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WHAT'S NEW
AT GRIP?
Action Alert!
Tell Senators Bingaman and Domenici to support Mining Reform!


Contacts, Links and Resources

  • Center for Science in Public Participation provides training and technical advice to grassroots groups on water pollution and natural resource development issues, especially those related to mining.

  • Mineral Policy Center is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment by preventing the environmental impacts associated with irresponsible mining and mineral development, and by cleaning up pollution caused by past mining.

  • Mining and Minerals Division - regulates New Mexicos coal and hardrock mines and reclaims abandoned mine lands.
  • Molycorp Watch Project - Amigos Bravos developed the Molycorp Watch Project to bring the combined power of citizen action and expert testimony to state and federal regulatory negotiations and public hearings regarding the Molycorp molybdenum mine in Northern New Mexico near Questa.
  • New Mexico Environmental Department
    Within NMED the following departments are specifically pertinent:
    • Ground Water Quality Bureau
      New Mexico Environment Department
      Harold Runnels Building Room N2250
      1190 St. Francis Drive, P.O. Box 26110
      Santa Fe, NM 87502
      Phone: (505) 827-2918
      FAX: (505) 827-2965
      Marcy Leavitt, GWQB Bureau Chief
      Phone: 827-2919

    • Mining Environmental Compliance Section The MECS regulates all mining discharges pursuant to the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission Regulations.

    • New Mexico Environmental Law Center - works to protect New Mexico's communities and their environments through public education, legislative initiatives, administrative negotiations and litigation by providing free or low cost legal services to citizens who otherwise would not have a voice in the complex legal proceedings that directly impact their environment.

    • The NM Mining Act Network - founded by New Mexico Environmental Law Center along with Amigos Bravos, GRIP, and four other colleague organizations to help set tough environmental standards for mine reclamation.

    • New Mexico Mining Commission created in the 1993 New Mexico Mining Act (Act) as the rulemaking and administrative review body for the Act. The Mining Commission adopts all regulations implementing the Act. After receiving a petition to change or adopt regulations, the Commission holds a public hearing and decides which regulations, if any, to adopt.

    • Sierra Club, Rio Grande Chapter - Practicing and promoting the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; a member of the New Mexico Mining Act Network.

    • Southwest Research and Information Center - providing information to the public on the effects of energy development and resource exploitation on the people and their cultures, lands, water, and air of New Mexico and the Southwest.

    • Western Environmental Law Center - is a public interest law firm representing activists, Indian tribes, local governments and citizens groups who seek to protect and restore the forests, rivers, grasslands, wildlife, and human communities of the West.

    • High Country News featured an article about GRIP and Mining Reclamation in its December 3, 2001 issue: Closing the wounds by Ernest Atencio

Water Quality Links and Resources

  • Amigos Bravos - Friends of the Wild Rivers - Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Río Grande watershed.

  • Conservation Tips - Tips and resources for personal water conservation from Office of the State Engineer Water Conservation Program 1-800-WATER-NM (1-800-928-3766)

  • Environmental Protection Agency - Water Issues
  • Gila-Mimbres Stewardship Directory - A great resource listing most of the entities interested resource issues in the four county Southwest New Mexico region; includes contact information and brief mission statements for each organization.

  • Gila Watershed Forum (AKA Gila Monster) For general information or input please contact John Fridinger- voice, message and fax number- 535 4403. Email- crzyhrse@gilanet.com. US Mail- PO Box 112, Gila, NM 88038.

  • Home Repair Loan and Grant Program (Section 504)

    Loans and Grant are available for Low-income and over 62 homeowners to upgrade their septic systems or wells through the USDA. Application can be made at our district office in Deming. The contact person is David Robertson 546-9291 ext.4 at the USDA Service Center in Deming.

  • Hydrology Primer published by Universities Council on Water Resources - Universities united to advance education and research in water resources.

  • Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) -The Office of the State Engineer (OSE) and the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) are separate but companion agencies charged with administering the state's water resources.

