe County to substantial levels of enforceable liability.

Judy Benson
Santa Fe

Every bore hole that oil companies drill into the Galisteo watershed is a stake driven into the heart of this fragile and vital ecosystem. Every gallon of precious water forced into the bore to fracture the earth for oil, fractures the heart of it.

We who live here will use every resource to prevent the desecration of our land by oil companies. However, they have leased the mineral rights to thousands of acres in the Galisteo Basin. They can locate an oil rig a half mile from your front porch and there's nothing you can do about it, unless our county commissioners and other elected officials stand behind us.

My vote next year, and the votes of thousands of others, will go to those commissioners and other elected officials who live up to their sworn oath to protect and serve the land and the people of this community. We need citizen voices now.

Archie Tew
Santa Fe County

Halliburton has stated that the average well undergoes hydraulic fracturing 17 times, and each time, 1.3 to 5 million gallons of water are required. Our scarce drinking water is being used right now to "frac" along the Galisteo Creek.

Each "frac" job involves the injection of a toxic combination of hazardous chemicals including but not limited to biocides, which destroy living organisms, solvents, foaming agents, gelling agents and unknown chemicals, which are proprietary.

Radioactive materials and PCB's are allowed if they are not at "high levels"! Toxic chemicals used in the fracing process are exempt from The Clean Water Act. Endocrine Disruption Exchange Inc. found that half the known chemicals used for drilling cause respiratory, skin, liver and/or gastro-intestinal problems, one-third are harmful to the kidneys, cardiovascular and nervous system.

The risks to the water, environment and health of residents cannot be justified. Santa Fe County must enact a moratorium on drilling now.

Carol Aageson
Santa Fe

Let's look deeply at the economic impacts of oil and gas extraction in Santa Fe County.

People like to live and visit here because of Santa Fe's beauty, culture and healthy environment. Our "creative industries" — arts and crafts, alternative health care, music and theater generate $1.1 billion a year. If our landscape turns into oil fields, Santa Fe's economy will suffer. Fewer people will buy arts and crafts, eat in restaurants, stay in hotels, shop in stores, etc. Property values will plummet and less tax revenue will be generated.

County expenses will go up. We'll need paid firefighters and first responders in case of oil fires and industrial accidents. Environmental and health effects from the oil extraction industry are always high and costly. The net loss to Santa Fe's economy will outweigh any gain from severance taxes.

Louise Baum
Santa Fe

More than my alarm over Tecton Energy's plan to drill in Galisteo and Cerrillos, plus the other 60,000 acres they have leased, is my outrage over the large number of people who are content to let others do their "heavy lifting." So many are sitting on their hands while oil companies are applying for state leases and courting our commissioners. It's time for everyone to get their hands dirty!

Tecton is willing to spend millions of dollars to sway public and official opinion in their favor. We all know money talks; are our officials listening? Everyone in the Santa Fe area needs to join in this fight.

The grass roots group DrillingSantafe.com is working to block Tecton's blitzkrieg. It will take money and public support to stop Tecton. Defeat Texas oil developers by donating and supporting this grass roots group. Don't let Santa Fe become another Farmington.

Nancy de Santis
Santa Fe

Don't for a minute believe any of the "happy talk" surrounding Tecton's sensitivity to our precious Galisteo Basin. Actions speak louder than words, and Tecton is already breaking the promises that it has made to the county's residents to respect our quality of life and existing mining ordinance. The County's current mining ordinance provides for essential setbacks from residences (1/2 mile),
and water wells and flood plains
(500 feet). Many, if not most, of the initial eight wells proposed by Tecton violate one or more of these setback requirements. In fact, Tecton proposes to locate a well in my front yard within 300 feet of both my house and water well, and it would be drilled through an alluvial aquifer, which is the sole source of drinking water for many residents. Before Tecton's proposal for its initial eight wells advances even an iota further, the county administration should put Tecton on notice that all permit applications that seek variances from setback requirements will be denied when other (but perhaps less profitable) alternatives exist.

James Ziegler
Cerrillos

One of our many worries about oil drilling near Cerrillos is the effect it will have on our water. The Surface Owners Protection Act offers some protections to the owners of properties where drilling would occur. But there are no protections for those of us who are neighbors of Tecton's proposed drilling sites, which clearly violate the county's mining ordinance. Dangerous chemicals will be used to fracture the rock to get to this imagined supply of oil. We will be constantly paying for analysis of our wells, fearing the worst. And if our water is polluted, we will have to pay for a new water well, too — provided we can find a place on our property that is free from contaminants. I doubt the county would be putting in a public water system with all the newfound revenue it thinks it's going to receive from the oil drilling.

