This included the following areas: Pena Blanca, Budaghers, Algodones, Placitas, La Madera (East Mountains), Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho Estates, West Mesa, It also 
includes all the supporting infrastructure Compressor stations and Pipelines. If you know people living in these areas or know people concerned about this issue please share this article.
How the Stoddard Ordinance fell woefully short:
“The Stoddard ordinance calls for drilling permits to be administered through permissive-use instead of special-use. This means that Planning and Zoning Director Mike Springfield will have sole authority to process and approve drilling permits, eliminating the need for a public hearing or input. Permits will simply be qualified by a checklist, then approved within 10 days. This ordinance also allows for operational noise at higher levels than federal requirements, does not require water monitoring, imposes meager penalties on companies for violating laws, and allows for wells to be drilled within 750 feet of schools, churches, hospitals, and houses.”
Thoughtful O&G Ordinance designed by Santa Fe County:
Background: https://commongroundrising.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Pace-University-Presentation-PP-Ross-copy.pdf
Ordinance: https://www.santafecountynm.gov/userfiles/file/oilandgas/SFCOrdinance2008-093008.pdf
Requirements for Rio Rancho Estates:
Water Well Monitoring Mandatory starting 5-miles from each water well in a circumference of directional flow
Real-Time Air Monitoring program outside and inside school within in 10 Miles on any drilling operation.
Community District overlay and exclusion zone for Rio Rancho Estates to include the map for the Rio Rancho Estates Masterplan
Information for Rio Rancho Water Issues page and other Rio Rancho website information. City of Rio Rancho Info Portfolio 1 provides a portfolio of the issues along with potential language for Rio Rancho City Councilors to address.
January 10th 11 am Rio Rancho Loma Colorado Library Conference Room Mayoral Candidate (D) Tom Swisstack will be attending to answer the questions on the platform and the issue facing the water supply for Rio Rancho.
Requirements for La Madera, District 1, Sandoval County:
Protective Community Overlay Zone for La Madera Area of District 1, Sandoval County
We insist Sandoval County specifically exclude this area from all oil and gas (O&G) operations as commissioners move forward in developing a responsible ordinance governing O&G activity in the County.
This exclusion zone includes:
- All communities comprising the East Sandia Mountain portion of Sandoval County (La Madera, San Pedro Creek Estates, The Overlook, Puertocito Road)
- All undeveloped areas adjacent to these communities (e.g., The Golden Open Space, San Pedro Creek Open Space, Cibola National Forest)
- The Turquoise Trail (NM 14), a designated National Scenic Byway
The risk is simply too high of O&G operations contaminating the heavily faulted and highly fractured aquifer from which the East Mountain area draws its drinking water. Groundwater from this aquifer finds its way into the Albuquerque Basin, an aquifer that supports one-third of New Mexico’s population.
Thousands of tourists traveling the Turquoise Trail each year generate substantial revenue for the state. It is in everyone’s interest to exclude this distinctive scenic corridor from any extractive activity, especially O&G. The narrow, winding two-lane National Scenic Byway cannot and should not support heavy truck traffic.
Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties are doing their part in protecting and preserving our fragile aquifers, our safety and health, property values, and the spectacular beauty that makes New Mexico such a desirable place to live and to visit. We fully expect Sandoval County to do the same
Dr. Holden Rhodes’ Position Letter to the Other County Commissioners:
See a New Year’s message below from James Holden-Rhodes, our Sandoval Co. District 1 Commissioner:
To: We, the People of District 1 1 Jan 18, 2018. As stated earlier, the 4-1 defeat of the two O&G proposed ordinances was not an end. It is merely the beginning of a long drawn out battle. Thrust Energy—with 55,000 acres of leased private land—has stated that they will redouble their efforts to engage in what clearly would be potentially dangerous drilling/hydraulic fracking activities.
In anticipation of the SC Commissioners meeting on Jan 18, I want to call your attention—again—to critical factors/smart planning that I argue are paramount in moving ahead:
- We must create a wide-spread understanding—and acceptance— by all parties that draw from the Albuquerque Aquifer that the sub-strata associated with the aquifer is extremely fractured and that there is a high degree of probability that any drilling or hydraulic fracking will contaminate the aquifer.
