Steve Pearce, the former New Mexico congressman and current director of the Bureau of Land Management, shared his priorities and ongoing projects during an interview, just under two months into his new role.
Key Initiatives
Pearce emphasized New Mexico’s significant role in oil and gas production, stating that the state is accounting for about 85% of the lease sales so far. He outlined his main priorities, which include increasing leases for oil and gas drilling in the Permian Basin, addressing orphaned wells nationwide and in New Mexico, and developing strategies to manage by-products of drilling.
Pearce also reiterated that there are no plans to sell federal land, including the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument near Las Cruces. Regarding the controversial proposal to drill for oil on protected lands in Chaco Canyon, Pearce said he could not comment at this time.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
