By Adam Rankin
Albuquerque Journal Northern Bureau

SANTA FE - Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., proposed a measure in Congress on Tuesday to permanently protect northern New Mexico's Valle Vidal from energy development.

The measure would make the Valle Vidal a national preserve and withdraw its mineral resources‹ including coal-bed methane‹ from future appropriation, though it couldn't block the mining of already-leased coal rights.

The 100,000-acre Valle Vidal, managed by the Carson National Forest, sits atop deep layers of coal that hold natural gas. In 2002, Houston-based El Paso Corp. requested the Forest Service consider opening the Valle Vidal to drilling for that gas. A decision on drilling from forest managers isn't expected until the fall of 2008.

Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., introduced a similar measure in the House last week. If they were to become law, the bills would prevent the Forest Service from having to make a decision on whether to allow drilling to occur.

"Based on the estimates the Forest Service has done, it is clear that although there is certainly money to be made drilling for gas in the Valle Vidal, the amounts that could be produced are of no national consequence," Bingaman said.

He said the Valle Vidal deserves special protection because it is a unique place. "The undefinable characteristic of being a New Mexican is shown the most clearly in the places we cherish - the places we recognize as so special that we want to set them aside for our children and our grandchildren," Bingaman said. "The Valle Vidal is such a special place."

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., declined to co-sponsor Bingaman's bill and said in a statement that it is too early to decide whether to drill for gas. "I believe the Forest Service and BLM must go through with the Forest Planning and Leasing Analysis, and subsequent exploration and development of environmental documentation before we can really understand what is in the area, or what type of management should be undertaken," Domenici said. "I want that assessment to be completed before we make any decisions on this area."

In his statement, Bingaman noted that much of the Raton Basin has significant natural gas resources, but that the Valle Vidal comprises only 1 percent of that area and would produce only about three days' worth of gas use over 20 years of production.

(Taos, NM, September 15, 2005) - A New Mexico natural area cherished by Boy Scouts, prized by elk hunters and widely recognized as a national treasure would be permanently protected from oil and gas drilling under a bill introduced today by New Mexico's U.S. Representative Tom Udall.

Rep. Udall said: "The Valle Vidal is national treasure that is now threatened. Drilling in the Valle Vidal is not a long-term, responsible energy strategy - we cannot drill our way out of our current energy problems. After visiting the area on many occasions and hearing from thousands of Americans, I have reached the inescapable conclusion that the Valle Vidal should be protected in perpetuity from development. "

Mayor Danny Cruz of Springer, New Mexico echoed the Representative: "Our communities depend on our natural resources for survival. We have to sustain them. A lot of times local communities are behind the curve on these things and our land ends up being taken from us before we even know what's happening. Now, we are seeing local people and local governments get out in the lead on protecting out special places."

The Town of Springer is one of six northern New Mexico municipalities as well as the Taos County Commission and over 200 area businesses and organizations opposed to the industrialization of the Valle Vidal.

In Cimarron, the owners of West of Wild, LLC also spoke out against destroying the Valle Vidal and praised the bill. West of Wild's owner Jared Chatterley pointed out that "The reason we are supporting the protection of the Valle Vidal is both personal and moral. The Eastern part of the Valle is an important part of the Boy Scout program. It is the only place where Scouts learn to hike with no trails and learn Leave No Trace rules. It is vitally important to us that this public land stay as it is so that we can continue to enjoy it in its pristine state with fantastic wildlife. Recreation is why we all live in this area."

Rep. Udall, long a leader in assuring the protection of the Valle Vidal, was recently joined by Rep. Heather Wilson of Albuquerque in demanding protection for the Valle Vidal. "Coal-bed methane development using current techniques is ... still too invasive to be compatible with other uses of the land," she said in a recent interview.

In the end, Rep. Udall said, "There is a place for oil and gas drilling. The Valle Vidal, however, is not one of them."

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 12, 2005

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Rep. Heather Wilson has become the first Republican congressional delegate from New Mexico to openly oppose drilling in the Valle Vidal.

"There are some places that because of their outstanding recreational, science and wildlife attributes, exploration should not occur," she wrote in comments to the U.S. Forest Service. "The Valle Vidal is one of those places."

Wilson serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In early August, she toured the Valle Vidal and the eastern 40,000 acres under consideration for coal-bed methane drilling, first by airplane, then by foot.

New Mexico Oil and Gas Association president Bob Gallagher said he is disappointed with the timing of Wilson's comments. Forest officials are taking comments on how the land should be managed. A final decision won't be made until the fall of 2008. "I think we ought to wait until those detailed scientific studies are completed until we come to a conclusion," Gallagher said.

Wilson seems to keep open the possibility for future drilling with less invasive techniques, though. "Coal-bed methane development using current exploration techniques is incompatible with this use," she wrote. Today's drilling technologies are "still too invasive to be compatible with other uses of the land," she wrote.

Gallagher said Wilson has always been supportive of the oil and gas industry. He sided with her in saying that maybe the drilling techniques haven't been developed. The 100,000-acre land hosts the state's largest elk herd and is a key watershed for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, the state fish.

Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he has prepared draft legislation that would permanently block energy development on the Valle Vidal. He said he also is seeking bipartisan support to introduce it to the House.



For more information, please call:
Jim O'Donnell
Outreach Coordinator, Coalition for the Valle Vidal
505-758-3874