Dear BLM... What's the Rush?
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Recently, there have been articles regarding the BLM, Bureau of Land Management, and their dismissal of environmental groups' concerns when it comes to new oil and gas leases being distributed here in New Mexico.
In April, forty-three new land leases for oil and gas operations were sold by the BLM as protests were made by environmental groups (including the Western Environmental Law Center, and Wild Earth Guardians.) The groups were requesting that the BLM prepare environmental impact statements on the proposed oil and gas leases that take green house gas emissions and contributions to global warming into consideration. A consideration that isn't as far-fetched as the BLM might claim considering that in 2001 the Secretary of Interior instilled a requirement for climate change analysis to take place before granting access to federal lands.
Although the sales were initially postponed due to the controversy, the BLM recently rejected the protests and continued with the sale. Their primary argument against the protesting groups was that "they already work with the industries to limit emissions by limiting flaring and venting of natural gas during drilling and production." However, they continue by claiming that "the real issue is worldwide demand and use of fossil fuels" and that these leases "will have no significant impact on regional and global greenhouse gas emission levels."
According to a study in 2000, oil and gas represented 23% of emissions from New Mexico, which is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from this state. Therefore, to try to divert attention from the facts and claim that the cumulative effort of oil and gas drilling projects in New Mexico aren't going to have a significant impact on climate change is absolutely unfounded. The BLM doesn't appear to be taking a look at the bigger picture.
While there have been repeated concerns about the BLM being severely understaffed, it seems suspicious that they would choose to focus much of the resources they do have on processing these (APDs) or permits to drill. During a time when climate change has become a major concern for many and a new push for renewable energy is emerging, people have begun to make individual efforts including recycling, conserving, changing light bulbs, etc. Therefore, the BLM appears to be a little out of touch when they use this "I can't be held accountable" mentality and don't take the time to adequately assess the environmental impacts of the major polluter projects they are permitting.
Well, I suppose we have to consider whose interests are at stake here.
"It's bizarre, but loopholes in federal laws allow groups to make these types of complaints," said Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. "These actions force officials to do detailed analyses and that can hold things up indefinitely. The BLM is extremely understaffed. If we require them to do these studies, it slows everything down to a crawl."
My only question to the BLM is...What's the rush?
Link:
NM Business Weekly
Albuquerque Journal
In April, forty-three new land leases for oil and gas operations were sold by the BLM as protests were made by environmental groups (including the Western Environmental Law Center, and Wild Earth Guardians.) The groups were requesting that the BLM prepare environmental impact statements on the proposed oil and gas leases that take green house gas emissions and contributions to global warming into consideration. A consideration that isn't as far-fetched as the BLM might claim considering that in 2001 the Secretary of Interior instilled a requirement for climate change analysis to take place before granting access to federal lands.
Although the sales were initially postponed due to the controversy, the BLM recently rejected the protests and continued with the sale. Their primary argument against the protesting groups was that "they already work with the industries to limit emissions by limiting flaring and venting of natural gas during drilling and production." However, they continue by claiming that "the real issue is worldwide demand and use of fossil fuels" and that these leases "will have no significant impact on regional and global greenhouse gas emission levels."
According to a study in 2000, oil and gas represented 23% of emissions from New Mexico, which is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from this state. Therefore, to try to divert attention from the facts and claim that the cumulative effort of oil and gas drilling projects in New Mexico aren't going to have a significant impact on climate change is absolutely unfounded. The BLM doesn't appear to be taking a look at the bigger picture.
While there have been repeated concerns about the BLM being severely understaffed, it seems suspicious that they would choose to focus much of the resources they do have on processing these (APDs) or permits to drill. During a time when climate change has become a major concern for many and a new push for renewable energy is emerging, people have begun to make individual efforts including recycling, conserving, changing light bulbs, etc. Therefore, the BLM appears to be a little out of touch when they use this "I can't be held accountable" mentality and don't take the time to adequately assess the environmental impacts of the major polluter projects they are permitting.
Well, I suppose we have to consider whose interests are at stake here.
"It's bizarre, but loopholes in federal laws allow groups to make these types of complaints," said Bob Gallagher, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. "These actions force officials to do detailed analyses and that can hold things up indefinitely. The BLM is extremely understaffed. If we require them to do these studies, it slows everything down to a crawl."
My only question to the BLM is...What's the rush?
Link:
NM Business Weekly
Albuquerque Journal
