Friday, May 28, 2010

Oil leases for sale in Mora County--Las Vegas Optic

Friday, May 28, 2010.
By David Giuliani

The State Land Office wants to sell oil and gas leases in Mora and Colfax counties.

According to Land Office documents, the agency aims to sell leases for two dozen parcels in Mora County and 29 in Colfax County on June 15.

The environmental group, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, said the parcels are within the area of White Peak, where the Land Office has proposed controversial land trades.

However, the Land Office said Thursday that the nearest parcel is around seven miles away, but it is small and isolated. All of the others are much more distant, officials said.

Assistant Land Commissioner John Bemis said that eight years ago, Mora County didn’t have any oil and gas leases. He said the industry has nominated state land parcels for possible oil and gas activity.

“Ninety-five percent of our revenue comes from oil and gas. This money funds education. The land commissioner’s job is to raise money,” Bemis said.....continued.....