Located south of Alamogordo, Otero Mesa covers 1.2 million acres in New Mexico, much of it managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Las Cruces District Office. The Rio Grande Chapter is part of the Coalition to Protect Otero Mesa, which in 2024 asked the BLM to designate the heart of the Mesa an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. We work alongside Tribal leaders, conservation and sportsmen's groups, and local communities toward permanent protection for the Mesa's grasslands, water, wildlife, ...
Since 2001 more than 45 million acres of land (1.6 million acres in New Mexico) have been protected and untouched by new road construction, thanks to the federal government’s “Roadless Rule." The Trump administration has moved to repeal this rule ...
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Statement on Gutting of Federal Roadless Rule
On August 18, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Forest Service had filed a proposed rule to rescind in its entirety the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule ...
In February, the New Mexico Senate defeated the Clear Horizons Act (SB18), a bill which would have codified greenhouse reduction goals that have worked successfully for eight years. This bill would have reduced our pollution to what it was in 2005, reaching net zero by 2050. Our campaign, “Two Futures. One Vote,” recognizes that we are standing at a crossroads ...
New Mexico Methane Action Alert
As we all deal with the uncertainty of this difficult time for our health and economy, it is more important than ever that New Mexico stays the course on critical public health initiatives to protect our children, our air and our climate. The New Mexico Environment Department and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department are hosting an online meeting to gather public input about methane regulations and community impacts ...
Looking ahead to the legislative session
As we embark on the 30-day budget session at our State Legislature, we will again carry out grassroots lobby trainings throughout the state. These trainings will provide you with an overview of key bills that our environmental community will be pushing forward. Read more and register for the sessions ...
Speak Out – Oppose F-16 Training Airspace over the Gila!
Submit your public comments by January 31, 2020 to Peaceful Gila Skies Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) in Alamogordo wants to expand its F-16 pilot training airspace across southwestern New Mexico. Although the Air Force acknowledges that current airspace is adequate for F-16 combat training, it proposes an annual additional of 10,000 sorties, discharge of 15,000 flares and 15,000 bundles of chaff. The future of Holloman AFB is not at risk. We shouldn’t sacrifice the Gila, America’s first wilderness, and other ...
Tell NM Environment Department: No use of fracking wastewater outside oil fields!
You may know that drillers inject water underground to release oil and gas during fracking. The industrial waste that comes back up is called "produced water," and it is contaminated both by the chemicals that companies put into it and by the minerals released from the ground. Tell New Mexico Environment Department: Prohibit reuse of fracking wastewater outside the oil fields ...
Fracking wastewater in our water, rivers and food?
You may know that the oil & gas industry injects water underground to release oil and gas during fracking. Companies have to figure out what to do with this wastewater. Ideally, they reuse it on the oil fields instead of using fresh water. We need you to voice your concerns at public hearing throughout the state ...
Media Advisory: Climate Strike on Friday, September 20th
A youth-led walk-out from over 20 Albuquerque Schools will strike against a status quo of complacency, inaction and injustice on climate change, and join global voices to call for a livable future ...
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