New Mexico's Otero Mesa is the largest and wildest grassland of its kind left in North America. At over 1.2 million acres in size, Otero Mesa is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, black tailed prairie dogs, mountain lions, coyotes, golden and bald eagles, 250 species of songbirds and many more species depend on this vast grassland oasis.

The Bureau of Land Management is moving forward with plans to open Otero Mesa up to oil and gas drilling. The BLM claims that only 5% of Otero Mesa will be drilled at a time. This is misleading, because over the course of an oil and gas field, all 100% of the area will be developed. The BLM's plan for drilling has weak protections for wildlife, grassland restoration and watersheds. The track record of the BLM indicates that they cannot drill this area in an environmentally sound manner, and that once the oil and gas is gone, so too will be America's largest and wildest grassland--and for what?

It is imperative that Senator Bingaman introduce legislation to permanently protect Otero Mesa from full scale oil and gas development. He has done so for the Valle Vidal, now it is time for him to do it for southern New Mexicans, Otero Mesa, and the rest of America's future generations.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I strongly urge you to stand up for New Mexican values by calling for a moratorium on drilling in America's wildest grassland, Otero Mesa, so that the USGS can complete a thorough study of the Salt Basin aquifer.

I want to thank you for your work to get the USGS to conduct a preliminary water study of the aquifer in Otero Mesa, but if oil and gas drilling moves forward, a USGS water study will not stop the drilling. This is why a moratorium is so critical right now.

Otero Mesa is home to over 1,000 native wildlife species, including the state's healthiest herd of pronghorn antelope, mule deer, black-tailed prairie dogs, golden and bald eagles, 250 species of song birds, and much more. Thousands of ancient archeological sites can be found in Otero Mesa.

Senator Bingaman, I am urging you to do whatever it takes to ensure that this national treasure in southern New Mexico is protected for future generations. Much like your work on the Valle Vidal, Otero Mesa is worth protecting, and perhaps even more so due to the fact there is no place on earth like it.

Please act on this today, Senator Bingaman. We do not have much time.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
October 02, 2006