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The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners authorized publication of title and general summary of an emergency interim development ordinance that temporarily suspends the processing and granting of applications for permits to drill for oil and natural gas within the Galisteo Basin until February 28, 2009.  The ordinance also empowers the Board to extend the prohibition for an additional 6 months, if necessary.  The Board will have the opportunity to vote on the emergency interim ordinance at the next Board meeting on February 26th.

“The stakes are high” said Commissioner Harry Montoya, “The quality of a decision depends on the quality of information received.  We will take the time necessary to obtain and review the relevant data before we decide the next step.”  The ordinance also calls for the adoption of amendments to create a special improvement district for the Galisteo Basin and to the Land Development Code that addresses the “health, safety, cultural-historical archaeological, fiscal, economic, planning, infrastructure and services, groundwater aquifer, environmental and public nuisance impacts of such grading, drilling, and extraction.”

“This action provides direction” said Commissioner Jack Sullivan, Board Chairman, “The amendment defines our parameters and creates a timeline within which a thoughtful, open, and thorough process can occur.”

Read Full Text of Interim Ordinance Here