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Lawmakers push Water & Natural Resources Committee to hold interim hearings in oil-and-gas country
Summary
Several committee members representing production counties urged the panel to hold at least one interim meeting in Southeast New Mexico (Artesia/Hobbs) so local industry and residents can participate; others proposed university or campus venues in Albuquerque for size and accessibility.
Lawmakers urged the Water & Natural Resources Committee to hold one of its interim meetings in Southeast New Mexico to hear directly from oil-and-gas communities and affiliated stakeholders about energy, water and economic impacts.
Why it matters: the committee will examine energy and water topics across the state during the interim. Several members argued that scheduling a field meeting in production counties would allow affected residents, operators and local governments to present firsthand testimony and reduce travel burden on impacted communities.
Representative Mark Murphy said the interim work plan contains many items that directly affect the oil and gas industry and asked the committee to reconsider its meeting schedule: "With the impact of the recent price drop, the anticipated production drop, and the impact of the pending...legislation, the committee is proposing quite a bit of work that will directly impact this industry. I would ask this committee, respectfully, madam chair and committee, to reconsider that schedule," he said.
State Senator Candy Spencey Zell and other members offered specific site recommendations. Zell told the committee she had spoken with Central Valley Electric in Artesia, and that its meeting facilities could accommodate the panel and audiovisual needs. "They do have the facilities, that is in the heart of the oil and gas industry," Zell said, and she urged the committee to avoid scheduling the site during local air-race events.
Other members suggested alternate venues that meet the committee's needs for capacity and lodging. Representative Charlotte Little proposed using the CNM West campus auditorium in Albuquerque. Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero and Representative Elaine Senna Cortez also proposed local venues in Hobbs and Roswell, respectively, noting those communities can host large groups and offer lodging options.
Committee logistics were a recurring concern: the chair noted the committee typically expects 45 to 55 committee members and staff plus presenters and public attendees, so venues should accommodate about 100 people and offer food and lodging nearby. Members also noted calendar conflicts: several proposed dates overlap popular local events, and Legislative Council must approve travel and dates.
No formal vote was taken. The chair directed staff to work with Legislative Council and to propose site options for approval; members asked staff to consider Artesia, Hobbs, Roswell and CNM West as candidate venues and to avoid dates that conflict with major local events.
Ending: Staff will compile site options, check lodging capacity and potential scheduling conflicts, and present a proposed interim meeting schedule to Legislative Council for final approval.
