No Ordinance Option Ditching County/ City

Call to Action: FrackEnchantment County Meeting

https://www.facebook.com/events/1883710831871073/?ti=icl

Here is Asha Canalos speaking at the recent meeting on the firsthand experience of when fracking  comes to town and what happened in her community.

We are asking people to come to meeting on June 1st and June 15 to submitted your public comments at the county commission meetings. (Regularly Scheduled meetings)   

At The 

Sandoval County Admin Bldg 3rd floor 

1500 Idalia Rd NE

Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004

Call to Action and Volunteer help needed.  View this email in your browser

UPDATE Call to Action: FrackEnchantment County Meeting Make Your Public Comments JUNE 1st cThursday 6PM  Meeting is at the Sandoval County Administration bldg 3rd Floor 1500 Idalia Rd  Bernalillo NM 87004 This is a regularly scheduled County Commission meeting and our opportunity to give a passionate comments for a strong comprehensive ordinance plan similar to the County Santa Fe ordinance  The County omitted  oil and gas discussions from the Agenda this week. We expect them to do that next meeting on June 15th when they will give the P&Z  and Planning staff their decision on a direction to move.  This is why... Public comments needed from the citizens who value clean drinking water, clean air, healthy communities and our safety. The above picture shows a frack site now in operation in Sandoval County. Very similar to the site that exploded last year. OCD has issued waivers that allowed these sites within 350ft of homes and schools. This is one reason why we need the ordinance. Is this what you want to see here? There are few water protections in the current draft ordinance that will protect the drinking water for nearly 1 million people living in the Albuquerque Basin. There it is highly likely that there will be 15,000 oil and gas wells up the 1-25 corridor, across the west Mesa and up in the East Mountains. Think about it. Short term profits and corporate handouts to these carpetbaggers who will leave rotting infrastructure, poisoned water and air, shorten the lives of many people in the region. this has resulted int respiratory disease, cancers, chronic diseases,  in people and  dead livestock and animals that  are still born and have deformities. The Air and the water table are being poisoned. 3600 spills with no clean up or a 99.5 % rate of no fines since Gov Martinez took office. She received 1 Million Dollar campaign contribution from industry. Now Ken McQueen Secretary of NMEMRD suggested that Sandoval County streamline the permitting process for wells, along with the drillers state permit, to expedite the process with a 10 day turn around. What would we expect from a former WPX CEO. BTW it was WPX plant that exploded last year. Not acceptable. Come to the meeting if you want to submit your comments to the County about their support for streamlining the permitting process and not having an ordinance. If you believe "water is life" you must be there! Mni Wiconi

GET THE WORD OUT We need Volunteers for the Following Days there is another meeting Scheduled for June 15th. Here is what we are planning and how you can help get the Word out Phone Tree Callers Email Elaine at Ecimino10 (at) gmail.com She will send you a script and list of Numbers to Call Street Sign Demonstrations   Street Sign Protests - Handheld signs  8-10 for each locations (hand painted Legible) Signs welcomed from Community 528 and Southern Blvd RR  Monday & Thursday Unser and Southern Tuesday & Friday 528 and 550  Wednesday &  June 6-9 and June 12-14 with media coverage between the Hours of 4:30pm - 5:30 pm We Need Help Outreaching to La Madera and the East Mountains. Budaghers, Pena Blanca, Algodonnes and all the Pueblo Communities.  Please share Info Contact us by Email  let us know when you can make it . we can bring signs or make your own Email Elaine at Ecimino10 (at) gmail.com HELP US GET OUT THE WORD TO RIO RANCHO Major hazardous Pipeline Exposed during Rain Event in Las Huertas last year Pipeline in over 60 years old and has a high potential to contaminate ABQ Drinking/ground Water basin. The Red areas on the map shows a portion of what will be fracked in this Section of the County it Includes Rio Rancho and Rio Rancho Estates, La Madera, Placitas, Algodonnes, Budaghers, Pena Blanca IF you know people living in these areas Please Share Info

Copyright © 2017 Stop the Frack Attack, All rights reserved. You were at the County P&Z meeting to Stop Fracking in Rio Rancho and opted in. We will not share your information. We will only send notices on meetings, information updates prior to meetings and alerts when absolutely necessary. Our mailing address is: Stop the Frack Attack 907 Nyasa RD SE Rio Rancho, NM  87124 Virgin Islands (U.S.) Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

-- 

Nothing is more perishable than our relationship with the Earth."

