YUCCA Action

This morning, I filed a historic lawsuit and sued Governor Lujan Grisham and other State leaders for failing to protect our constitutional right to clean air, land, and water. And for failing to give indigenous people, our sacred sites, and cultural heritage equal protection under the law. Our State’s promotion of oil and gas production - including the sales of public lands - have overwhelmingly negatively impacted frontline communities. While we may benefit from the cash flow the oil and gas industry has brought to our State - its time to recognize that we are paying for those profits. We pay for them by sacrificing our health, our clean air, our already scarce water resources. We pay for those profits through some of the highest cases of childhood asthma anywhere in the country and an average of 4 toxic waste spills every single day (over 3,000 a year). It’s time we hold these elected officials accountable and make them uphold their constitutional duties.

This morning, alongside a coalition of frontline residents and organizations, I filed a historic constitutional lawsuit against Governor Lujan-Grisham, Senate Pro Temp Stewart, House Speaker Martinez, and Secretaries of the Energy Department, Environment Department, and a handful of others for their FAILURE to protect New Mexicans from the harmful impacts of oil and gas pollution. Our argument is twofold: First, we allege the state’s permitting of oil and gas production and failing to enforce pollution laws violated its duty laid out in a 1971 amendment Article XX Section 21 of the state constitution.  Our second claim is that the state’s actions allowing more oil and gas production and failing to limit pollution discriminated against indigenous people, youth and frontline communities.  New Mexico is the second largest producer of crude oil in the nation, and seventh-largest in gas extraction. High extractions pumped billions of dollars into state coffers this past year – but that production and use of oil and gas is driving the heating of the planet. The state also feels the sharp edge of the climate crisis. Wildfires ripped across forests parched by drought, intensified by higher temperatures. Water shortages on the state’s rivers, depleted aquifers as a result of the drought lasting decades has cut into agriculture and my Pueblo traditional ways of life. Those areas are dried out, then inundated with stronger rainstorms, causing flooding. The decimation of habitats and the changing climate is driving another mass extinction.

Good morning! I’m outside the First Judicial Court in Santa Fe today for a HISTORIC announcement. More coming within the hour… @GovMLG