Rio Grande Chapter

Many uncertainties surrounding the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” have plagued the regulatory landscape since 2001 and ultimately resulted in the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule.  Also known as the “Dirty Water Rule,” the Trump administration’s rule has impacted New Mexico more than any other state in the nation ...
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The state Environment Department, which had committed to adopting the Clean Cars standards in 2020, opposed climate activists' petition, saying they were understaffed but would start a rulemaking in December. Supporters of Sierra Club and other groups submitted nearly 1,000 comments to the EIB, and several volunteers gave oral comments at the July 23 meeting where the board heard our petition. Unfortunately, the EIB rejected the petition ...
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The Caja del Rio is part of the vital Western Wildway Priority Wildlife Corridor that runs along the Upper Rio Grande Watershed from Colorado through New Mexico. The plateau and canyons are vital habitat for a diverse range of plants and animals, and the area is recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area ...
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Trapping season will be upon us beginning November 1. While we still are celebrating that the New Mexico Legislature passed and the governor signed Roxy’s Law banning traps from public land, it won’t take effect until April 1, 2022 ...
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On Sept. 22, New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission approved Southwestern Public Service Company’s Transportation Electrification Plan — essentially a state-required plan for adding electric-vehicle infrastructure — with some important improvements your actions helped secure. Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy and Sierra Club fought hard to make sure that the plan provides New Mexicans adequate rebates for installing home EV fast chargers and ease of payment at public charging stations.  ...
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On Friday, Oct. 1, members of the Greater Chaco Coalition delivered stacks of comments representing nearly 2-million protests collected since 2016 opposing federal fossil fuel leasing to the Bureau of Land Management’s state headquarters in Santa Fe. Representatives once again shared a timeline of extractive colonialism in New Mexico and once again, urged agency officials to stop sacrificing more New Mexico land for oil and gas ...
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Election day is November 2, and in odd-numbered years like this, we vote on non-partisan elections, which include municipal and certain other local elections. The Rio Grande Chapter has endorsed mayoral and city council candidates in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. In addition, the Chapter has endorsed candidates for the Boards of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which do great conservation work at the local level. Finally, we have endorsed candidates for the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Directors, ...
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Authorized and paid for by The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club Political Action Committee, Sierra Club Political Committee, Albuquerque Sierra Club MFC and Las Cruces Sierra Club PAC.  Not authorized by any candidate or campaign committee.
Albuquerque
Tim Keller, Mayor
Lan Sena, City Council District 1
Cynthia Borrego, City Council District 5
Tammy Fiebelkorn, City Council District 7
Rob Grilley, City Council District 9
Albuquerque Public Schools
Emma Jones, District 5
Josefina (Josie) Dominguez, District 6
Julie Brenning, District 7 Santa Fe
Alan Webber, Mayor
Signe Lindell, City ...
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A broad coalition of New Mexico advocates today applauded Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for announcing an executive order to protect 30% of the state’s land by 2030. The order—titled “Protecting New Mexico’s Lands, Watersheds, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage”—is a critical step to conserving the state’s treasured landscapes and biodiversity for generations to come, while bolstering our economy, expanding access to the outdoors, and increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing ...
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A coalition of New Mexico community, environmental, and justice organizations warned state and federal lawmakers of the risks of diving head-first into fossil-fueled hydrogen projects. The groups’ letter provides guidance on the context and safeguards that must be enacted before hydrogen projects are considered in the San Juan Basin, and in New Mexico generally. The oil and gas industry has lobbied for billions in taxpayer funds for hydrogen in the coming federal infrastructure bill, and states, including New Mexico, are ...
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