Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

Oil and gas companies could lease another 30,000 acres of public land in New Mexico this spring.

The Bureau of Land Management said it was planning to lease the lands in an auction planned for May 2026.

The bureau completed its environmental analysis of the lands proposed for lease, and opened a public comment period on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for input on the analysis until Feb. 20.

This followed a “scoping period” in December 2025, where comments could be submitted after the proposed parcels were released.

Here’s what to know about the sale, and how to comment.

How to submit public comments

Public comments can be submitted online at the bureau’s website, https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=543adaf8-a7f2-f011-8407-001dd80db62a, after clicking the “Participate Now” link.

The environmental analysis can be accessed under the “Documents” section of the page.

Where is the land?

About 94% of the lands offered in the lease sale – 31,525 out of the total 33,530 acres – were in southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin region spread out between Eddy and Lea counties.

Thirty-five parcels are in Eddy County on 14,289 acres – about 42% of the total lands offered in the sale. Another 24 parcels were offered in Lea County on 16,015 acres, or 47% of the sale.

The sale also includes three parcels on 360 acres in Quay County, and a single, 320-acre parcel in Roosevelt County, along New Mexico’s eastern border with Texas.

In the northwest corner of New Mexico, 11 parcels were offered on 2,168 acres spread among Sandoval, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties.

The lone Texas parcel was on 156 acres in McMullen County.

Analysis finds ‘no significant impact’

Up to 142 oil and gas wells could be drilled on the lands nominated for leases, read the environmental analysis published by the Bureau of Land Management.

In its analysis, the bureau argued the area where the leases were proposed was designated by the federal government for oil and gas production, and that such operations are common nearby.

Most impacts to air quality from oil and gas drilling on the lands would be “short-term,” the report read, and peak within the first 60-90 of operations as the well is completed.

“Emissions are anticipated to decline during operations and maintenance as the need for earth-moving and heavy equipment decreases,” read the report. “Ongoing operations of well sites would be subject to state and federal permitting requirements, which ensure compliance with air quality emission standards.”

The agency reported water use would also peak during this time as the well is drilled using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, when water and chemicals are pumped underground to break up shale rock to extract fossil fuels.

But the report did warn there was “uncertainty” as to when underground aquifers would be recharged after water is used for drilling, meaning any impact to local groundwater supplies could be “long-term.”

What are the terms of the leases?

Federal oil and gas leases are for 10 years or as long as oil or gas is produced.

Leasing is the first step to production on federal public land, granting a company access to the acreage.

Operators are still required to gain various approvals from the bureau to install the necessary infrastructure and to commence drilling via an application to permit drilling, known as an “APD.”

Once operations begin, the leaseholder must pay a royalty rate to the federal government, taken as a percentage of the proceeds from oil and gas production, which is reported annually based on the volume extracted and current market pricing at the time of the report.

Revenues from federally-leased lands for oil and gas development are split with the host state.

The Bureau of Land Management currently charges a 12.5% royalty rate, after it was decreased from 16.67% with the July 4, 2025, signing by President Donald Trump of a sweeping spending bill known to supporters as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

The 16.67% rate was enacted by former President Joe Biden, increasing from the previous 12.5% royalty.

Supporters of the lower rate said it would aid the oil and gas industry’s growth.

“The recent adjustment to federal royalty rates helps maintain New Mexico’s competitiveness in attracting investment,” said Missi Currier, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, a trade group that lobbies for industry interests. “It’s important to note that taxpayers benefit most when production occurs.”

But a Jan. 22 report from national government watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense said the lower rate would cost New Mexicans tens of millions of dollars.

The group’s report pointed to 17,889 acres in New Mexico leased after July 2025, when the lower rate went into effect, bringing in about $154.4 million. If the higher rate had been maintained, the group reported, another $84.3 million would have gone to the government.

And New Mexico oil and gas production grew heavily in 2023 and 2024, the report read, undeterred by the higher rate charged in those years.

“New Mexico continues to demonstrate that competitive leasing occurs where resource potential justifies investment, not where terms are tilted to favor operators,” read the report.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

The New Mexico Senate passed a bill Tuesday, Feb. 3, that would prohibit local governments in the state from entering into immigrant detention agreements with the federal government.

House Bill 9 was approved on a 24-15 vote as just one Democrat, Sen. George Muñoz of Gallup, sided with the 14 Republicans who voted in opposition. Rio Rancho Republican Sens. Jay Block and Craig Brandt, and Sen. Martin Hickey (D-20) of Albuquerque were absent and did not cast a vote.

Senators debated the bill after the House passed it Jan. 30 by a vote of 40-29.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will sign the bill, according to her communications director Michael Coleman.

HB 9, also known as the Immigrant Safety Act, will prohibit local governments from entering into agreements with the federal government to detain people charged with civil immigration violations, including being in the country without legal status or overstaying a visa.

Under these agreements, counties enter into and manage contracts to house immigrant detainees, for which they receive federal payments. The counties then subcontract with private contractors who are paid to operate the facilities.

