Join us in protecting the public health, land, air, and water of the Rio Chama Watershed.
RIO CHAMA WATERSHED FACES NEW FRACK LEASING IN DECEMBER 2018
Here we go again folks. This December, the Bureau of Land Management Farmington Field Office is offering up 13 new parcels of Greater Chaco Land for oil and gas leasing, one of which is on the boundary of The Rio Chama Watershed and is located six miles north of State Rd 112 and approximately 25 miles northeast of Lybrook. See map at the bottom of this page. This parcel is near to the Continental Divide and on the western boundary of the Watershed. The remaining 12 parcels in this lease sale are outside of our watershed but are part of the Greater Chaco landscape.
The "scoping period" for these parcels took place in July. As all sales are slated to take place online, there is no option to protest in person. Our opportunity to register our public protests with the BLM in the form of protest letters will be from October 22, 2018 to October 31, 2018.
Please Join Us at the El Rito Library to Write a Protest Letter
Public protest letters on your part have made a huge difference in previous lease sales. Since 2012 we have had no new oil and gas activity in the Rio Chama Watershed. RACC can HAND DELIVER the letter you write at either of these events, directly to the BLM office in Santa Fe.
Saturday Oct. 13, 10am-2pm
We will provide talking points, paper, and pens. You will be guided through how to write a protest letter. It's easy, informative and creative! To show our thanks, we have door prizes to raffle, and fun giveaways for those attending. We'll serve coffee, tea, sweet and savory treats, and of course, chocolate!
Saturday Oct. 27, 10am-2pm
Want to get your "frack geek" on and write a more technical letter to the BLM that directly responds to the Environmental Analysis for the December parcels? This event will be hosted by RIO ARRIBA CONCERNED CITIZEN'S BLM liaison. The information and talking points shared at this event will help you to write the most powerful protest letter possible.
If You Can't Join Us, Just Write Your Own Letter!
We have put together detailed instructions and a sample letter you can edit. You don't have to be a resident; visitors and lovers of the Rio Chama Watershed can write valid protest letters. But don't delay! We are no longer allowed to send our comments by fax or email. Your letter must be delivered in person or received in the mail between October 22 thru October 31st.
Every letter counts. Every voice matters.
The combined protests from our New Mexico communities and others nationwide led to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's cancellation of the BLM Land Sales that were slated for March 2018.
WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
THE BLM PROTEST PERIOD CLOSES IN
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Sustainable Good News Sunday reports first, local news. Construction is underway on a 221 Mega Watt Wind project in Curry County, NM which brings us closer having to the largest wind farm in the Western Hemisphere. Worldwide, the International Energy Agency forecasts as much as an extra 1.3 terawatts of clean energy will be installed by 2023 (under one scenario). Two good indicators of a strong renewable energy shifts locally and globally. Also to report: According to NM Workforce Connection, current employment numbers (we do not have a link access to the report to show you, sadly) - the number of Oil and Gas Exploration jobs are numbering 4,304 while Pattern Development (the company behind the first story) is reporting NM state Solar/Wind industries are currently employing more than 5,500 people. Clearly the argument for oil /gas extraction bringing more jobs to our area is getting weaker over time. Enjoy! (link in comments section below)
Construction in full swing at 221-MW wind project of Pattern Dev
renewablesnow.com
August 3 (Renewables Now) - Pattern Development said today that construction on the 221-MW Grady Wind project in Curry County, New Mexico is getting fullyCome on by Saturday! Come find out the latest regarding fracking in our area - with data, maps, and RACC Board members on hand to fill you in. Join other community members and write a protest letter with our help. ALL are invited! We'll serve savory/sweet treats, coffee, tea, apple cider - have FREE giveaways and hold 2 Gift Certificate raffles. We hope to see you at the El Rito Library, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - even if only to pop in and say hello!
A first person account of the effects of living across the street from an active oil pad. This 17 year old tells her story. Low income areas are specifically vulnerable in cities. We must keep all New Mexico communities, rural and inner city, safe! This, is why we fight.
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Watch this harrowing video in which a seventeen-year-old Angeleno tells her story about the health consequences of living next to an oil well in Los Angeles.