No Fracking in Sandoval County




No Fracking in Sandoval’s Precious Lands
On March 23rd the Sandoval County Commission should deny the Sand Ridge solicitation to frack within Sandoval County.

Take one look at the New Mexico Environment Department’s ‘sensitive aquifer map’ of Sandoval County and it is clear.  Fracking would be a catastrophic and irreversible disaster for the water that the people and economy of this region depend upon.  The majority of the below map is coded as highly or moderately sensitive aquifer. 




(Source: https://www.env.nm.gov/fod/LiquidWaste/mapping.html )

It should be considered that fracking requires water, and public paid-for roads to transport that water.  Indeed, as reported by Gasland, “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates each well, per frack, will require 2.4 to 7.8 million gallons of water. This translates into roughly 400 to 600 tanker truckloads of liquids to the well, and 200 to 300 tanker truckloads of liquid waste from the well. An eighteen-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 lbs. Day-in, day-out, these trucks destroy roads and bridges.” (Source: http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking/faq/water-used)

If the water, the roads, or the last several years of drought are not reason enough for the County Commission to deny the proposal, then perhaps a short synopsis of the company’s obstructionist and litigated dealings with the governments in Oklahoma can persuade the County Commission to oppose the solicitation just so they can save the money they will spend arguing with the company’s lawyers later on.

The Sandoval County Commission should definitely consider future litigation costs of dealing with Sand Ridge Energy’s incompliant behavior that they are currently exhibiting in Oklahoma. The company is already fighting the Oklahoma Corporation Commisssion (OCC) regarding stopping its fracking that is causing earthquakes that register above 4.0, and that regularly report on the USGS Earthquake Registry. Kansas has already required that Sand Ridge stop its fracking there.  Dan Voorhis of the Witchita Eagle reports that, “Rex Buchanan, interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey, said it’s pretty clear the water injection wells cause earthquakes” and that now they are prohibited, the earthquakes have diminished. (Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article54543990.html#storylink=cpy)

Or perhaps the Commission can should read about how other fracking companies are costing counties and states millions of dollars: (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-coleman/fracking-chemicals-found_b_7217066.html)

The commission could just consider that this ill-fated solicitation is coming from a company that can not manage itself in any way.  Indeed, many sources report that the company was delisted by the New York Stock Exchange in January  for having a stock price below $1 for several quarters. They have laid off over 200 employees in January alone.  They have reorganized  $21 million worth of interest payments on debt they owe, so they can attempt to hold on just another few years. 

At a minimum, the commission should consider current bad decisions made by other entities, like in Flint Michigan where city, county, and state officials are now in a sling due to poor public health management.  Indeed, the most important piece of the decision is for the children here in New Mexico.  This photo by Lee Stone shows some kids in Pennsylvania where the officials are now regretting allowing fracking but are to poor to fight the companies they allowed in to frack their county land.


Fracking is not sustainable, and the damage it causes is forever.  Our water is not available for polluting.  We need to drink it, water our crops with it, and provide our local desert economy a foundation for its people and its businesses.

The company is irresponsible, nearly bankrupt, and is already fighting the governments that initially gave them permission to frack and pollute. 

The commission has no reason to approve this proposal, and should deny it during the March 23rd public meeting.

Note: The meeting will be held in Bernalillo, NM at the Sandoval County Admin Building in the Commission Chambers at 6:00 PM. All meetings are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month except for the months of November and December. Other meetings or work sessions may be called at any time providing the effective Open Meeting requirements are met.


Additional Resources:

Huffington Post Article on fracking:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-coleman/fracking-chemicals-found_b_7217066.html

The Wichita Eagle Article:
http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article54543990.html

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