Fracking in La Cebolla?

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a Federal Agency within the Department of the Interior.  They hold what is called the "mineral estate" of public lands.  Private companies can nominate a federal mineral estate.  What that means is that the BLM becomes engaged in the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process to assess whether the nominating company (or any companies) can drill on a parcel of land.  Currently, 16 parcels of land in the La Cebolla, New Mexico area were nominated.  The NEPA process on these parcels began two years ago.  But, the BLM has decided to begin again because there hadn't been enough public input in the process.

One of the things that's changed in re-doing the NEPA process is that Rio Arriba County has become a partner in this process by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  Rio Arriba County passed an ordinance protecting the surface of the land in 2009.  BUT, the Federal Mineral Estate has primacy over the surface of the land

Tuesday (12/3/13) evening, the BLM re-started the process by holding a Public Comment Meeting to determine the Scope of the Environmental Assessment.  Here's some more information on the Public Comment Period and the BLM's NEPA process:

Rio Arriba County Oil and Gas Ordinance:   
http://www.rio-arriba.org/pdf/2009-01_rio_arriba_county_oil_and_gas_ordinance.pdf

To View BML's NEPA process:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/lease_sale_notices/2013_lease_sales/january_2013_lease.html

To View BLM's report on the 2013 previous NEPAprocess, which they decided to re-do:
 http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/programs/0/og_sale_notices_and/2013/january_2013.Par.55042.File.dat/January%202013%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Lease%20Sale%20EA_TFO.pdf

Public Comment Deadline for Scope of the Environmental Assessment: Extended to 1/4/14

Email Comments to: Bradley Higdon, BLM bhigdon@blm.gov or snail mail your comments to Brad at: Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571-5983

Snail Mail Comments to:  Bradley Higdon, Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87575-5983

Questions?  Call Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Office at: 575-751-4725


REMEMBER FOLKS, your comment does not have to have a scientific basis!  Your opinion, your experience with the land, air, water, and communities that fracking COULD effect are JUST AS IMPORTANT as science!  Oil and gas companies can hire scientist after scientist to debate on the safety of fracking.  The oil and gas companies CANNOT debate your cultural expertise or experience of the community!  Even if you're not from northern New Mexico, your experience of land-based cultures and your fears regarding the safety of land, air, water, and life are VALID.  Write 'em up and email or snail mail them in BEFORE 1/4/13!  Thank you!

ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP:  If you're going to mail or email a comment, please consider asking family, friends, neighbors and community members to sign on to your letter.  Even children could sign on.  I think this is the best way to show the BLM how many want the NEPA process to stop and the possibility of fracking to be defeated!