08-01-04 New Mexico environmentalists are slamming the Bureau of Land Management's proposed plan to allow drilling on the Otero Mesa, calling it "confusing by design" and based "on a blatant lie."
But state oil and gas industry representatives, who criticized the plan as being too restrictive, rejected many environmentalist concerns and said drilling will have a minimal impact.

The BLM's proposed resource management plan was released after almost five years of work, which the BLM said included input from gas and oil producers, environmentalists and sportsmen who oppose drilling in most of Otero Mesa.
"The BLM likes to say they worked with environmentalists, but they never worked with us for a moment, and in fact they've worked against us from day one," said Steve Capra, associate director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

Capra said the plan "is coming at the expense of the people of southern New Mexico" for the benefit of the oil and gas industry. "New Mexicans are being blatantly lied to by the BLM and the Bush administration," Capra said, calling the plan the first step toward "full scale industrialization" of Otero Mesa.
The 700-page plan applies conservation measures to tens of thousands of acres of "areas of environmental concern" and wilderness study and grassland areas, as well as three "core habitat areas" for the endangered Aplomado falcon.

The plan anticipates 140 new wells would be drilled in the two-county area, accounting for 1,600 acres of short-term and 800 acres of long-term surface disturbance for well pads, roads and pipelines.
"I think this is a balanced plan that allows for the ability to explore for natural gas and oil, important reserves for us," said Amy Leuders, of the Las Cruces BLM office. "And there are many stipulations that provide a wide range of protection for a wide range of natural resources."

Otero Mesa is some 1.2 mm acres of mostly federal land located about 90 miles southeast of Las Cruces in Otero County. Historically used for ranching andhunting, there has been relatively light oil and gas activity there.
In 1997, after the Roswell-based oil and gas company HEYCO found natural gas in Otero County, lease applications with the state BLM office began to increase, and the BLM decided to revamp its initial resource development plan for Otero and Sierra counties. While Capra said most environmentalists would support some drilling in restricted areas of Otero Mesa, the new plan increases the amount of acreage in previous plans, from 779,000 acres to 1.4 mm acres.
"They are saying the plan is going to be more environmentally sensitive, but at the same time they've also doubled the area," Capra said.

Capra said it also opens several environmentally sensitive areas, including some areas that could impact the Aplomado falcon.
"I have to laugh when anyone says the grasslands are a known habitat for the Aplomado falcon," said Bob Gallagher, president of the NM Oil and Gas Association. "You know the last time that falcon nested in New Mexico? 1952."
Gallagher said industry reps are "disappointed" in some of the restrictions, including one which would allow no more than 5 % of the surface to be disturbed within leaseholds. It would also require all disturbed areas be re-vegetated with native grasses before a new lease will be approved.
"What that does is take 95 % off the table. That's a very strict limitation," Gallagher said.

As far as industry influence over the final plan, he said "we had zero percent" other than what was provided in public meetings. "It's just bizarre to suggest the federal government would come out with a detailed document and allow anyone to have an undue influence over it," Gallagher said.
Gallagher said drilling for natural gas on Otero Mesa would help meet the energy demands of the state and country and would add millions to state coffers. Last year the state had $ 1.5 bn in gas and oil revenues. By law, he said, the BLM must allow multiple use of federally owned land.
"People can argue otherwise, but the facts are these are public lands that have not been declared wilderness areas. They are for multiple use," Gallagher said.

Jim Steitz, organizer for the Southwest Environmental Centre, said he wasn't too surprised by the plan, but "there's even less protection in the areas that were already open." Steitz said requirements for replanting of native grasses after an area is drilled won't work.
"There is no science that supports these fragile grasslands can be recovered. It just doesn't happen; the damage is permanent," Steitz said.
But Leuders said, "You don't get credit for trying. There has to be mature plants capable of producing seeds before they can move on. This plan provides a lot of incentives for the industry to be successful."

New Mexico is already the second largest producer of natural gas and the fifth largest producer of oil in the country. Estimates of the amount of natural gas under Otero Mesa vary, but it is generally accepted there is enough to supply the country's natural gas demand for two weeks.
"We think New Mexico would be getting ripped off severely if this goes through," Steitz said.
But Dan Girand, a board member of the Independent Petroleum Producers of New Mexico said the amount of natural gas there is basically unknown, and that most of the wells drilled there in the past "didn't succeed." Girand also said state and federal regulations closely monitor industry compliance to environmental standards.
"We're not allowed to make messes and damage the environment," Girand said. "It's not pretty sometimes, but we are good environmental stewards."

Leuders said a 30-day protest period now follows, as well as a 60-day period for Gov. Bill Richardson's office. She said unless court challenges block the implementation of the plan, leases may be taken by this summer.
Following the required 30-day protest period, where the BLM will alter the plan if factual discrepancies can be proven, Capra and Steitz vowed a future legal fight if the plan isimplemented.
"No question," Capra said.

Source: Las Cruces Sun-News