FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2016
Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216
Albuquerque, NM – This morning, Attorney General Hector Balderas released the following statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s rule proposal to reduce methane emissions and wasted gas on public and tribal lands:
“Today’s announcement is a strong step in the right direction, and I am glad to see the BLM working to give New Mexicans their fair share from the development of our oil and gas resources. Strong action to address methane on federal and tribal lands will address waste of a public resource and provide economic benefits to the people of New Mexico. It will also provide health benefits to New Mexico families.”
New Mexico has lost an estimated $43 million in royalties since 2009 due to wasted natural gas. States, tribes and federal taxpayers lose as much as $23 million annually in royalty revenue for the federal government and the states that share it, according to a 2010 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The proposed rule could save and put to productive use 41 to 56 Bcf of gas a year – enough to supply up to about 760,000 households each year. Overall, the rule would reduce flaring by an estimated 41 – 60 percent and venting by roughly 44 – 46 percent (compared to 2013 rates).
For more information on the rule proposal please contact Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov or 202-912-7035.
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