A week-long hearing on New Mexico’s pit rule has drawn to a close…for now.
The pit rule, adopted in 2008, governs the disposal of waste from oil and gas drilling, and has been called one of the strictest regulations in the country.
This week the Oil Conservation Commission heard testimony from experts and the public about the oil and gas industry’s push to revise the regulations. But with time running out and several people yet to testify, the OCC decided to continue the hearing June 20-22.
The public comment period will remain open until several days before then, according to Gwen Lechelt with the Oil and Gas Accountability Project, the group working to keep the regulations intact.
Lechelt calls it “a completely reasonable rule” that is being challenged purely on political grounds.