Three such detention facilities currently operate in New Mexico: the Cibola County Detention Center in Milan; the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral; and the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia. HB 9 would require those counties to end their involvement in immigration detention.

The legislation also prohibits local law enforcement personnel from being deputized by federal authorities to carry out some immigration enforcement duties.

Tuesday’s action by the Senate came after years of debate over similar proposals. During the 2025 legislative session, an immigrant detention ban cleared the House but died in the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury supported the bill over concerns about conditions at the facilities, as did immigrant advocacy groups.

But many lawmakers, including some who represent communities that host the facilities, opposed the bill, citing public safety issues and concerns that if HB9 became law the detention centers would close and lead to a loss of local jobs and tax revenue.

It is unknown if CoreCivic, the Tennessee-based company that manages the Cibola and Torrance County facilities and owns the buildings that house them, would remain in those communities without the agreements.

Rebecca Sheff, an attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico, told the House Judiciary Committee during its debate on the bill that the legislation would not prohibit the federal government from detaining immigrants in the state but only prevent local governments from being involved in the process.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

Amid rumblings of a coming winter storm, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Jan. 23, and Artesia ended up receiving eight inches of snow from Winter Storm Fern.

Artesia athletic director Jeremy Maupin heeded the warnings and moved the boys basketball game against Hobbs from Friday night to Thursday, Jan. 22, right before the storm hit.

“We were looking at the big storm coming in last week,” Maupin said. “We were able to shift the game against Hobbs from Friday to Thursday since Hobbs did not have a game. That worked out for both of us to get that game in.”

Maupin said he had heard the weather reports and thought Saturday might also be bad. He called Bulldogs swim coach Andrea Ciro and the Artesia Aquatic Center to ask whether they could move the Artesia Swim Invitational to Saturday, Jan. 31.

The storm was so severe that it canceled school and sporting events from Jan. 26 to Jan. 29. The boys basketball team was scheduled to play at Santa Teresa on Monday, Jan. 26, but had to cancel the game.

“We did not feel safe sending buses on the road,” Maupin said. “With districts starting on Friday, we did not have a chance to make that game up. Neither did they, so we just ended up making that a canceled game. In the long run, we don’t think it is going to hurt them or us not to have that game.”

Maupin said that if it is not safe enough to have school, it is not safe enough to travel. Athletic teams must make up district games, and Artesia was not the only school hit by the weather, so other teams were also receptive to rescheduling.

Other sporting events canceled due to the storm were the bowling team’s trip to Albuquerque for its bowling-for-scholarships event and the wrestling team’s dual meet with Alamogordo and Clovis. The teams had wrestled earlier in the year, so they did not have to make up the meet.

Bulldog wrestling went to Cobre for its district matchup so that their opponent did not have to make up the event.

“We really want to wait until the last possible minute to cancel,” Maupin said. “One never knows about the weather in New Mexico.”

Boys basketball coach Michael Mondragon said he wanted his team to play, but because of some players’ injuries and illnesses, they used the time to rest and get healthy before starting district play on Friday, Jan. 30, with an 80-48 win at the Bulldog Pit.

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH 1.

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima has dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026 and instead will run as an independent in the Nov. 3 general election.

Miyagishima, 62, made the announcement in a Facebook post Monday, Feb. 2.

“In today’s polarized political climate, we need unity more than ever,” he said. “I’ve seen first-hand how division holds us back from addressing the real issues we face. By running as an independent, my goal is to create a space for fresh ideas and community involvement.”

Campaign finance reports filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office in October showed Miyagishima far behind in fundraising in what had been a three-candidate race for the Democratic nomination.

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland had raised $6.91 million and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman $2.52 million. Miyagishima had taken in just $69,152 since launching his campaign in May, with $50,000 of that coming from the candidate.

Miyagishima was mayor of Las Cruces from 2007 until 2023, making him the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. Before that he served two terms on the Dona Ana County Board of Commissioners from 1993 to 2001 and was on the Las Cruces City Council from 2001 to 2007.

Miyagishima said in a Feb. 2 text message conversation that he opted to run as an independent because the primary campaign became focused on national politics rather than the issues facing New Mexico.

Despite not having a major political party behind him, Miyagishima said, he believes he can prevail in the general election.

“You’re seeing more and more people choosing independents, and I think they deserve a candidate that reflects that,” he said.

Miyagishima said he must collect 14,000 signatures to qualify for the general election ballot and has until June 25 to submit those signatures to the Secretary of State’s office.

Four Republicans have declared as candidates for their party’s gubernatorial nomination in the June 2 primary: Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull; state Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec; former Public Regulations Commissioner Jim Ellison Jr.; and Duke Rodriguez who served as secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department, a Cabinet level agency later absorbed into the state Health Care Authority.

In addition to Miyagishima, four candidates have filed to run for governor as independents, according to the Secretary of State’s office: Albuquerque residents Meliton Isaac Gonzales and Tristan Kumar; Gene Pettit of Radium Springs; and Jacob Smith of Rio Rancho.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Jan 18

Arrest

Juan Angel Quintero Hernandez arrested for resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, probation violation.

