Success
for Otero Mesa!
On
Thursday, April 19th, a coalition of ranchers, hunters, conservationists
and water experts hosted the Otero Mesa Public Forum in Alamogordo.
This event in large part was organized by the New Mexico Wilderness
Alliance (NMWA).
Almost
200 people from Alamogordo and surrounding communities attended
the event to hear about Otero Mesa's fresh water aquifer, the
area's wildlife and how oil and gas drilling could impact this
special place. The purpose of the event was to bring the community
together and demonstrate that southern New Mexican's care about
their quality of life, and that a few days worth of oil and
gas will NOT take precedence over water, wildlife, and wilderness.
At
one point during the forum, moderator, Rick Simpson (a hunting
guide and Lincoln county commissioner) asked the audience "who
supported a moratorium on drilling in Otero Mesa" so that
a thorough study of the Salt Basin aquifer could occur. Everyone
in the room expect for one person raised their hand!
The
following day, the Alamogordo Daily News ran a front-page story
covering the event. This story was then picked up by the Associated
Press and ran in several other papers, including the Albuquerque
Journal, Las Cruces Sun-News, and Santa Fe New Mexican. Read
the full article here: http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_5709469
Friday
morning, April 20th, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance brought
four of the five speakers from the forum to meet with the Alamogordo
Daily News and encourage the paper to editorialize in support
of the moratorium. Rancher Tweeti Blancett, wildlife expert
and high school teacher Steve West, energy and economics expert
Bill Brown, and Craig Roepke with the Interstate Stream Commission
all attended the editorial board visit. The outcome was that
the next day, the Alamogordo Daily News editorialized in supporting
our efforts to call for a moratorium on drilling in Otero Mesa!
Read the editorial here: http://www.alamogordonews.com/opinion/ci_5719278
Subsequently,
on April 19th, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) sent a letter to
Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, requesting that
all leasing and drilling be put to a halt so the U.S.
Geological Survey, Sandia National Labs, and Interstate Stream
Commission could conduct a thorough study of the Salt Basin
aquifer. This is tremendous news. Please call Senator Bingaman
and thank him for taking the lead on calling for a moratorium
but urge him to keep fighting to protect Otero Mesa.
It
is because of your letters, calls and pressure to our elected
officials that we are gaining real traction in our efforts to
protect Otero Mesa. Many thanks! This past week was a real watershed
moment in the campaign. Now we must begin to aggressively pressure
Senator Domenici and Congressman Pearce. Senator Domenici’s
staff has indicated that the Senator may be willing to support
a moratorium on Otero Mesa. Please help us to make this a reality-
the time is NOW! Please call and fax your letters and comments
today.
Senator
Bingaman: (202) 224-5521
Senator
Domenici: (202) 224-6621
Congresswoman
Wilson: (202) 225-6316
Congressman
Pearce: (202) 225-2365
Congressman
Udall: (202) 225-6190
Send
your Free Fax Here!
Tell
NM's Delegation that YOU Want a Moratorium on Drilling in Otero
Mesa
Court
Finds Drilling can Move Forward on Otero Mesa