"In a time where every living system is declining and the rate of decline is accelerating, we must figure out what it means to be a human on Earth and remain humane in the process."-Elaine Cimino

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

what you can do- make the call, write the letters, lets hear you Voice on fracking Sandoval County

This included the following areas: Pena Blanca, Budaghers, Algodonnes, Placitas, La Madera (east Mountains), Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho Estates, West Mesa, It also includes all the supporting infrastructure Compressor stations and Pipelines. If you know people living in these areas or know poeple concerned about this issue please share this article. Make the Call,Write the Letters, Let's hear your Voice & Come to the Meeting June 1st and June 15th Sandoval County Commission Meetings Plug-in and help Protect Water, Air, Health and Safety for all residents. Street Sign Demonstration Protests Starting June 6th  See below for details. The County Commission will give their decision on how they will move forward on this issue at the June 15th meeting. This is the time to make your views known on the impacts from the potential 15,000 oil and gas wells in the  Sandoval County and the Rio Grande Valley that will impact water, air and health of our community. Including the West Mesa and East Mountains.  There is a chance for concerned citizens to make  Public Comments at the June 1st meeting and we are encouraging people to attend this meeting as well.  Photo Caption: 32 pg doc 12 pages of definitions.  Link to Draft Ordinance https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1jkoq2bahxwqdz/O%26G-214f-5-12-17-WkSessSC%20OIL%20AND%20GAS%20ORDINANCE%20MARCH%202017%20REVIEW%20DRAFT%201.pdf?dl=0 Call and Email  James Dominguez    District 1   jdominguez@sandovalcountynm.gov  +1-505-252-3251 Jay Block                   District 2   jBlock@sandovalcountynm.gov +1-505-252-6218 Don Chapman Chair  District 3   dchapman@sandovalcountynm.gov  +1-505-414-6247 David Heil                  District 4   dheil@sandovalcountynm.gov  +1-505-252-6085 Kenneth Eichwald    District  5   keichwald@sandovalcountynm.gov  +1-505-252-7412 Responsible for driving the ‘Dead” ordinance process Michael Springfield Director, Planning & Zoning Phone: 505-867-7628 Email: mspringfield@sandovalcountynm.gov  Letters to the Editor Rio Rancho Observer 400 word Limit https://www.rrobserver.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/ ABQ Journal  400 word Limit http://www.abqjournal.com/letters/new Corrales Comment http://www.corralescomment.com/commentary must join website to post comments KUNM CALL IN SHOW  Ask for a Series on the Fracking in NM callinshow@kunm.org Calls, emails and Letters to the your elected officials including your State legislators  Talking Points   Selected Serious Omissions in the  flawed ordinance moving forward" No safety plan  No criteria for acceptance/rejection of O&G applications  No public review of exploratory well applications  No pre-drilling air/water quality measurements  No aquifer protection requirements or monitoring  No groundwater or surface water quality monitoring  No air emission or air quality measurements  No verification that operator performs as promised  No noise or operational hours requirements  No protection for split estate surface landowners  One of the Talking Points on the safety concerns are not being addressed in the Sandoval County Ordinance Process.  We, the undersigned concerned residents and organizations in greater northern New Mexico, request the following measures be taken to ensure greater public safety and preparedness in case of oil field caused accidents: An Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Plan that addresses all risks from oil operations in the San Juan Basin and Mancos Shale regions to be posted in all Chapter Houses and Pueblo Communites and all of the surrounding County residents with Emergency Contacts for fire, rescue,  livestock evacuation, medical treatment and emergency shelter, In all public centers and sent to people in the County through a public education  infomration meetings, newspaper and through social media.  Emergency Hotline to local radio, TV and state website (similar to weather alerts) to inform residents of emergency conditions and what actions the public should take for their own safety. Oil company website updates on air and water monitoring being conducted at the site of an accident (fire, spill, leak, explosion, collision) within the first 24 hours so residents and the public, including travelers, are kept informed as to air and water quality and levels of risk of exposure. Compensation to residents who suffer damages, livestock losses and human health and veterinary costs related to  an accident. Qualified medical assistance during and after an emergency to assess and if necessary refer for treatment any person injured or made ill as a result of the incident. Livestock mortality contact so landowners can report livestock killed as result of accident.  Explosion in Nagezzi in July 2016  Photo Credit:Kendra Pinto The US Chemical Safety Board has published the following recommendations that would help ensure a more appropriate response in the event of a future accident: Training for emergency responders, including hazardous materials training; ·       Local emergency planning, and community response plans and teams; ·       Use of community notification systems; ·       Use of an incident command system and the National Incident Management System; ·       Conducting emergency response exercises; ·       Information sharing between facilities, emergency responders and the community; Such emergency measures would provide a minimum of assistance for rural and urban residents who have little to no local rescue or medical services and who are living in such close proximity to potentially dangerous extraction operations. Or will be living in close proximity (within 10 miles ) of the potential fracking operations slated for the the Rio Grande Valley in Sandoval County. Sandoval County has failled to provide us with an Emergency Safety Plan stating that it is a matter of National Security. The County Attorney has failed to provide our attornenys with a citation on the matter that proves they are allowed to withhold such information from county residents. We need you help to pursue this case in court. If you can donate to our cause to protect our communities and help cover our expenses.  About Us Stop Fracking the Rio Grande Valley  is now a grassroots community organization 501c3 Under Common Ground Community Trust DBA Common Ground Rising. We are fiscally sponsored by the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice. We need you help through donations to cover expenses including legal, and operational expenses. We are all volunteers. Contributions over $100 are tax deductible: Make Checks To: ACP&J   memo line: Common Ground Community Trust   Send to: 907 Nyasa RD SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124   Call 505 604-9772 for additional information  StopFrackingTheRioGrandeValley  Facebook Page for more informatom  Stopthefrackattack.blogspot.com Please email for Phone Script if needed  Street Sign Demonstration Protest  Rio Rancho The Gathering Point for the 528 and Southern Blvd  Street Sign protest  is the Walgreens parking Lot NW Corner of the Intersection Hours of 4:30pm - 5:30 pm June 6th & June 12 There is overflow parking next door to Starbucks in the vacant lot to the North of Walgreens, if there are no parking spaces please park there. The Gathering Point for the Southern Blvd  and Unser Blvd Street Sign protest  is the Walgreens parking Lot NW Corner of the Intersection Hours of 4:30pm - 5:30 pm June 7th & June 13Please park safely. There is overflow parking tot he north of Walgreen in the Walmart parking lot   Bring your sign, make one, or we will have enough for a few people  Demonstrators must allow pedestrians to pass unobstructed on sidewalk. This is a peaceful protest. Encourage people to honk their horns, give a thumbs up in support!  Be there unless winds are over 15 MPH or Raining. If you need a folding chair bring it. We may be adding more sites if we get the volunteers  Where to Send Letters to the Editor Rio Rancho Observer 400 word Limit https://www.rrobserver.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/ ABQ Journal  400 word Limit http://www.abqjournal.com/letters/new Corrales Comment http://www.corralescomment.com/commentary You must join website to post comments