Tatum Deane Treadway arrested for resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, probation violation.

SUSPICIOUS

12:37 am – Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

3:36 am – Officer dispatched 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious person.

3:53 am – Officer dispatched 1100 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

ALARM

7:44 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

8:38 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bush Ave.  in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ACCIDENT

12:29 am – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and Bulldog Blvd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WANTED

2:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SHOTS FIRED

2:45 pm -Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 13th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

WELFARE

3:30 pm – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

UNWANTED

4:16 pm -Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

ACCIDENT

4:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

4:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

5:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of S. 17th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

5:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

5:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

10:04 pm- Officer dispatched to  1200 block of S. W Merchant Ave. in reference to shots fired gun shot wound.

ARMED SUBJECT

10:16 pm- Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to an armed subject with a hand gun.

SUSPICIOUS

11:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Jan 19

Arrest

Diana Alvarado arrested for municipal failure to pay.

Carrie Lynn Pipp arrested for violation of conditions of release.

ACCIDENT

8:54 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

9:02 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

THREATS

11:53 am – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to threats.

SUSPICIOUS

12:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to s a suspicious person.

12:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

INCORRIGIBLE

12:26 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to incorrigible child.

WANTED

12:35 pm- Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

5:45 pm -Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

WANTED

5:48 pm- Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

5:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of Carper Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

9:46 pm- Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to disturbance.

Jan. 20

WELFARE

2:11 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. 25th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

 Jan 20 

Angel Jose Chavez arrested for resisting, evading and obstructing an officer. 

Paul Joseph Miera arrested for battery against a house hold member. 

ACCIDENT 

8:07 am – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

RECKLESS 

8:09 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

DOMESTIC 

8:25 am – Officer dispatched to the 400 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a physical domestic. 

WANTED 

8:40 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject, 

GRAFFITI 

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Lolita Ave. in reference to graffiti.  

ACCIDENT 

12:35 pm – Officer dispatched to  600 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

WELFARE 

1:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

SUSPICIOUS 

1:50 pm – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of Cerro Rd. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.  

1:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 6th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.  

FIGHT 

3:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a fight. 

LARCENY 

3:53 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Logan Ave. in reference to larceny. 

HARASSMENT 

4:20 pm- Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to harassment. 

FIGHT 

6:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to a fight. 

SUSPICIOUS 

7:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.  

LARCENY 

7:06 pm-  Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to larceny. 

RECKLESS 

8:01 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

ACCIDENT 

8:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of La Cuesta rd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

ARMED SUBJECT 

8:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to an armed subject. 

RECKLESS 

10:37 pm- Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.  

Jan 21 

ARREST 

Carolyn Marie Powers arrested for unlawful use of license driving when privilege to do so has been suspended.  

DISTURBANCE 

1:46 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to a family disturbance. 

BATTERY 

3:16 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to battery. 

SUSPICIOUS 

7:21 am – Officer dispatched to N. 4th St. and W. Chisum Ave. in reference to a suspicious person. 

ACCIDENT 

7:38 am – Officer dispatched to S. 17th St. and W.  Centre Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

8:44 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

SUSPICIOUS 

9:28 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.  

WELFARE 

9:55 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

ACCIDENT 

10:26 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of La Cuesta Rd. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

HARASSMENT 

12:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment. 

WELFARE 

1:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 11th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

THREATS 

4:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 5th St. in reference to threats. 

SUSPICIOUS 

6:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of S. 20th St, in reference to a suspicious person. 

UNWANTED 

8:08 pm – officer dispatched to 1600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject. 

ARMED SUBJECT 

7:41 pm Officer dispatched to W. Yucca Ave. and N. 13th St. in reference to an armed subject. 

Jan 22

ARREST 

Eric Lee Lunsford arrested for municipal failure to comply. 

Cristopher Jason Madron arrested for animals running at large. Rabies vaccination required, interference with humane officer, all microchip identification implants she bee issued. 

ACCIDENT 

8:00 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident. 

WELFARE 

8:12 am – Officer dispatched to W. Yucca Ave. and N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

9:27 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

 DISTURBANCE 

1:08 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 7th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance. 

WELFARE 

1:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

THREATS 

1:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to threats. 

DISTURBANCE 

4:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to family disturbance. 

WELFARE 

5:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

ALARM 

9:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm. 

UNWANTED 

9:57 pm- Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject. 

Jan 23 

Arrest

Jeremy Michael Luster arrested for unlawful use of license driving when privilege to do so has been suspended or revoked.

WELFARE 

3:45 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult. 

SHOTS FIRED 

3:46 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired.  

GRAFFITI

8:00 am – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Lolita Ave in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

8:26 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

 THREATS

10:49 am – – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon in reference to threats.

BATTERY

2:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Richardson in reference to battery.

4:28 pm- – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn in reference to battery.

SUSPICIOUS

4:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Bullock in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

WELFARE

6:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 1st in reference to in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

7:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Runyan in reference to physical domestic.

10:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 2nd St in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

7:49 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Main St in reference to a motor vehicle accident.