By Miya King-Flaherty, Chapter Public-Lands Fellow
On September 21, the Sandoval County Commission voted 4-1 to consider an oil and gas ordinance that would shut out public input and endanger drinking water. But there’s still time to stop it.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Dan Stoddard’s ordinance would give one county staffer sole authority to approve or deny drilling applications — with no public notice or input, no hearings, and no commission vote.
All an oil or gas company has to do is to fill out an application. The staff is only required to make sure it is complete — then within 10 days the department director must grant a permit.
This means a well could be drilled anywhere in the county ...
For immediate release: Sept. 14, 2017
Last week, the Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend an oil and gas ordinance that would bypass public input and endanger drinking water. But there’s still time to stop it.
Commissioner Dan Stoddard’s ordinance, recommended Tuesday with few changes by the P and Z Commission, would give county staff sole authority to approve or deny drilling applications.
“Staff could allow oil and gas drilling without public notice, hearings or a vote by the county commission,” Rio Grande Sierra Club Public Lands Fellow Miya King-Flaherty said.
“All an oil or gas company has to do is to fill out an application. The staff is only required to make sure it is ...
