"Sandoval County is in the process of writing a much needed Oil and Gas
Ordinance. This ordinance will allow oil and gas exploration and
production. It will take into consideration that profit can no longer
outweigh public concerns for current and future health, safety and general
welfare.
SandRidge and their Consultant Bob Gallagher, former CEO of the New Mexico
Oil and Gas Association are typical of an industry that refuses to change.
SandRidge, Mr. Gallagher and the entire oil and gas industry must make
changes within the industry that are in keeping with the environmental
needs and requirements of a sustainable future.
Mr. Gallagher admittedly had prior knowledge that many concerned and
informed citizens within the Albuquerque Water Basin would resist business
as usual by SandRidge in particular, and the fracking processes and
resulting after effects as a whole. Instead of working with those concerned
citizens SandRidge chose to circumvent the minimal intentions of the zone
change application process. They bypassed the required pre-application
public hearing requirement. Their application was conspicuously incomplete
with regard to numerous public health, safety and general welfare issues.
They had no water supply agreement.  And their application should never
have even been accepted by the Planning and Zoning Director in the first
place.
Mr. Gallagher and SandRidge did what the Oil and Gas industry does so
often, they tried bulldozing their way into the Albuquerque Water Basin
with their reputation alone. They came in unprepared and were met with an
informed resistance. Mr. Gallagher did not properly advise his client on
the necessities of a quality zone change application. And his public
comments make clear his disdain for anyone who is concerned with the
potential risks of inadequately regulated and monitored fracking operations
on the outskirts of the third largest city in New Mexico and within the
Albuquerque Water Basin which serves nearly one million people.
It is disconcerting to think that an incomplete application was accepted by
the P and Z Director and then argued  before the P and Z Commission and the
County Commission that the application should be denied because it was
incomplete. Mr. Gallagher asserts that he and SandRidge were misled and
that they had been assured that the application would be recommended by the
P and Z Director. In fact the original Staff Report surprisingly did
recommend approval. If Mr. Gallagher’s claim is true then he and or the
public may have a legitimate ethics claim."
Mike Neas
Placitas