Environmental Cleanup
Commissioner Lyons has made substantial progress protecting and restoring state trust lands so future generations won't have to handle today's environmental issues, tomorrow.
In fiscal year 2008, the State Land Office's Environmental Program continued its mission of "leave no trace" when leasing activities are completed, returning the land back to its original condition through reclamation, remediation and revegetation.The commissioner dedicated more than $400,000 of Land Maintenance Fund monies to environmental issues and more than 50 acres of trust lands in six counties were reclaimed. These sites were abandoned years ago before reclamation laws were in effect.
Commissioner Lyons allocated $100,000 to initiate the Historic Oil and Gas Site (HOGS) program to remove and reclaim abandoned oil and gas well pads and roads on 25 acres of trust land in Chaves and Lea counties in known lesser prairie chicken habitat. The lesser prairie chicken is a candidate for the endangered species list and reclamation will reduce habitat fragmentation and protect lek sites where the prairie chickens perform their annual spring mating dance.
The Land Office partnered with Lea County Electric Co-op to remove five miles of abandoned electric poles and lines to prevent hawks from preying on prairie chickens. Lastly, crews revegetated the area to blend with the natural surroundings.
The Environmental Program continued to work on the closure of other historic leasing sites, including the Tyrone Gun Club near Silver City, the Eubank Landfill in Albuquerque, and the Nacimiento Mine near Cuba.
To report enviromental contamination on trust lands contact:
Steven Ikeda
Enviromental Specialist
(505) 827-5788
sikeda@slo.state.nm.us