Jerry Gorham
Cerrillos

I own property in Madrid, the Galisteo Basin and in Beaumont, Texas. My concerns about drilling in the Galisteo Basin are health-related. Drilling has been happening in Beaumont since 1901, and there is more cancer in that area than anywhere else that I know.

Good water is more important than oil and gas. People are dying in East Texas from water that has been contaminated from oil and gas drilling. The State of New Mexico and Santa Fe County need to protect water resources and promote sustainable energy resources. It is ironic that the largest solar community in the state of New Mexico is now looking down the barrel at energy pollution in its own backyard.

Lori Lindsey
Madrid

On Oct. 7, my husband and I attended a meeting at the Galisteo Community Center where under discussion was the distressing fact that Tecton Energy is now lobbying Santa Fe County for permits to reenter several of the old abandoned well sites near Galisteo and to drill north and south of that area.

After watching the presentation of San Juan County rancher Tweetie Blanchett, whose ranch was destroyed by the oil companies, we agree with the group that an ordinance should be addressed to the oil and gas companies that would eliminate the specific threats of oil and gas production before permits are considered.

We can't sit back and allow our beautiful land to be destroyed by companies that appear to have such total disregard for the effects that drilling will have on the land, animals, water table and our quality of life.

Ferol and Janyth Fell
Eldorado

Tecton Energy, headquartered in Houston, held a meeting at the Turquoise Trail Elementary School on Oct. 4 to review their plans to drill for oil in areas of Santa Fe County. They want to drill in the Galisteo Basin through the aquifer to get at the oil.

When people asked what would happen if Tecton contaminated the water, they had no response on how to fix it. The fact is, it would be impossible to reverse the effects once the water is contaminated. We all live in a fragile environment, and it would take a great deal of time to recover from the mess oil companies leave behind.

Farmington is a prime example of how oil exploration and drilling has destroyed the land and contaminated water sources. Oil companies have no regard for the people who live nearby the wells. The residents in the areas of Galisteo, Madrid, Cerrillos, Eldorado and all along Highway 14 north to Santa Fe are deeply concerned over the environmental catastrophe that would follow if the oil companies are allowed to dig here. It is up to the county commissioners to stop this from happening.

There is another meeting scheduled on Nov. 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center at 3221 Rodeo Road. Please join us in a show of support to keep oil companies from ruining our beautiful county.

Muriel Fariello
vice president, Ranchitos de Galisteo
Water Users Association

After attending a meeting regarding oil drilling efforts in process for the Galisteo Basin and Santa Fe County, I am deeply concerned.

I am outraged by the degradation to the land in the San Juan Basin and in the Animas River! The Bush administration policy is to ignore and not enforce the federal safety requirements with the oil companies! The initial good faith promises made by the oil companies have been disregarded by them and they have gotten away with it!

Galisteo residents get their water from private and community wells from our river — without protections in force and no credibility of the companies. They must not be allowed to have access to our land for drilling! This will affect us all — ranchers, farmers, downtown businesses and residents. There must be a united grassroots effort by the people of Santa Fe County to protect our uniquely precious and beautiful area!

Jill West
president, Water Users Association
Ranchitos de Galisteo

Why isn't Tecton using Texas water and following Santa Fe County ordinances and restrictions?

Tecton, a Texas Company, built oil wells in Santa Fe arroyos and FEMA floodplains ignoring 1993 Mining Ordinances and Army Corps of Engineers' restrictions. Tecton plans to use fracing techniques: toxic chemicals (the carcinogen, benzene and neurotoxins, toluene and xylene) and New Mexico water to release deposits of gas and oil. "Each" well is fraced approximately 17 times, "using 1.5 to 6 million gallons of water. Toxic Residuals remaining underground contaminate water sources. (www.nrdc.org/onearth/06sum/
rockies1.asp)

Drilling practices kill ranchers' cattle, and ranchers including Republicans and Bush supporters are fighting back. (www.sierraclub.org/tv/episode-range.asp)

Raton, in northeastern New Mexico opposes drilling activities that don't protect water rights from depletion and contamination. (www.topix.com/city/raton-nm/2007/09/coal-bed-drilling-firm-backs-off-raton-project)

Take A Stance Against Tecton by:

• Writing Letters to Commissioners (www.santafecounty.org/about_us/commission.php)
  

• Signing Petitions (www.ipetitions.com/petition/DrillingSantaFe/)
• Reading More (drillingsantafe.blogspot.com/)

Keep Santa Fe a healthy place to live!

