Final Biden oil, gas rule offers fiscal reforms, nothing on climate

Apr 12, 2024 | News Release

Today, the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (the Bureau) released its final oil and gas leasing rule. The rule contains welcome and decades-overdue fiscal reforms and provides discretionary guidance for best land stewardship practices, but falls short...

Conservation groups challenge federal decision to deny western wolves protections

Apr 8, 2024 | News Release

Today, 10 conservation groups challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“the Service”) over its failure to list western wolves under the Endangered Species Act  (non-stamped complaint here, stamped complaint will be posted here when available). The Service’s “not...

National conservation groups respond to BLM methane waste rule, support action to limit waste of taxpayer-owned oil, gas

Mar 27, 2024 | News Release

In response to the Biden administration releasing its final U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) methane waste rule, the Western Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense Fund, The Wilderness Society, Earthjustice, and Western Organization of Resource Councils...

Groups applaud Gov. for standing up for New Mexicans, vetoing low-producing oil and gas well tax exemption

Mar 6, 2024 | News Release

Gov. Lujan Grisham has line-item vetoed a tax exemption in House Bill 252 that would have effectively forced taxpayers to pay “stripper well” operators’ costs to comply with the state’s methane waste and ozone precursor rules, rules designed to protect the climate and...

29 groups urge Gov. to veto tax exemptions for high-polluting, low-producing oil and gas wells

Mar 1, 2024 | News Release

Twenty-nine environmental and civic organizations sent a letter to Gov. Lujan Grisham urging her to line-item veto parts of House Bill 252 that would create an oil and gas severance tax exemption for “stripper well properties” for the costs of complying with the...

Montana Organizations and Businesses Petition Public Service Commission to Consider Climate Costs in Utility Regulation

Feb 27, 2024 | News Release

A diverse group of over 40 Montana organizations and businesses submitted a petition to the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) today to request that it adopt rules requiring consideration of climate change in its regulation of Montana gas and electric utilities....

Conservation groups initiate legal action against feds for failing to protect wolves

Feb 7, 2024 | News Release

Today, 10 conservation groups filed their 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“the Service”) for its failure to list western wolves under the Endangered Species Act. The groups outlined the reasons why the Service’s “not warranted”...

Community stakeholders support NM Senate oil, gas setback memorial

Feb 6, 2024 | News Release

A broad range of public interest advocates today applaud New Mexico Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart and Sen. Brenda McKenna for introducing SM 8, requesting the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department to study the risks to humans and the environment from...

Feds find western wolves unworthy of Endangered Species Act protection; conservation groups prepare for legal action

Feb 2, 2024 | News Release

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) announced today that it will not list gray wolves in the western U.S. under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) finding them “not warranted” for federal protection. Today’s decision will allow Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana...

HB 133 “Changes to the Oil and Gas Act” would provide communities needed space, climate gains 

Jan 20, 2024 | News Release

Next week, the New Mexico House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee will consider HB 133 (fact sheet here), a governor-initiated bill crafted with the involvement of climate, environmental, and community groups as well as the oil and gas industry. The...