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
Joey Keefe, Assistant Commissioner of Communications
505.470.2965
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
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.