NM county ordinance bans oil, gas development

Published



ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A sparsely populated county in northern New Mexico has taken aim at the oil and natural gas industry, approving an ordinance that outlaws the extraction of the natural resources and puts the county’s decision-making rights ahead of business interests and federal and state permits.

The Mora County Commission voted 2-1 on Monday in favor of the ordinance, which is aimed primarily at protecting groundwater sources across the county.

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