- It is my intent to propose a resolution to the foregoing, as a prelude to anything O&G related in Sandoval County;
- Further, I will propose a resolution that will require the SC Commission to make contact with the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County for the purpose of briefing them on the dangers of drilling/hydraulic fracking to the aquifer that we mutually share;
- I will request that the SC Commission identify and contact that individual in New Mexico State Government who has jurisdiction over aquifers throughout the state and request a formal statement defining the danger of aquifer contamination by drilling and hydraulic fracking in Sandoval County;
- I will make a motion that will require the SC Commission to issue a stop-work order to suspend the work that NM Tech is presently doing.This is important as it is clear that Tech’s work to date is aimed at identifying “fertile” areas for Oil & Gas exploration not focusing upon aquifers and the impact thereon of O&G operations. [Should we not do this, how then, can we justify to the citizens of the county that we will pay for something that is of no value?] ;
- I will make a second motion to the effect that the SC Commission must make a determination as to who—SC personnel /selected outside experts/etc— will craft a definitive statement of work which will be given to New Mexico Tech to carry out that which is desired by the Sandoval County Commission;
- And, a final motion declaring a moratorium on any and all new O&G operations in SC. The moratorium will stay in effect until SC has had the time to adequately study the results of the newly focused NM Tech report;
- The SC Commission shall direct the SC Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z Board) to study the Mora County and Santa Fe County O&G ordinance experience[s] as background to be used whenever a new O&G ordinance is being drafted.;
- Lastly, I am opposed to, and will vote against, any motion to address in any way, shape, or manner a move to send the Heil and Stoddard Ordinances back to the SC P&Z Board. Such a benighted move would be an exercise in futility; and, a major slap in the face of We, the People…..
Semper Fidelis H-R
Below are key provisions and objectives to include in the Sandoval oil and gas ordinance:
- Is consistent with state and federal regulations, as well as County comprehensive and area plans
- Requires pre-application meeting of stakeholders as well as well-defined public review and approval/disapproval processes
- Assesses fees to an applicant for the county to hire professional expert or consultant review
- Controls off-site public nuisances – traffic, dust, visual impacts, odors
- Controls pollution – water, air, noise, light, vibration
- Requires protective measures for the Albuquerque Basin Aquifer
- Requires detailed, pre-permit assurances of safe practices to prevent accidents and to address them if and when they happen
- Requires specification of water usage, source of water and disposal of waste at each phase of development
- Requires pre-development baseline ground and surface water testing as well as air quality and noise level testing
- Requires setbacks from sensitive locations – streams, water wells, acequias, schools, hospitals, churches, homes, cultural and historic sites, parks and designated wildlife protection areas
- Controls additional impacts: pipeline routing, waste disposal and steel double lined containment (on-site and off-site), abandoned wells, reclamation, seismic activity
- Covers county impact costs – road maintenance and deterioration, reviews and inspections, law enforcement, medical and drug treatment, emergency services (fire, ambulances)
- Determines sensitive areas that may be permanently damaged by drilling (“suitability”) as well as areas that are suitable for drilling
- Requires a cultural resource protection plan
- Requires a review of an applicant’s financial and environmental violation history
- Includes reliable financial assurance requirements to pay for damages, $30 MM Bond
- Requires regular, independent monitoring and inspections
- Includes meaningful violation penalties and remedies
- Provides remedies for possible property right impacts
- Provides for post-abandonment reclamation, monitoring, and remediation
Rio Grande, Placitas, La Madera concerns about aging pipelines running through our district:
Proposal letter to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iYq_KWYWeg832qCSz7PPoPRI9FP_iO29/view?usp=sharing
Key Supporters of the Proposed Prevention, Repair, and Replacement of Pipelines
Jodilynn Ortiz, Consultant, Consulting USA. LLC, affiliates who have signed on to the proposal that went to the pipeline corporations 45 days ago, Bernalillo Public Schools, San Antonio de Las Huertas Land Grant, ESCA-Eastern Sandoval County Association, Common Ground Community Trust — Organizations. Senator Tom Udall has been informed. The PRC-New Mexico Regulatory Commission has given supporting documentation and findings for the use of this proposal. Any other supporter of the pipeline proposal issue please contact us and we will add your name.
Learn more about Pipelines — fs_1706_pipelines-web
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