A contentious auction of public land to the oil and gas industry brought in about $78.8 million to the federal government this week, amid outcry from New Mexico environmental groups calling for a halt on using the lands for fossil fuel drilling.
Violations of state air pollution rules have been reported throughout southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin according to a database published by the state’s Environment Department detailing active and resolved cases.
Amid fears of worsening air quality in New Mexico’s oil and gas regions, an environmental group called on the State of New Mexico to enforce regulations targeting emissions from extraction.
Concerns lingered that oversight of oil and gas industry was inadequately funded in New Mexico, despite an almost $9.6 billion budget approved by lawmakers during this year’s legislative session that concluded March 18.
Pro-oil candidates struggled to take office in New Mexico in the 2022 election, as Democrats espousing environmental policy targeting reductions of pollution largely won their respective elections at state and federal levels.
Rights to a clean environment could be enshrined in New Mexico’s Constitution if a resolution pre-filed ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session is passed, putting the matter before voters.
