{"id":25352,"date":"2024-03-20T13:53:59","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T19:53:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/?page_id=25352"},"modified":"2025-10-21T17:06:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T23:06:20","slug":"keepnmenchanting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/es\/keepnmenchanting\/","title":{"rendered":"Reforma de bonos de Nuevo M\u00e9xico"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_slider _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” min_height=”201.5px” custom_margin=”||-11px|||” custom_padding=”155px||203px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_slide heading=”OUTDATED RULES, UNFINISHED BUSINESS:” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-NM-Sunrise-scaled.jpg” background_enable_image=”on” parallax=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”]<\/p>\n

IT’S TIME TO MODERNIZE OIL AND GAS BONDING.<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ background_enable_image=”off” min_height=”1490.4px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.1″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”arch” background_mask_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_mask_aspect_ratio=”portrait” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#000000″ border_style_left=”dashed” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.75)” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Why It Matters<\/h3>\n

New Mexico is home to hundreds of unplugged oil and gas wells, many with no clear plan\u2014or money\u2014for plugging. Without vital updates to oil and gas rules, the state could be left with billions in costs, while polluted lands and waters threaten our health and future.<\/b><\/p>\n

While many oil and gas corporations follow the laws that require them to plug wells when they are done producing, some do not, leaving the state to pick up the tab. The job isn\u2019t done until <\/b>all<\/i><\/b> wells are plugged.<\/b> Every day a well sits unplugged, it can pollute the air, land and water, harming New Mexicans\u2019 health.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re calling on state leaders to modernize outdated bonding rules that ensure there is money from oil and gas corporations to clean up the messes they leave behind. Oil and gas corporations are already throwing their weight around to try to stop these common-sense changes. The only way we can get these updates across the finish line is if you <\/b>join us in our fight<\/b><\/a>!<\/b> Your voice matters – advocate before decision-makers to adopt needed safeguards to care for and protect New Mexicans\u2019 health and the air, lands, waters, and cultural resources we depend on.<\/p>\n

What’s the Problem?<\/h3>\n

The current bonding system allows corporations to post as little as $250,000 for hundreds\u2014or thousands\u2014of wells. That\u2019s not enough. The state\u2019s own data<\/a> show it would cost up to $1.6 billion to plug all abandoned and soon-to-be-abandoned wells in New Mexico.<\/p>\n

\"map<\/a>The state\u2019s data<\/a> show there are at least 600 abandoned oil and gas wells in New Mexico and the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division expects 4,400 to be abandoned soon without adequate funding to plug them.<\/p>\n

We need the right amount of money set aside to address cleanup. Big Oil says that since the state used federal grants to fund well plugging and kept state money in reserve, we shouldn\u2019t require adequate bonding yet. That\u2019s corporate hogwash. President Trump froze the federal program early in 2025, making it even more important to require oil and gas bonding that will cover plugging costs. We cannot afford to underfund risk, especially when the cost of inaction falls on our communities.<\/p>\n

The state estimates the cost to safely plug all these oil and gas wells at up to $1.6 billion\u2014but current laws only require a fraction of that from oil and gas corporations\u2014despite leases and the law requiring plugging. Some corporations have as little as $105 per well set aside. If we don\u2019t act, the state and communities will be forced to pay.<\/b><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, big oil corporations take record profits back to their Houston executives while local communities face local pollution and future risk.<\/b><\/p>\n

Recap: Why This Matters<\/h3>\n