The Permian Basin, shared by New Mexico and West Texas, is the busiest oil and gas field in the U.S., producing about half of U.S. production which was expected to grow to 13.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025.
Ongoing capital projects such as those to rebuild the Eddy County jail and its administrative complex were driving up the county’s expenses for the next fiscal year, commissioners were told during their meeting July 29 as they approved a $148 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
Ruidoso village officials are urging residents to vacate the Upper Canyon area for two weeks or more as major repairs are made to water and sewer infrastructure damaged by flooding throughout July.
Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz reported that 7.47 inches of rainfall fell between June 1 and July 11 at Carlsbad Caverns, while 4.42 inches fell at the Carlsbad Airport and 3.77 inches in Artesia.
Mark Bollinger, manager of the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office which oversees WIPP’s operations, said during a Wednesday public forum held in Hobbs that the site was continuing to increase shipments to about 17 per week, potentially continuing disposal until 2080.
