Pearce
hears from Otero Mesa coalition
Congressman cites need for affordable energy
By Stella Davis
Current-Argus Staff Writer
CARLSBAD - Opposition to opening the Otero Mesa to natural gas drilling and
exploration is gaining momentum, and a number of local residents have joined
a statewide effort to save the area from development.
On Wednesday, at a town hall meeting held by Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., a number of residents urged Pearce to support legislation to protect this stretch of Chihuahuan Desert grassland, which is located in the south central part of the state and extends into Texas and Mexico.
To coincide with Pearce's Carlsbad visit, The Coalition for Otero Mesa - comprised of sportsmen and state and national conservation groups - took out a full-page advertisement in the Current-Argus urging the public to write or call Pearce, who has a business related to the oil and gas industry in Lea County.
They allege in the advertisement that since taking office in January, Pearce has aligned himself with the oil and gas industry and that he is protecting its interests.
The coalition also alleges Pearce is fighting to allow drilling in Otero Mesa, and that he is working to eliminate wilderness studies on Bureau of Land Management lands. The coalition said Pearce is opposing regulations that would protect water quality, and preventing property owners from having a say about oil and drilling on their own lands.
Local supporters of Otero Mesa said Wednesday that the area is home to a great diversity of native plants, wildlife species and independent ranchers, and it should remain a wilderness area and free from drilling.
"Nobody wants to create contaminated wasteland," Pearce told Otero Mesa supporters. "But we need to balance our wilderness areas and affordable energy."
He said that up until his knees gave, he enjoyed trips into the backcountry and that he fully understands their concerns.
Black River Village resident Louise Dearing said the BLM - a federal permitting agency for oil and gas leasing on federal lands - should not be allowed to issue drilling permits for the Otero Mesa.
She said that in the last six months, about 25 oil and gas wells have been drilled within a 7-mile radius of her home, and oil and gas companies are bulldozing the next site before they finish drilling the one that they are on.
"They should clean up the one they are on before going to the next one," she said. "There are a lot of pits that are still not cleaned up in Eddy County - some have been there at least a year."
Dearing and other activists also criticized recent legislation proposed by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., that if passed, would implement a pilot program to speed up the Bureau's drilling permit process.
Dearing said legislation is needed to protect not only surface landowners from destruction caused by oil and gas companies on their lands, but the Otero Mesa as well.
"The industry has already contaminated a farmer-rancher's water in the Washington Ranch area just 15 miles from us," she said. "The city's water monitoring wells have had some contamination with H2S gas, and who knows where else there has been more contamination. We shouldn't have to worry about this precious resource.
"Last month we camped out in Otero Mesa and climbed Alamo Mountain where the cactus were beginning to bloom," she added. "The wind was blowing, but there was little dust. I hate to think what it would be like if you let oil and gas drilling happen in Otero Mesa."
Others in the audience agreed with her and said Otero Mesa should be protected at all cost.
Greg Lewandowski told Pearce that he believes solar and wind power are alternatives for meeting the nation's energy needs.
He said he is currently building a solar-powered home in northern New Mexico that will provide enough power to run the home's appliances.
"It does not change the lifestyle, but it is energy efficient," he said. "My house will be finished this fall, and I invite you and your staff to come and see it."
Pearce said solar power was popular in the 1980s and that his brother has a solar-power business in Colorado. However, he said the once-popular method of providing energy is no longer in vogue and there are very few businesses left that have found solar power profitable.
"Wind and solar power is not economical, and I don't think there is enough of it to meet the nation's energy needs right now," he said.
On the side of the conservationists fighting to keep Otero Mesa pristine is New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson.
In a Feb. 18 letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Richardson said he would remain opposed to any drilling in Otero Mesa unless the BLM conducted a new wilderness study on the 1.8 million acres that constitute the Greater Otero Mesa area.
He also urged the Bureau to delay issuing a final Environmental Impact Statement so his administration could enter the process and begin working directly with the Bureau's state director, her staff, stakeholders and all other interested parties on both sides of the issue.
"Otero Mesa is reportedly the largest contiguous piece of Chihuahuan Desert grassland left in North America, and it is significant for its wildlife and wilderness and its characteristics as a biological reserve," he wrote. "Care must be taken before opening this large landscape to drilling, or we will risk destroying the unique character of this biologically rich area and fragile ecosystem."
Richardson said it was his understanding that the Bureau performed a small inventory 20 years ago and that none of the land was identified as having potential for wilderness status.
"I am aware, however, that the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance recently completed a study that arrived at a totally different conclusion," Richardson wrote. "For example, the study indicated that the area contains more than a half-million roadless acres that would be eligible for wilderness status. Current technologies should allow a much more comprehensive and accurate assessment of the conditions and use of the various landscapes in this large geographic area."
Richardson said he hoped some agreement could be reached on how all parties can proceed cooperatively to address New Mexico's best interests on the Otero Mesa, as well as to protect and conserve the state's natural resources for the long term.