An enormous disaster is brewing that threatens New Mexico’s land and wildlife, our consuming water, and the well being and security of our households and communities. It’s a disaster that dozens of different states are additionally dealing with: tens of hundreds of orphan oil and fuel wells are leaking methane (a greenhouse fuel 84 instances extra highly effective than CO2) and different poisonous chemical compounds in our air and water.
Orphan wells are these which were deserted by bankrupt or disappeared oil and fuel corporations, leaving no celebration accountable to plug the wells and clear up the injury. Greater than 56,000 of those wells have been documented on public, personal and tribal lands throughout the nation, however that is solely the tip of the iceberg. The Environmental Safety Company estimates there could also be greater than 2 million orphaned wells in america
The Nationwide Wildlife Federation lately launched a report documenting hundreds of deserted or at-risk wells on federal land in simply 5 western states. Many are present in vital wildlife migration areas, near communities, or inside a mile of main recreation areas. The risks posed by these deserted wells threaten not solely the well being of people and wildlife, but additionally native economies that rely on wholesome ecosystems for looking, fishing and different outside recreation.
Right here in New Mexico, there are over 700 orphan wells. Practically 50 deserted oil and fuel wells throughout the Navajo Nation have contaminated already scarce consuming water provides with arsenic, sulfate, benzene and different carcinogens. Contaminated water has additionally been documented as a critical menace to livestock and agriculture.
Thankfully, two of New Mexico’s leaders are combating to resolve this nationwide disaster. Senator Ben Ray Luján and Consultant Teresa Leger Fernández have simply launched laws that may permit states and tribes to rent hundreds of employees to plug deserted wells and clear up surrounding areas in order that ecosystems might be restored, that wildlife can thrive, communities can relaxation assured they’ve clear air and water, and New Mexico’s outside financial system can proceed to thrive.
The Léger Fernández invoice additionally contains further reforms in order that we don’t face this disaster sooner or later. When oil and fuel corporations drill on public land, they have to publish a bond to pay for properly clean-ups in the event that they go bankrupt. The issue is, bond charges have not elevated in 70 years, failing to cowl the price of cleansing up and leaving taxpayers to foot the invoice. The Léger Fernández invoice modernizes this technique by growing bond charges in order that the vitality corporations that drill these wells are accountable for their cleanup – not the US taxpayer.
I wish to commend Luján and Leger Fernández for championing these widespread sense payments that defend communities, wildlife, and in the end our New Mexico lifestyle. These payments won’t solely make sure the well being and well-being of New Mexico households, however may also create hundreds of native jobs in communities which were hit hardest by the financial downturn. Please let Luján and Léger Fernández know that you just recognize their management in addressing this critical disaster – and urge the remainder of the New Mexico congressional delegation to help these payments in order that our communities and our good- beloved Land of Enchantment proceed to thrive for a lot of. generations to return.
Reverend Andrew Black is the Director of Public Lands for the Nationwide Wildlife Federation, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, and founding father of EarthKeepers 360.