What you need to know about the Sandoval County oil and gas Ordinance

What You Need to Know About Sandoval County’s

Oil and Gas Ordinance

#Common Ground Rising/

Stop Fracking the Rio Grande Valley

For the past 18 months, Sandoval County Commission has been undergoing a process of formulating its oil and gas ordinance. The ordinance was initially pursued in November 2015 when SandRidge Energy Inc., an Oklahoma-based oil and gas company, applied for a special-use permit. Since then, citizens’ groups have organized to give formal comment, input and reports for inclusion in the ordinance to ensure protections from extractive industry impacts--including all surface impacts.

Overview

Ordinance Divides Sandoval County into 2 Regions

• The current draft divides the county into a Northwest and Southeast region, each with different use protections (4.7 in the draft ordinance).
• The ordinance establishes energy development zones that do not provide adequate community protections.  

1. Northwest Sandoval County

Sandoval County has 600 hundred-fracked wells mostly concentrated in the northwest region, also known as the Checkerboard area and part of Greater Chaco.  The Checkerboard area covers multiple jurisdictions of land ownership that includes public, private, state, Indian allotments, and Tribal trust lands.

• Sandoval County ignores oil and gas impacts affecting residents living in the Checkerboard region--some areas are under the County’s jurisdiction.

Nageezi (18mi. north of Sandoval County)

July 11, 2016 - Nageezi, NM

36 storage tanks exploded at a newly developed fracking site operated by WPX Energy.  Investigations revealed that WPX used aluminum fittings instead of steel on many of its connectors.  One or more shortly gave way leaking gas, which ignited. The fire burned for 5-days. WPX claimed the plume of emissions dissipated quickly. Former WPX vice president Ken McQueen now serves as cabinet secretary of NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resource Department (NMEMNRD).

2.)    Southeast Sandoval County

The southeast region of the county is more heavily populated than the northwest.

• Communities in the northwest are disproportionately impacted by oil and gas extraction. The County largely ignores what these communities experience.
• The County practices environmental racism and has little regard for social justice.

In a Q&A session at the May 12th meeting, public comments were given and ignored.  No attempt was made to modify the draft ordinance before submission to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Division of the County is not needed or wanted. This industry divides communities, families and poses significant health and safety risks.

