Residents urge Eddy County to address drilling, truck traffic and noise in Happy Valley

Shirley Washburn, a lifelong resident of Happy Valley, told the Eddy County Commission that drilling and pipeline work near her neighborhood has put residents at risk and damaged local flood-diversion infrastructure. "Since the city of Carlsbad approved the drilling of several oil and gas wheel wells near Happy Valley, my community has become the stomping ground for all the other oil related activities," Washburn said, and reported that a service line for drinking water had been cut twice during recent construction.

Steve Mitch, who said he lives about 700 feet from a fracking facility, described the noise and vibration as a near-constant disturbance. "I live 700 feet from the fracking facility. It's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," Mitch said, and urged the commission to review scientific distancing recommendations when it considers an ordinance update. Both speakers asked for follow-up after a prior request to revise the county's oil-and-gas ordinance.

The residents raised specific safety and quality-of-life concerns: dozens of sand and water-hauler trucks using residential streets, potholes and vehicle-damage risks on Jones Street, and a cited decibel reading of 98.6 dB during recent operations. Washburn asked why an access road built for industrial traffic was not being used and expressed worry about a school bus stop on Jones Street when classes resume.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns. Chair (S1) committed to follow up: he said he would "personally reach out to the workers" and try to get truck traffic rerouted off Jones Street. The board did not take an immediate regulatory action at the meeting; residents asked for updates on the pending ordinance revision that had been requested at the May 5 meeting.