"The New Mexico Business Coalition supports Environmental Protection Agency Chief Scott Pruitt's action to delay enforcement of the BLM Venting and Flaring rule published November 2016. That rule is overreaching and unnecessary regulation that will hurt hard working families throughout our state. At a time when New Mexico has the worst unemployment and highest poverty rates in the nation, it's our children who are suffering the most."
"The last thing this state needs are more oil and gas wells shut in and at a cost of up to $50,000 per well for compliance, that's likely to happen with implementation of this rule. Financially, it doesn't make sense for the marginal (low producing) wells to continue operating with that additional investment. In the Farmington area alone, that means we could lose up to 70 percent of its wells."
"Recent federal EPA studies show that methane emissions are down even while production is up. Natural gas producers have a vested interest in reducing methane emissions from venting and flaring and they work diligently to minimize leakage."
"The New Mexico Business Coalition appreciates EPA's Scott Pruitt delaying implementation of the BLM Venting and Flaring Rule for a minimum of 90 days. That will allow time for a thorough analysis of existing rules, which we believe are sufficient, to be completed."
Carla Sonntag
New Mexico Business Coalition founder and president