Community Peace Radio Show #77

Date: 29 May 2010

Topic: Oil and Gas -- White Peak and Beyond

Participants: Ray Powell (via phone), Rock Ulibarri, Ganga Daniel, Robin Collier

Co-Hosts: Pat Leahan, Dennis Lopez, Mounia Abousaid (UWC-USA '11)

Summary: We talk about the breaking news that NM State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons put White Peak area State Trust Land on the Oil and Gas lease list. Just this week, we discovered that 3,742.04 acres of land only 5,469 meters away from White Peak were planned for a June 15th, 2010 Oil and Gas sale by Patrick Lyons. When we sent this information -- with help from the NM Wildlife Federation, Ray Powell, Rock Ulibarri and others -- to the media, it was astutely picked up by the Santa Fe Reporter's Alexa Schirtzinger. As a result of the discovery of the June 15th sale, along with the critically-important, ongoing long-term public outcry by local folks, Patrick Lyons was forced to withdraw all 3,742.04 acres near White Peak from his Oil and Gas sale.

Today's program focuses on a number of related issues. We discuss the NM State Land Office, their lack of transparency under the current administration, and the misinformation the SLO fed to the media about the White Peak Oil and Gas leases (e.g., First denying it, then saying, "It's only 1,000 acres..." and "It's 23 miles away from White Peak..." and "We don't know how that [White Peak land] got through" onto the list of properties to be given to the Oil and Gas Industry on June 15th...). We talk with local community organizer, Rock Ulibarri, about the significance of the hunters, sportsmen, anglers, environmentalists, culturalists and other local folks who have been working long-term to make sure White Peak stays protected. The foundation they built over the years with their grassroots efforts is noted as a significant factor in why the SLO had to pull those tracts off the lease list.

We interview Ray Powell, who, like Rock Ulibarri, has been a long-time advocate for protecting the White Peak area, which is located in Mora and Colfax Counties. Ray talks about what needs to be done to bring honesty, integrity and transparency into the SLO. He gives us an update on the White Peak private land swap deal, which is now a legal case brought by NM Attorney General Gary King, pending before the NM Supreme Court. The ruling is expected any day now. He explains the incredible power given to the State Land Commissioner by the NM Constitution, and cautions us to be mindful about who we elect to the SLO.

We discuss the damage done by the Oil and Gas Industry -- damage to the land, water, people, air, and more -- and the toxicity of the hydraulic fracturing fluids used to drill the wells. We are encouraged to work at the municipal and county level, collaboratively, to properly care for the land, utilizing moratoria and strict regulations. Robin Collier mentions the power of stringent county-level ordinances. Santa Fe has one of the strictest oil and gas ordinances in the country, and is being used as a model for other communities. Rock provides examples of environmental devastation caused by the Oil and Gas Industry.

Ganga Daniel provides us with an economic analysis that begins to dismantle the myth that Oil and Gas monies are the critical factor for education and our local schools. She points out how the oil and gas money is collected at the state level, as a state tax, which is then redistributed to the various cities based on their population. So less populated counties, like Mora and San Miguel, will get proportionately less money. Most of the oil and gas money will go to the schools in Albuquerque and other more populous cities, yet the small communities here will bear the burden and cost and environmental impact. People are encouraged to contact State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons (see contact info further below) -- Share with him how you feel about our State Trust Lands being turned over to the Oil and Gas Industry.

Resources:
Ray Powell P. O. Box 27654
Albuquerque, NM 87125
cell: (505) 507-0697

NM Wildlife Federation
2610 San Mateo NE, Suite A
Albuquerque, NM  87104
(505) 299-5404
http://www.nmwildlife.org/

Oil and Gas Accountability Project
http://www.ogap.org/

Cultural Energy
http://www.culturalenergy.org/

NM State Land Office
Patrick H. Lyons, Commissioner
P. O. Box 1148
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1148
310 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
phone: (505) 827-5760
fax: (505) 827-5766
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.nmstatelands.org/
Lyons' spokesperson Kristin Haase:
phone: (505) 827-3809
fax: (505) 827-5766
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pat's Extra Notes:
Tara Trudell stops by briefly to let us know that her store on Bridge St., Clarity Gifts and Gallery, is officially closing as of today. However, folks can still purchase some items from her website; and her store on Bridge St. will be transformed into a whole new dynamic exciting space for other projects. In the meantime, check out the cool (fair-trade and fairly-traded) items at: http://www.claritygallery.com/

Thank you to Alexa Schirtzinger, Santa Fe Reporter Staff Writer (505-988-5541, alexa[at]sfreporter.com), who took our information and published the "breaking news" about Patrick Lyons putting parcels of land in the White Peak area up for O&G sale. Feel free to contact Alexa and thank her. Here's the link to that initial story: http://www.sfreeper.com/2010/05/27/peak-oil-state-land-office-mistakenly-leases-areas-near-white-peak-for-oil-and-gas-drilling/

Please join us Friday, June 11th, 6:30-8:30PM: Screening of the Oil and Gas documentary "Split Estate," at the Travelers Cafe/Tapetes de Lana, on the Plaza in Las Vegas, NM (http://www.SplitEstate.com/).

Thank you, David, for our CPR intro music:
http://www.DavidRovics.com/