Las Cruces City Council urges Otero Mesa protection

August 18, 2008

By Kevin Bixby, Executive Director, Southwest Environmental Center.
I am very pleased to report that the Las Cruces City Council today unanimously approved a resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation that will provide permanent protection for Otero Mesa from oil and gas development. The vote was 6-0, with Councilor Dolores Connor absent. The resolution declares that “the City of Las Cruces would like to support the protection of Otero Mesa’s land, wildlife and water resources.”

Las Cruces joins a growing number of local governments calling for the protection of Otero Mesa, including the City and County of El Paso which both passed similar resolutions in June. Dona Ana and Sierra counties passed resolutions last year calling for a temporary halt to drilling and leasing on Otero Mesa’s federal public lands until an ongoing aquifer study could be completed, a request which the Bush Administration subsequently rejected.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to come to the meeting today, or who contacted their representatives. We are one step closer to achieving protection for this national treasure.

One more thing…if you live in the area, please take a moment to:

1) thank your representative for voting for the resolution
2) write a very brief letter to the editor of the local newspapers expressing your support for today’s Council action (to counter the inevitable criticism that will be leveled at them).
Mayor Ken Miyagashima (575) 541-2067 mayor@las-cruces.org <mailto:mayor@las-cruces.org>
Miguel Silva (575) 541-2006 miguelsilva@las-cruces.org
Dolores Archuleta (575) 524-7873 darchuleta@las-cruces.org
Gil Jones (575) 525-8039 gjones@las-cruces.org
Dolores Connor (575) 527-1750 dconnor@las-cruces.org <mailto:dconnor@las-cruces.org>
Nathan Small (575) 640-5457 nsmall@las-cruces.org <mailto:640-5457nsmall@las-cruces.org>
Sharon Thomas (575) 521-9314 sthomas@las-cruces.org
Las Cruces Sun-News: letters@lcsun-news.com
Las Cruces Bulletin: http://www.lascrucesbulletin.com/index.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin&pageToLoad=e_lettertoeditor.php&nav=letter&curDate=20080815
Grassroots Press: grassrootspress@gmail.com
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