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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 2 7:00 EST Contact: Annie Strickler, (202) 675-2384 Sierra Club Welcomes Governor Richardson’s Vision for Protecting America’s Natural Treasures, Onshore and Offshore Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director "Governor Richardson today outlined a concept that all Americans can embrace, whether they live by the coasts of Florida and California, the Great Lakes, the Rocky Mountains, or the grasslands of New Mexico. Special places deserve special protection, and Gov. Richardson’s proposal offers a vision for protecting these wild and precious natural treasures, both inland and offshore. We applaud this framework as an unprecedented opportunity for Governors to establish higher standards of environmental protection across the board. "Because our coastlines are so important to us, it made sense to put them under a drilling moratorium. Instead of having to reconsider the moratorium every year, we need to simply make it permanent. While we have been largely successful in protecting our offshore natural treasures, we’ve been less successful protecting the wild places we have onshore. Right now, the Bush administration is handing over these special places to oil and gas companies at an unprecedented rate, threatening to destroy them and reverse decades of progress on public land protection. These aggressive plans to open up our public lands cannot continue to go unchecked. "States should be able to say no to oil and gas companies who would destroy our most exceptional wild places. When the federal government fails to protect these lands, Governors should be allowed to step up to the plate and fill that gap and implement necessary environmental safeguards. Many states have the ability to set higher air quality standards to protect public health, and we welcome any proposal that lets states raise the bar for public land management. "Just as the fight to protect Otero Mesa has brought together a partnership of unlikely suspects - ranchers, conservationists, hunters, private property rights advocates, and business interests - we can do the same in this effort. There is no excuse to despoil our most valuable places unless we have exhausted quicker, cheaper and cleaner alternatives like energy efficiency and renewable energy. Let’s do what is smart for Americans and for future generations before we jump straight to the last resort."
State of New Mexico Office of the Governor Bill Richardson Governor News Release -- Embargoed until 7 p.m. (EST) Contact: Gilbert Gallegos March 2, 2005 (Santa Fe) 505-476-2217 New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Recommends Greater States’ Rights on Oil and Gas drilling in sensitive onshore areas WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today called on the Bush Administration and the Congress to put a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in ecologically sensitive onshore areas such as New Mexico’s Otero Mesa and Valle Vidal. "I support the offshore oil and gas leasing moratoriums that the Bush Administration has continued off coastal states including California and Florida," Governor Bill Richardson said during a speech to the National Environmental Trust. "Now I want to ask the coastal states, the Bush Administration, and Congress to support leasing moratoriums for some ecologically sensitive onshore areas, as well." Governor Richardson is scheduled to return to Santa Fe tonight following the speech. Richardson said his proposal would balance proposed oil and gas development on Western public lands. "We are not against oil and gas development, but there are areas that should not be developed," Governor Richardson said. "This is an opportunity for governors to establish higher standards of environmental protection across the board," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. "When the federal government fails to protect special places from oil and gas drilling, Governors should be allowed to step up to the plate and fill that gap. Just like our precious coasts, these inland natural treasures also deserve protection." Governor Richardson said his proposal would protect about 750,000 acres in New Mexico, about 1% of the state’s area. The Governor has proposed a ban on leasing of more than 600,000 acres at Otero Mesa, an internationally recognized desert grassland area that overlies pristine, untapped groundwater. He has also asked the Bush Administration not to conduct oil and gas leasing of 100,000 acres of prime hunting and fishing area in the Valle Vidal. "I recognize the importance of energy development, and a far larger area remains open to oil and gas leasing," Governor Richardson said. "I am asking the Administration and Congress to give onshore areas the same kind of ecological attention they have been willing to give places such as Florida and California." Under offshore oil and gas restrictions, more than 600 million acres remain under moratorium. "The Interior Department has ignored its own rules requiring it to balance state and national interests," said Richardson. "In recently released plans affecting lands throughout the West, the Department has proposed opening 97% of public lands to oil and gas development, which is not a balanced or sustainable approach." Governor Richardson said his approach has support from coastal moratorium advocates such as Congressman Sam Farr, whose district includes Monterey, California. Governor Richardson made his announcement at the 10th Anniversary celebration of the National Environmental Trust, where he received NET’s Environmental Leadership Award, with more than 500 people in attendance. |
