Heather Berghmans Senate District 15 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) has finalized a rule aimed at limiting methane venting and flaring in the oil and gas industry. This decision, proposed by the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), is seen as a significant move towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico.
The Western Environmental Law Center played a role in advocating for this change on behalf of several organizations including Conservation Voters New Mexico and Earthworks. The coalition succeeded in securing two main objectives: banning routine venting and flaring except under specific circumstances, and mandating that oil and gas companies capture 98% of methane emissions by 2026.
However, the new OCC rule does not address methane leaks directly. Instead, these will be covered by an upcoming proposal from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), which plans to target emissions of methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). NMED intends to present its proposal to the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) later this year.
Tannis Fox from the Western Environmental Law Center stated that "Gov. Lujan Grisham has committed to nation-leading methane protections. Today’s strong oil and gas venting and flaring rule is the first step." She emphasized that addressing industry leaks will be crucial for public health.
Concerns were raised regarding loopholes in NMED's draft rule from July 2020. There is cautious optimism that these issues will be addressed before presenting it to the EIB.
Mario Atencio of Diné CARE highlighted the impact on indigenous communities, noting that "the final rules passed will provide protections for frontline indigenous communities."
Michael Jensen from Conservation Voters New Mexico praised the OCC’s decision but stressed that further action is needed: "We are hopeful that the Environment Department will take the next step."
Nathalie Eddy of Earthworks called for comprehensive measures from NMED to tackle ozone and methane pollution effectively.
Mona Blaber of Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter pointed out that "the oil and gas industry in New Mexico is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector," emphasizing the importance of stringent regulations.
New Mexico faces significant challenges with methane pollution, largely due to its substantial oil and gas operations. Methane waste not only contributes heavily to climate change but also costs state schools millions annually in lost revenue. The health impacts are particularly severe among vulnerable populations living near oil sites.
Contacts:
- Tannis Fox, Western Environmental Law Center: 505-629-0732
- Thomas Singer, Western Environmental Law Center: 505-231-1070
- Michael Jensen, Conservation Voters New Mexico: 505-362-1063