The County has NO Emergency Response Plan

• In September 2016, an IPRA (Inspection of Public Records Act) was submitted requesting for the oil and gas company’s Emergency Response Plan that was supposed to be filed with the County.
• The County refused citing national security reasons. The County is supposed to have a emergency response plan in place.  The Office of the Attorney General (OAG)  found that Sandoval County was in Violation of IPRA. We are filing a lawsuit for that document.  
• Planning and Zoning Director, Michael Springfield, admitted the County needs time to draft an emergency response plan.  

Where We Are Now - May 12th, Meeting

Photo Credit:Mike Neas

On May 12, 2017 the County released the final Draft Copy of its 32-page “Dead Ordinance”.  This picture shows noticeable size and content differences on oil and gas ordinances from San Miguel (200 pages) and Santa Fe (175 pages) counties on the left, and Sandoval County (32 pages) on the right.

County Pulls a Bait and Switch on Citizens Input Process on Ordinance

The first draft was a work in progress with planning staff and the citizens’ input. Post election resulted in an entirely new and different draft. The document floated as a working draft until May 12th.  

Requests were made by Ken McQueen (NMEMNRD), and New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) director Ryan Flynn to streamline the planning permitting process simultaneously with the state permitting process with intentions to complete it within 10 days. Hundreds of wells can be rubberstamped and approved this way.

       At the May 12th  meeting, the County Commission stated that they had 2 options:

1. No ordinance, and simply streamline the application process.
2. Allow this ordinance to go forward and be approved.

This ordinance lacks adequate protections for water, air and public safety. Many issues are not addressed.

This is what could be 300 ft from your home and school with no comprehensive ordinance.

This picture was taken in Feb 2016 While setbacks can be anything the county wants them to be. Often times the OCD grants waivers on those setback and there are examples that the frack sites can be as close as 300-350 ft. This is what is happening now in Sandoval County without a strong ordinance.

At the May 23 Meeting of the P&Z commission

the Comissioners referred the Citizens who showed up for comments back to County Commission.

The P&Z commissioners were talking with Mike Springfield and they were over heard saying prior to the meeting that the Commission wanted to legitimize the current draft and streamline the 10-day turn around process.

So the fix is in folks. Time to lawyer up! 

What else is our choice when 

we cannot get a fair public hearing.

The P&Z would not listen to everyone who signed up for Public Comments but cherry picked the sign in list and only allowed 45 mins of comments from the public. The Chairman did say that the issue lies with the County Commission. One chairman who was not there used a death in the family for not being at the meeting but when he showed up he said he had just shot a bear on a hunting trip and was sorry he was late. He told the room that was full of environmental advocates. There was no amendments to the procedures at the start of hte meeting. The room was full of people wanting to hear what the P&Z would decide.

Strategy meeting Loma Colorado Library 6 pm auditorium May 24th, 2017

Talking points for the Sandoval County Oil and Gas Ordinance Public Hearing

Many of these issues have been ignored in order to allow for increased revenue to the County and state, impacting taxpayers and minority communities.

1. The County’s ordinance should include monitoring and enforcements for the following:

• Pre-drilling air and water quality assessments, including ground and surface water, post-drilling air and water quality assessments, and aquifer protections and monitoring.
• Post-operation inspections, assessments and proper remediation responses.
• Monitoring, inspections and enforcement of regulations are left to the state.

2. Ordinances regulating operator activities are highly inadequate and should include:

• Oversight of safe waste disposal. Qualifications for determining waste disposal are lacking and should include provisions regarding processes.
• Direct injection of waste will be allowed on fracking sites.
• Noise and operational hour requirements.
• Operator performance verifications.

3. Ordinances should include criteria for accepting and rejecting oil and gas application permits to drill (APDs).

4. An Emergency Response Plan does not exist and needs to be filed with the County.

• Counties have a responsibility and the tools to ensure community safety in the form of zoning rules and ordinances.The ordinance should include public health safeguards/regulations like accident response and cleanup.
• Inclusion of oil and gas worker safety and accountability, and employee procedures.

5. Protections for landowners are considerably insufficient.

• There are no protections for split estate surface landowners. The ordinance states it is solely the responsibility of the landowner to submit concerns at the time of application. Furthermore, value impacts have not been outlined and are left to the Planning & Zoning Commission to determine.
• The ordinance does not include regulations for additional infrastructure (injection wells, pipelines, compressor stations, waste storage and disposal, etc.) where eminent domain is used.

6. The public comment process lacks transparency and should allow for adequate public review time.

• There is no public review process on exploratory well applications.
• Permit reviewing is so streamlined that permits are allowed to be processed within 10 days and without proper notifications to the public.
• Adequate neighborhood notifications need to be setup to ensure community concerns are heard.