News
The latest news from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.
Update on Efforts to Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions
On April 6, the State Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) decided it had statutory authority to hear the Petition to cap greenhouse gas emissions that we filed for New Energy Economy. This alleged legal obstacle was raised by numerous companies and industry groups that benefit greatly from the current absence of any regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Our Petition asks the EIB to adopt regulations designed to abate and prevent the air pollution caused by greenhouse gases (the NM Air Quality Control Act expressly authorizes the EIB to adopt regulations to abate and prevent air pollution).
Green Fire Report: Winter/Spring 2009 Edition Now Available
The online version of the Green Fire Report is now available here. You can also download a PDF version.
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New Report Analyzes Oil and Gas Impacts on New Mexico
A new report analyzes the economic and fiscal contribution of the oil and natural gas industries in New Mexico along with a case study of proposed energy development on Otero Mesa in Otero County that asks whether potential drilling there would create more benefits than it would foreclose. The study then concludes with five public policy options.
Ben Alexander, the report’s lead author and Associate Director of Headwaters Economics, asserts that jobs and personal income from industries associated with the extraction of fossil fuels are a small part of New Mexico’s economy. And that even at the height of the recent energy surge, these industries accounted for two percent of all employment and three percent of total personal income in the state.
Get Report Potential Impacts of Energy Development in New Mexico
Complete Press Release from Headwaters Economics in PDF Format
Help Stop Pro-Nuke Budget Amendments Now!
They’re at it again! And we have to act again—now!
The U.S. Senate is currently debating President Obama’s FY 2010 budget on the Senate floor. One amendment we’ve seen would allow money to be shifted around in the budget if the nuclear industry can get $50 billion in new loan guarantees later. Another would allow money to be shifted around if pro-nuclear boosters are successful in getting more R&D money for Generation IV reactors. NukeFree.org
HRI’s Churchrock Uranium Project Put on Hold
As reported in the Gallup Independent today, the proposed in-situ leach uranium mining project near Churchrock is on hold. (Learn more about the Law Center’s representation of Churchrock and Crown Point communities)
According to Rick Van Horn, chief operating officer of Uranium Resources Inc. (URI), parent company of Hydro Resources Inc. (HRI), received notification earlier this month that Itochu, partner in the Churchrock project, has pulled out of the joint venture.
“Uranium prices are depressed, we’re still awaiting the court decision, and right now the project is on hold until we get that decision,“ says Van Horn. Read Full Article
HB 755, Clean Up Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUMs), Tabled
House Bill 755, “Uranium Mining Liability,“ sponsored by Representative Benjamin Rodefer, was tabled in the Business and Industry Committee meeting yesterday.
HB 755, Helps Clean Up Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUMs)
House Bill 755, “Uranium Mining Liability,“ sponsored by Representative Benjamin Rodefer, would give the state the authority to go after the original uranium companies that actually created the mess. If it passes, it could start a funding stream going directly to cleanup.
This is a great bill, but we need your help.
HB 755 is scheduled to be heard this Thursday at 1:30 pm in the Business and Industry Committee meeting, and this committee has typically ignored community needs.
Please Call the Committee Members and tell them to
VOTE “YES“ on HB 755 and Please come to the Roundhouse on Thursday to show your support!
Hearing Granted on Texas Uranium Permit
“Local officials and citizens from Goliad County got some encouragement Wednesday in their fight against uranium mining over a south Texas aquifer.“ Read Full Article
“This is great news because the affected community is getting a hearing instead of having the project forced on them. That’s a big deal in any community.“ Eric Jantz, Staff Attorney
House Bill 219, which strengthens rights of surface owners, Tabled
HB 219, sponsored by Representative Brian Egolf, was tabled in the House Judiciary Committee today.
“The tabling of HB 219 is unfortunate because it would have guaranteed surface owners access to information about who owns the minerals beneath the surface owner’s land.“ Douglas Meiklejohn, Executive Director
HB 755, Helps Clean Up Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUMs)
House Bill 755, “Uranium Mining Liability,“ sponsored by Benjamin Rodefer, gives the Mining and Minerals department the ability to go after viable companies that have AUMs in New Mexico for the cost of clean up. HB 755 has been referred to the Business and Industry Committee.
Please call your representative and ask him or her to vote YES on HB 755!
Justice Bars now available at Señor Murphy’s Santa Fe locations!
Now you can get your fix of Fair Trade Certified™ organic chocolate with local New Mexico ingredients at Señor Murphy stores in Santa Fe, NM.
Or call us and we can ship them to you. Click here for more details
House Joint Memorial 6 “Create Uranium Mining Task Force” doesn’t look at the whole picture
HJM 6, sponsored by Patricia A. Lundstrom, calls for the creation of a task force to look evaluate uranium mining.
But the memorial doesn’t require an evaluation of the whole impact of uranium mining; such as environmental justice issues, or the full economic costs of uranium mining.
The Memorial will be heard next in the Senate Rules Committee. Please call your representative and ask him or her to vote NO on HJM6!»»
House Bill 219, which strengthens rights of surface owners, Passes
House Bill 219 was given a DO PASS by unanimous vote in the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is now going to the House Judiciary Committee.
Pro Uranium Bill HB84 Voted Down
After three days of active debate in the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Committee voted on the pro uranium bill HB84 sponsored by Patricia A. Lundstrom. The vote came to a tie.
Committee Chair, Representative Roger Madalena broke the tie and voted against HB84 causing it to fail.
We would like to thank Rep. Madalena on his courageous vote that supported the wishes of the communities impacted by the uranium industry.
“Watchdogs Sound the Alarm on the ‘Nuclear Stimulus’”
“Eric Jantz, staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, says a provision that could guarantee up to $50 billion in loans for construction of new nuclear power plants has worked its way into the Senate version of the federal economic recovery package. He worries that could lead to a resurgence of the uranium mining and milling industry that has had such a checkered history in New Mexico.“
Public News Service