HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 1

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Terry T. Marquardt

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, CONGRESS AND THE NEW MEXICO COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS TO PROVIDE FOR ACCESS TO OTERO MESA FOR ENERGY EXPLORATION.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico residents have been struggling with high energy costs, which have been made worse by extraordinary market fluctuations in heating fuel; and

     WHEREAS, winter heating costs are expected to spike to record highs this year, as much as seventy percent above last year's costs; and

     WHEREAS, the entire nation is in short supply of natural gas; and

     WHEREAS, the poor and disadvantaged of the nation and New Mexico are going to be hardest hit as a result of high energy prices; and

     WHEREAS, approximately five million acres of the approximately seven million acres of minerals on Otero mesa are federally owned; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has more than six hundred thousand acres of untapped minerals available in the Otero mesa area; and

     WHEREAS, with modern drilling technologies, the unique environment of Otero mesa can be preserved during increased fuel exploration; and

     WHEREAS, it is time to reconsider state and federal policies regarding the issue of fuel exploration on Otero mesa;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the federal bureau of land management, congress and the New Mexico commissioner of public lands be requested to provide increased access to the energy industry for the development of energy reserves on Otero mesa; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of the interior, the director of the bureau of land management, the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation and the New Mexico commissioner of public lands.

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