In an effort to protect the health of children, State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard signed a moratorium prohibiting oil and gas drilling within one mile of schools, daycares, or other educational facilities. The moratorium prevents new leases from being issued for drilling operations in areas that could impact schools and children.
“It’s my deep honor and privilege to be able to make this commitment to the students of New Mexico,” Garcia Richard said in announcing the moratorium, “that their health and their access to clean air and water is a right that we should be protecting with our policies.”
The commissioner took action after reading letters from community members in the Four Corners and the southeastern part of the state, reporting concerns about pollution near schools. Garcia Richard also received letters from environmental advocacy groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Citizens Caring for the Future.
“We wrote and included maps in these letters showing how the elementary school out on the greater Chaco landscape, the Lybrook school, is actually surrounded by fracking sites,” Gail Evans with the Center of Biological Diversity told KOB 4. “And showing how schools down in Carlsbad, Loving, and Hobbs literally have hundreds of fracking sites all around them.”
After reviewing the letters, Garcia Richard said she had the land office do its own investigation that found an estimated 119 schools statewide are within a mile of oil and gas wells on state lands. Some are near multiple wells such as Jefferson Elementary in Hobbs.
“It’s really quite unimaginable when you see it in person,” Kayley Shoup with the Citizens Caring for the Future, said of the drilling so close to schools.
The executive order signed last week only applies to new oil and gas wells. But existing wells are getting a closer look. Garcia Richard said her office will conduct a review of existing leases within a mile of schools to make sure are in compliance with their lease requirements and applicable laws, according to KOB. Meanwhile, the moratorium will stay in place until further notice.