Governor Blocks Drilling In Galisteo Basin

SANTA FE, N.M.(AP) – Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration has imposed a six-month moratorium on oil and natural gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin.

Tecton Energy of Houston has applied to the state for permits to drill three wells in the basin, which is near Santa Fe.

The governor announced the moratorium on Friday at a news conference and said he has serious reservations about any drilling in the basin.

Richardson described the basin as a fragile ecosystem and said there were concerns that drilling could affect the area’s groundwater.

In late November, the Santa Fe County Commission imposed a three-month moratorium on applications for oil and gas drilling to give county officials time to finish an ordinance that would spell out rules for oil and gas activity.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)