Senator David Gallegos Releases Statement on Proposed New Oil and Gas Regulations

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 07 May 2021 07 May 2021

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Environment Department seeks to revoke previous exemptions

SANTA FE – Today the New Mexico Environment Department issued a press release announcing the reinstatement of certain regulations on the oil and gas industry. Senator David Gallegos (District 41- Eddy and Lea) released the following statement regarding the proposed rule changes:

"Our communities, our schools, and our families depend on the oil and gas industry in southeast New Mexico," said Senator Gallegos. "This rule change only seeks to further handicap the small producers in our community. The exaggerated environmental benefits are dwarfed by the toll this will take on New Mexicans who will lose their jobs, pay more at the pump, and see their communities die off as business owners pack up and leave for Texas."

The rule removes the previous exemption for stripper wells, which had previously been classified as "low potential to emit," and increases the administrative burden on all oil and gas producers.

"This executive proposal is simply another chronicle in the top-down leadership our governor prefers," added Senator Gallegos. "Like President Biden, she would prefer to make unilateral decisions instead of taking her priorities to the legislative branch of government. We had a thoughtful discussion about new regulations like these during the session and chose as a body to reject them because of the excessive harm they will cause. This is clearly yet another politically motivated move to appease the governor's radical progressive base ahead of her reelection bid."

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