Today, we take another step; this one potentially bigger. Our press release:
Coalition for the Valle Vidal
P.O. Box 238
Taos, New Mexico 87571
505.758.3874
September 20, 2005
Press Release - For Immediate Release and Distribution
Contact:
Ed Olona, NM Wildlife Federation, 505.447.6364
William Brown, Coalition for the Valle Vidal, 505.758.8008
Bill Schudlich, Trout Unlimited, 505.470.4878
Gary Foney, past pres., NM Oil and Gas Assoc. 505.390.9064
Senator Bingman Introduces Bill to Protect the Valle Vidal from Destruction
(Taos, NM, September 20, 2005) - A New Mexico natural area cherished by Boy Scouts, prized by elk hunters and widely recognized as a national treasure would be permanently protected from oil and gas industrialization under a bill introduced today by Senator Jeff Bingaman.
Senator Bingaman said: "The definable characteristic of being a New Mexican is shown most clearly in the places we cherish -- the places that we recognize as so special that we want to set them aside for our children and our grandchildren."
The Valle Vidal Preservation Act would assure continued public access to the Valle Vidal, keeping it open to tens of thousands of Boy Scouts, hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts, backpackers and hikers while prohibiting the desecration of the area for, what amounts to, a very small amount of gas.
"Even if there were significant gas resources under the Valle Vidal it would be very difficult to risk turning it into an industrial zone. But we don't really face that choice here. The eastern half of the Valle Vidal comprises less than 1 percent of the gas-producing Raton Basin. According to the Forest Service, even with the most optimistic projections the gas resources are less than one half of one percent of the Raton Basin resources," Bingman said.
Former USGS minerals specialist William Brown pointed out that: "The United States in 2005 will consume about 24 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas, or about 66 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day. Estimates of natural gas available from the Valle Vidal range from about 0.03 to 0.16 Tcf, or about 30 to 160 Bcf. These trivial amounts of natural gas represent roughly one-half to 2-1/2 day's supply of current USA natural gas demand, and would trickle slowly into supply lines over a period of 15 to 20 years. The quantities of gas available from the Valle Vidal will decline further as a percentage of USA gas demand as consumption increases steadily during the next two to three decades."
"We know how much gas is in there: not much, and this is one place where the surface values far outweigh anything underground," said Bill Schudlich, chairman of the New Mexico Council of Trout Unlimited. "This is our state's number one elk herd and top habitat for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. Drilling the Valle Vidal would be like ripping up your floorboards to get at a dime."
Trout Unlimited is one of over 200 area businesses and organizations opposed to the industrialization of the Valle Vidal. Six northern New Mexico municipalities as well as the Taos County Commission, the Santa Fe County Commission and the Chambers of Commerce in Questa and Cimarron have also voiced their strong opposition to drilling. Opponents to drilling include members of the oil and gas industry:
"I am a supporter of the oil and gas industry. I am pro-development. I've made my living from developing the resources of this state. But as we look for balance, there are some places unique enough and special enough to be set aside. That is the Valle Vidal," said Gary Foney, the past president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.
In the end, Bingaman said, "It would be easy to simply pursue resources wherever we find them. We certainly need the energy and have shown remarkable ingenuity in extracting oil and gas from places previously thought unreachable and with gradually lessening effects on the surrounding landscape. But our essential character is revealed in making the harder choice to slow down and recognize that some places are special and warrant special treatment. The Valle Vidal is such a special place."
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Sen. Jeff Bingaman: 202-224-5521
Rep. Tom Udall: 202-225-6190
Rep. Heather Wilson: 202-225-6316