Colleen McCann
Santa Fe

Are the Santa Fe County commissioners for sale? Can they be enticed with exaggerated projections of oil revenue by Tecton Energy?

Under current regulations we know our commissioners can greatly restrict the planned drilling. But we are at the mercy of a poorly informed county commission that looks to the County Attorney Steve Ross for guidance. Ross was at the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division for years, with a reputation for being pro-oil. Do we have a case of the wolf guarding the hen house?

I believe the county commissioners must hire an outside, unbiased, oil-savvy attorney to lead them through this "petro-maze" they are about to enter. We only have one shot at this.

Can we trust the future of the pristine Galisteo Basin to an attorney who is soft on the oil industry?

William Manns
Santa Fe

The beauty of the landscape, the art it inspires and the spiritual peace it exudes will all be destroyed forever by what oil drilling companies have in mind. It's like Iraq: You can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again once you've smashed it.

The real estate and banking industries are already reeling from a home-buying slowdown and mortgage foreclosures. Who will buy or be able to sell homes in Santa Fe county, once the water aquifer is polluted and there is visual defilement and constant noise echoing throughout the land from the drilling?

What we need is a moratorium on drilling and mining in Santa Fe County for all types of land: Private, state, and federal, until codes are strengthened and independent environmental and economic impact studies are completed.

If our state and county representatives do not protect us, then we need to replace them with those who will.

Gail Buono
Santa Fe

Perhaps one old fogey somewhere in the United States still holds that drilling for oil and mining for coal is the only way to fulfill this planet's need for energy. I trust that such an ill-informed point of view is pass & eacute; to any resident of New Mexico.

Our state has an abundance of sunshine and wind. Let us harvest those sources of energy and keep New Mexico a clean Land of Enchantment. Concurrently, let us develop a national profile as employers of the forefront technologies to produce energy with integrity.

Judy Coady
Santa Fe

It is frightening to know that out-of-state oil companies can come to New Mexico and make their money. They cannot control the pollution and environmental problems they create. We can't prevent them from filing for bankruptcy before any claims can be granted.

No one from the state or federal government has addressed the destruction created in San Juan County. Cattle and wildlife have been poisoned from polluted water and the land destroyed.

Where do the revenues generated by these companies go? Certainly not to improve our quality of life. With the monies generated by these companies our school system should rank number one in the country. Our roads should be the best. Gas prices should be lower than in other states. They are not, in fact, we are at par with California! What are our state officials going to do to stop the pillaging of our state's resources?

Barbara Seiler
Galisteo

As a concerned landowner and citizen of Santa Fe County, I think this is the time to consider the potential of irreparable damage to the land in the area along the Turquoise Trail if oil drilling is permitted. The County's 1993 Hard Rock Mining Ordinance specifically protects private property; now this law needs to be strengthened and clarified to specifically protect private property against oil and gas drilling. Until independent archaeological, biological, environmental and economic studies are completed by companies that are independent of oil companies, and then shared with the public, there must be no issuing of drilling permits or variances. This means that a moratorium must be put on all oil drilling at the present time and, hopefully, forever.

Dana Myers
Cerrillos

At their Oct. 4 presentation, Tecton Energy officials had three armed deputies and a bodyguard on hand to protect them from us. The truth is, it's we who need protection. Out-of-state and multinational companies seem to think that it's their right to plunder New Mexico's natural resources for their own gain. They bring in their own crews to invade our properties, take our oil and gas; pollute our water and air; devastate our land and economy. And then leave with the riches that rightly belong to us.

Meanwhile, our schools, health, per-capita income and other quality-of-life indicators routinely rate among the worst in the nation.

How long must our way of life be sacrificed so outside companies can pursue their business interests?

New Mexico's land, air, water, health, children and economy— these are our interests. And it's our government's business to protect our interests from those who would do us harm.

Scott Heath
Dixon

My neighbor received word that Tecton Energy wishes to drill an oil well on his property 350 feet from his beautiful home and his domestic well. This is heartbreaking news, but the toll it will have on his quality of life and the risk to his water well and the massive depreciation of the value of his property will be devastating.

All of the above will also apply to his immediate neighbors. Although my neighbor can seek some sort of restitution, no doubt inadequate to cover his financial loss. However, this does not apply if the well is not situated on your land, even if the side effects from its presence effects everyone in its vicinity in the same way.

So, for the record, Tecton can come into my neighborhood, drill a well close to my home — but not on my property — pollute my well, ruin my view and peace, devastate my property value, and I cannot seek one dollar of restitution.

Jackie Fleming
Cerrillos