  • Mimbres Valley Alliance - is a nonpartisan, issue and education focused group; formed to engage and cooperate with other community groups, especially in the Mimbres Valley; to LISTEN, and GRADUALLY build our understanding of the issues that growth and water present to our rural New Mexico community.
  • New Mexico Environment Department -
    This link is to the organizational structure and shows an overview of the various departments overseeing both ground and surface water in NM. Locally in Grant County:
    • Silver City NPS Offices (District III)
      910 East 32nd Street
      Silver City, New Mexico 88061
      (505) 388-0599 Phone
      (505) 534-4421 Fax
      Renee Kincanon       Acting Natural Science Manager - 2
      The Watershed Protection Section in Silver City coordinates watershed projects and implements best management practices for the prevention of nonpoint source pollution throughout the southern New Mexico region. The section coordinates with several other agencies to prevent/remediate nonpoint source pollution and handles associated data management and reporting activities.

    • Silver City Field Operations Division (District III)
      1302 E. 32nd Street
      Silver City, NM 88061
      Phone - (505) 388-1934
      Fax - (505) 388-3258
      The majority of the Field Operation Division's (FOD) work is concentrated in six programs. Additionally the field offices review plans and specifications for proposed water supply systems and wastewater treatment systems. Drinking water supplies are coordinated by the Drinking Water Bureau.

    • New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau - The Drinking Water Bureau's mission is to preserve, protect, and improve New Mexico's drinking water quality for present and future generations. Emphasis is placed on upholding the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and providing technical assistance, system oversight and community outreach about safe drinking water.
  • New Mexico Office of the State Engineer - The Office of the State Engineer (OSE) and the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) are separate but companion agencies charged with administering the state's water resources. The agencies have power over the supervision, measurement, appropriation and distribution of almost all surface and ground water in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries

  • NM Water Connections - A website to facilitate communication between groups working on water related issues in New Mexico, promote collaboration between these groups, and provide a guide for anyone interested in finding out about water issues in our state.

  • New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute - The Institute funds research to address water problems critical to New Mexico and the southwest. The Institute has a small staff primarily for research administration. The research is conducted by faculty and their students in the state's universities.

  • Regional Water Planning Handbook - For the complete text of the booklet produced by the Interstate Stream comission to guide Regional Water Planning efforts across New Mexico.

  • rivernetwork.org has a list of funding sources and tips on grant writing for watershed projects.

  • Upper Gila Watershed Alliance (UGWA) is a grassroots and community-based conservation organization that operates from the rural communities of Gila and Cliff, New Mexico.
  • USGS Water Resources
    New Mexico

Smart Growth Links and Resources

  • 1000 Friends of New Mexico
    conducts research, education and advocacy programs on growth management from the State Capitol to local planning commissions

  • Center of the American West at
    provides excellent information about growth patterns and trends in the Western U.S.

  • U.S. Census Bureau provides abundant information about population, housing, economic factors and more on their site at http://www.census.gov/

Clean Air Links and Resources

Responsible Energy Production Links and Resources
  • New Mexico Public Interest Research Group Advocating in the public interest for clean and renewable energy.

  • Energy Information Administration publishes State Electricity Profiles which provide an overview of energy generating capacity and emissions in the state. The November, 2001 profile for New Mexico (7 pages, 148k) can be downloaded from them at new_mexico.pdf

  • Clean Energy Solutions: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in New Mexico -
    A March 2002 Report of the NMPIRG Education Fund (51 pages) This 381k PDF can be downloaded from NMPIRG's Clean Energy Campaign Page
  • Coalition for Clean and Affordable Energy, formed in 1997, is a coalition of eight environmental and public interest groups active in New Mexico and the broader Rocky Mountain and Desert Southwest regions.

  • Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of primarily business, governmetal, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy world-wide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy and national security.
Other Environmental Links and Resources

National Council for Science and the Evironment - (NCSE) has been working since 1990 to improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking. As a neutral science-based organization, NCSE promotes science and its relationship with decisionmaking only, and does not take positions on environmental issues themselves.

Western Environmental Law Center - is a public interest law firm representing activists, Indian tribes, local governments and citizens groups who seek to protect and restore the forests, rivers, grasslands, wildlife, and human communities of the West.

Government - Local, State, Federal

Local
  • Town of Silver City website for information and updated contacts

    SILVER CITY HALL
    101 W. Broadway
    P.O. Box 1188
    Silver City, NM 88062
    Contact: Sharon Miller
    (505) 538-3731
    townofsc@zianet.com

Grant County

COUNTY MANAGER
Harry Burgess
Grant County Administration Building
P.O. Box 898
Silver City, NM 88062

ELECTED OFFICIALS

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Distrist 1. Joe Arrellano(D)
2003-2006

District 2. Charles Kelly(D)
2003-2006

District 3. Henry Torres (D)
2001-2004

COUNTY CLERK
Jeff Carbajal (D)
**2002-2004
Box 898,
Silver City, NM 88062
(505) 574-0042

State
The N.M. Legislature website at http://legis.state.nm.us/ is full of information on current bills under consideration and on how to contact your state representatives with regard to growth, water, or any other issues that may concern you.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

 Governor Bill Richardson
State Capitol
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505/827-3000
Email to Governor Richardson

Attorney General Patricia A. Madrid
Bataan Memorial Building
407 Galisteo Street Room 260
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505/827-6000 vox
505/827-5826 fax

Senator Ben Altimirano (D)
District 28 - Catron, Grant & Socorro
NM State Capitol / Room 325
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505 / 986-4537

or locally,
1123 Santa Rita Street
Silver City, NM 88061
505 / 538-3525 or 505 / 388-5608

Representative Manuel G. Herrera (D)
District 39 Grant & Hidalgo
NM State Capitol / Room 204
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505 / 986-4235

or locally,
300 North Franey
Bayard, NM 88023
505 / 537-5577

Federal

ELECTED OFFICIALS

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
202/456-1414 vox
202/456-2461 fax

Senator Jeff Bingaman - Dem
United States Senate
703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202/224-5521 or
TDD - 202/224-1792 senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov http://bingaman.senate.gov

or locally,
148 Loretto Towne Centre
505 South Main
Las Cruces, NM 88001
505/523-6561

Senator Pete V. Domenici - Rep
328 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-3101
202/224-6621 or
TTY/TDD 202/224-3844 senator_domenici@domenici.senate.gov http://domenici.senate.gov

or locally,
1065 South Main,


Building D-13, Suite 302
Las Cruces, NM 88005
505/526-5475

Representative Heather Wilson
Republican / 1st District ask.heather@mail.house.gov

Representative Steve Pearce
Republican / 2nd District
http://www.house.gov/pearce/

DC office
1408 Longworth
Washington DC 20515
202-225-2365 tel
202-225-9599 fax

District office
400 North Telshor, Suite E
Las Cruces, NM 88011
505-522-2219 tel
505-522-3099 fax

Representative Tom Udall
Democrat / 3rdt District tom.udall@mail.house.gov

Representative Dianne Miller Hamilton (R) District 38 Grant, Luna, & Sierra
NM State Capitol / Room 202
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505 / 986-4221

or locally,
4132 North Gold Street
Silver City, NM 88061
505 / 538-9336



Gila Resources Information Project
305A North Cooper St. Silver City, NM 88061 phone/fax 575.538.8078 grip@gilaresources.info

Recognizing that human and environmental systems are inseparable and interdependent, Gila Resources Information Project pursues two goals: 1. To protect and nurture human communities by safeguarding the natural resources that sustain us all; 2. To safeguard natural resources by facilitating informed public participation in resource use decisions. Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1998.

SUPPORT: We gratefully acknowledge the continued support of the McCune Charitable Foundation.