ABQjournal: Otero Mesa Drilling No Longer Economical
By Chuck Moran, president
Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico
The petroleum industry in New Mexico (you know, the businesses that pumped $1.3 billion into state and local tax coffers in 2004) … the state’s vital resource industry … and my industry is very good at extracting them safely with a minimal impact to the land.
[versus]
disingenuous eco-obstructionist groups … completely unnecessary and highly expensive systems … their yacht-and-caviar-foundations… primarily funded by out-of-state money … self-appointed protectors of the land abuse the public trust in pursuing their own agenda? regardless of what it costs or who gets hurt … the obstructionist, a.k.a. “environmentalist,” community
The BLM readily admits that the Otero Mesa resource management plan is the most restrictive ever issued in U.S. history. [mjh: Uncannily, just a few days ago, I predicted this argument]
If lined pits were not safe, efficient and cost-effective they wouldn’t be the standard for all oil and natural gas production everywhere else in New Mexico, let alone the rest of the nation and world.
The sad? and largely unknown? part of all this is that the activist groups (primarily funded by out-of-state money) that claim to be “protecting” New Mexico lands for the benefit of the people are actually doing just the opposite. Their self-indulgent, perverted view of reality is denying us all economic opportunity and prosperity.
The disinformation campaign must go on. [mjh: his words, not mine]
¡Que lástima, pobrecito! Things are so hard for an oil executive. People just aren’t satisfied to take a payoff and shut up — they expect the industry to pay taxes AND stay away from 1% of the land. If Mr Moron can’t earn a living with oil, he should run for President.
But first, let me admit, I have tasted caviar and I actually am self-appointed, but I don’t own a yacht or SUV (I’ll bet $100 that Mr Moron owns both).
Chuck certainly earned his bonus with this piece. He reminds us all how valuable his industry is (no threat intended). He paints those who speak up as “self-indulgent, perverted” and not from around here (tell that to the thousands of NM hunters opposed to drilling in Otero). By relentlessly slandering his opponents, he salts the earth so that people just won’t know what to think or who to believe — a page from Karl Rove, the Architect of Victory. Good job, Chuck! mjh