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BLM issues proposed plan for Otero Mesa Agency says it worked with stakeholders, Democratic governor opposes plan Susan Montoya Bryan Associated Press Writer
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and environmental groups are skeptical that the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed plan for oil and gas development on Otero Mesa will ensure protection.
The plan, released Jan. 5, outlines how oil and gas drilling is to be managed over the next two decades on the mesa’s vast expanse of high-desert grassland.
State BLM Director Linda Rundell said the plan balances the nation’s need for energy with conservation of Otero Mesa’s natural resources.
“We worked with the counties, ranchers, conservationists, the oil and gas industry and other interested parties to develop a plan that will allow for environmentally responsible energy development, requiring that all disturbed areas be successfully revegetated,” she said. State reviewing plan But Richardson and others reiterated their concerns Jan. 5, saying that opening the mesa to development would be detrimental.
Richardson, who served as energy secretary in the Clinton administration, has assigned a task force of state officials to review the BLM plan and quickly report back to him.
“The governor has been consistently opposed to drilling on Otero Mesa,” said spokesman Billy Sparks. “The governor remains skeptical of the ability to drill and maintain the environmental integrity of Otero Mesa.”
Opponents contend the BLM plan doesn’t have enough environmental safeguards to protect the mesa’s rare grasslands, clean water and almost unlimited open spaces.
Sportsmen’s groups have also said pollution and noise from drilling would displace antelope and quail that roam the mesa.
“It’s a big deal,” said Stephen Capra, associate director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. “It’s the area with the largest remaining wilderness. It has over half a million roadless acres.” Drilling limited to 140 wells Natural gas companies are expected to be interested in a 121,000-acre portion of the mesa between Las Cruces and Carlsbad.
According to the proposed management plan, special conservation measures would be applied in areas of environmental concern, intact grasslands and wilderness study areas.
Drilling would be limited to 140 wells and an estimated 1,600 acres would disturbed by well pads, pipelines and roads.
Following public opposition to its first draft, the BLM has now proposed closing more areas to drilling, including parts of the grasslands considered essential wildlife habitat. Environmentalists say public excluded Regardless of the changes, opponents have accused the agency of trying to exclude the public when making decisions about Otero Mesa.
The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, the Southwest Environmental Center and Republicans for Environmental Protection filed a lawsuit last week seeking an injunction to stop an advisory committee from meeting on the proposed plan.
The groups argued the committee was not legally chartered by the BLM, its membership didn’t represent balanced points of view and that its meetings didn’t allow for public participation.
The BLM announced Jan. 5 that the meeting scheduled for the week was canceled. Spokesman Hans Stuart said the agency decided the time and cost of the litigation wasn’t in the public’s interest.
Stuart said the advisory committee was created with the intent of involving the public. “This was in good faith,” he said.
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