Environmental Justice Caucus is Hosting the DPNM Candidate Forum

Positions Featured:

Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer

Bring a Friend and Join the Conversation.

We will also discuss the progress of important bills coming before the legislature and what actions need to be taken.

Please join us. We'd like to meet you and hear your thoughts.

State senators and representatives are most likely to pay attention to phone calls and emails from their constituents. Because of this, we will send targeted emails to our members who have state representatives or senators likely to oppose good environmental bills or support bad bills in committee. These alerts will also inform you of when committee meetings will take place so that you can give personal testimony or simply attend to inform yourself about what your reps and senators are saying.

Please take the time to open these emails and communicate with your legislators. Your voice CAN make a difference. You are the power behind the EJC of the DPNM.

In conjunction with the Sierra Club, the EJC is sponsoring two events at the Roundhouse, Lands, Water and Wildlife Day on February 20 and Climate Crisis Day on March 6.

It is a blast to table at these events. Often those EJCers who are planning to go either travel together on the Rail Runner or meet at the Roundhouse. We often meet other activists and many legislators. New people often join the caucus. Lunch is provided.

If you would like to help out, please email Muriel at mucarpenter412@gmail.com.

Legislative Roundtable Warns Against False Solutions, Highlights Priorities

and Plans EJ Day at Roundhouse – March 7

No False Solutions, a coalition of environmental justice organizations, held a legislative roundtable on January 9 at Los Jardines Institute. An impressive array of advocates participated to highlight environmental and social justice issues affecting frontline communities and identify the legislation that would help or, on the other hand, harm them. Los Jardines Institute, Pueblo Action Alliance, Indigenous Women Rising, T4B (Together for Brotherhood), Food and Water Watch, American Friends Service Committee, UNM LEAF, and others attended. They also made plans for Environmental Justice Day at the Roundhouse on March 7.

Coalition advocates explained their strong support for House Bills 33 and 35, sponsored by Representatives Debra Sariñana and Tara Lujan. These bills would strengthen the regulation of the oil and gas industry. HB 35 would create one-mile oil and gas setbacks around schools. Under HB 35, oil and gas facility operators must meet stringent criteria to be eligible for new permits in children’s protective zones. In addition, such operators must establish maps, leak detection and response plans, and other safeguards if any of their existing facilities are already in children’s protective zones. HB 33 would prohibit the construction of new oil and gas facilities in ozone nonattainment counties.

On the other hand, the Coalition strongly opposes HB 137, the so-called Strategic Water Supply bill, and explained why this bill is a classic false solution. “SWS envisions using New Mexico taxpayer dollars to purchase treated produced water from private treatment companies … and then selling it, potentially at a loss, to industrial end users like hydrogen producers. Fracking waste is highly corrosive, salty, toxic and radioactive…. [and industry scientists themselves admit that they do not have a sound technology to decontaminate and transport this wastewater].  Any investment of public dollars to help the oil and gas industry dispose of this toxic waste amounts to an expensive taxpayer funded subsidy that will only serve to lower costs for oil and gas producers, worsening the climate crisis and potentially leading to contamination of our land, rivers, acequias and wells.” No False Solutions website at:

https://www.nofalsesolutions.com/advanced-energy-technologies

AFSC shared information about HBs 21 (Representative McQueen) and 25 (Representative Garcia) both of which would provide improved financial support and infrastructure for land grant communities. Food and Water Watch described legislation that would reduce methane emissions from industrial agriculture. Representatives of the EJ Caucus laid out its priorities: the Green Amendment (SJR 4), high speed electric rail, bicyclist safety (Idaho Stops), and reduction of methane emissions through a comprehensive inspection and enforcement program.

Everyone present hoped that much progress will be made on these supported bills and a celebration will be warranted at EJ Day on March 7!

Join Albuquerque Transit Riders Union at their upcoming monthly meeting this February 14 as they organize their union. These folks are the ones who pushed through zero fares in several NM cities. They are fighting the good fight to expand affordable and convenient public transportation. Sign up at the link below:

Come join the Legislative Action Working Group as we track legislation and strategize for upcoming committee meetings If you have any questions, email Alex.