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Press Conference: Commissioner Garcia Richard to Announce Ban on Oil & Gas Leasing Near Schools

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

Contact:

Tarin Nix, Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs

505.699.1276

tnix@slo.state.nm.us

Joey Keefe, Assistant Commissioner of Communications

505.470.2965

jkeefe@slo.state.nm.us

Thursday, June 1: Commissioner Garcia Richard to Announce Ban on Oil & Gas Leasing Near Schools
New executive order prohibits oil and gas leasing within one mile of educational institutions

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard will host a press conference at the State Land Office on Thursday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. to announce new executive order that places a moratorium on oil and gas leasing on state lands within one mile of schools or other educational institutions until further notice. The executive order also mandates that State Land Office staff review all existing oil and gas leases within one mile of schools to assess their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

WHAT: A press conference to announce a new ban on oil and gas leasing within one mile of schools

WHO: Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens Caring for the Future, community members from the Eastern Navajo Agency

WHEN: Thursday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: New Mexico State Land Office, 310 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501

REGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM LINK

Documents on Executive Order for Press

Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. In that time the agency has raised more than $5 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, and universities. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations.