The ES-CA Board met on Monday, December 7, 2015. Commissioner Valerie Espinoza, of the New Mexico Board of Public Regulation Commission, attended the meeting, along with her chief of staff, Arcy Baca, and, the Pipeline Safety Bureau Chief, Jason Montoya.
Mr. Montoya made a presentation to the Board and other attendees in which he outlined the duties and responsibilities of the NMPRC as it regulates pipelines in New Mexico. As we all knew, the NMPRC does not have jurisdiction over interstate pipelines, which are the pipelines of most concern to Placitas residents. However, he did provide information concerning where we can find safety and test results for the pipelines and promised to assist us in obtaining this information. The NMPRC does maintain relationships with the pipeline companies and will assist us in future dealings with them.
It was announced that the four current District Directors were re-elected to their positions. Ed Majka – District 1; Chris Daul – District 2; Jerry Saxton, – District 3; and, Tony Hull – District 4. The Board will elect new officers at the January meeting.
Major issues facing Placitas and the area for 2016 include: proposed oil and gas drilling; property development at the I-25 exit 242; the BLM land disposition and use; hospital bond renewal; and, revision of the Sandoval County zoning ordinance. If anyone is interested in helping on these or any other issues, please contact a board member or attend the next meeting on January 4, beginning at 6:30 pm, at the Placitas Fire Station on Rt. 165.