Rio Grande Sierran Volume 58, Issue 2 News of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter: New Mexico & West Texas May/June 2020 Exploring, enjoying & protecting A pandemic planet Mona Blaber Although so much of our world has shut down, wildlife, water, air and climate never stop — and neither do the threats to them. See Page 8 for actions you can take from home to protect our health and our planet, and for resources we can all use as we navigate the challenges of the restrictions the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed. Mona Blaber Joe Parks Mary Katherine Ray Our endorsements for the New The count of Mexican wolves in the See tips for enjoying and exploring the Mexico primary are ready — make wild went up, but so did killing by outdoors safely — and seeing wildlife sure to vote by mail: Pages 6 and 7 Fish and Wildlife: Page 9 like this blue grosbeak: Page 12 EXPLORE, ENJOY AND PROTECT THE PLANET Inside: Rio Grande Chapter Non-Profit Org. BLM refuses to postpone May auctions Sierra Club U.S. Postage After allowing just a 10-day protest period, agency schedules thousands 1807 Second St., Unit 45 PAID of acres in Permian to be leased for oil and gas fracking. Page 3. Santa Fe, NM 87505 Albuquerque, NM Permit No. 612 Commission approves PNM coal exit Financing will allow transition funds for coal workers, lower rate for electric customers. Page 3 Gila National Forest plan falls short Groups are providing technical comments to improve first draft update since last management plan in 1986. Page 5. More: El Paso Group: City still resisting Lost Dog preservation: Page 9. Zero Waste, recycling tips: Page 10. Northern NM Group, forests: Page 10. Legislature updates: Page 11 Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Contacts riograndesierraclub.org facebook.com/nmsierraclub Twitter: @riograndesierra instagram.com/riograndesierraclub Executive Committee Pajarito Group, 520 Navajo Road, Sierran Editor: Mona Blaber, 505- Wilderness BLM Subteam: Tom Los Alamos, NM, 87544. Chair: Jody 660-5905, [email protected] Gorman, Miya King-Flaherty Mary Hotvedt, chair Benson, [email protected], 505- Web Editor: Ellen Loehman, Rio Grande Water Fund: Teresa [email protected] 662-4782. [email protected], 505-328-2954 Seamster Susan Martin, vice chair, 505-670- Southern New Mexico Group, P.O. Elections: Mona Blaber, John National Water Sentinels: Teresa 3279, [email protected] Box 735, Mesilla, NM, 88046; Chair: Buchser, Claire McKnight Seamster, Shannon Romeling Laurence Gibson, secretary, Howie Dash, [email protected], Nominating: Mary Hotvedt, Michael Cover banner photo of Fajada 915-309-5419, [email protected] 575-652-7550. Di Rosa, Ken Hughes Butte by Jim Klukkert Ray Shortridge, 505-604-3908 Outings Finance: Chair: Ray Shortridge, 505- John Buchser, jbuchser@ 604-3908; Members: Brintha Nathan, Chapter outings chair: Terry Owen, comcast.net, 505-820-0201 Howie Dash, Claire McKnight, Connie ‘Rio Grande [email protected], 505-301-4349 Huffmire Karl Braithwaite, 505-850-3369, Central New Mexico: Terry Owen [email protected] Friends and Funds: Louise Jensen Sierran’ publication El Paso: Laurence Gibson, lgibson@ Members: John Buchser, David Coss, Derrick Toledo, derrick.toledo@ utep.edu information gmail.com, 505-401-7932 Mark Rudd Northern New Mexico: Alan Legal: Richard Barish, 505-232-3013, The Rio Grande Sierran is published Dale Doremus, [email protected], Shapiro, [email protected] 505-795-5987 [email protected] four times a year, in January, April, Southern New Mexico: Howie Legislative: Co-chairs: Patricia Car- July and October, by the Rio Grande Shannon Romeling, 575-758-3874, Dash, [email protected], 575-652- [email protected] dona, 505-469-3230, Chapter of the Sierra Club as a benefit 7550 [email protected]; Diane Reese, Central New Mexico for members in New Mexico and West Inspiring Connections Outdoors: Melinda Smith, [email protected], 505- Group representative: reesedianem@ Texas. The opinions expressed in signed Santa Fe: Raymond Greenwell, 515-7284 gmail.com articles in the Sierran are the opinions of [email protected], 516-312-5751 Personnel: Chair: John Buchser. Ken Hughes, Northern New Mexico El Paso: Ted Mertig, 915-852-3011, the writers and not necessarily those of Members: Mary Hotvedt, Laurence the Sierra Club. Products and services Group representative: (505) 474-0550,, [email protected] Gibson, Fred Houdek [email protected] Military Outdoors Program: advertised in the Sierran are not necessar- Political Committee: Chair: Rich- ily endorsed by Sierra Club. Jody Benson, Pajarito Group rep- Terry Owen ard Barish, richard.barish@gmail. Contributions are welcome. Send resentative, [email protected], Excursiones a la Naturaleza: com, 505-232-3013. Pajarito Group: 505-662-4782 Cecilia Chávez Beltrán, cecilia.chavez. them to riogrande.chapter@sierraclub. Jody Benson; Central Group: Ray org. Submissions by Rio Grande Chapter Kurt Anderson, Southern New Mex- [email protected] Shortridge; Southern Group: Dan members will take precedence. Articles ico Group representative, 575-646- Lorimier; El Paso Group: Laurence Action Teams chosen to be published are subject to 1032, [email protected] Bosque Action Team: Richard Gibson; Northern New Mexico Group: editing. El Paso Group representative: Open Barish, [email protected], Ken Hughes. Members: Susan Martin, 505-232-3013. Mary Hotvedt; Patricia Cardona, Kurt Letters to the editor may be up to 400 Treasurer: Connie Huffmire, 505- words, subject to editing, and are printed 382-5769 Bag-Free Team: Jody Benson, Anderson. [email protected], 505-662-4782 Trade Issues: Chair: Richard Barish at the discretion of the editorial board. Political Compliance Officer: Editorial practices as developed and Offices and Staff Conservation Issues Richard Barish adopted by the chapter will be used in Albuquerque office Conservation Chair: Karl Sierra Student Coalition: El Paso: production of the Sierran. 2215 Lead Ave. SE, Albuquerque, Braithwaite, 505-850-3369, karl@ Neysa Hardin, [email protected]; 87106, 505-243-7767 braith.net Albuquerque/UNM: Keely Scheffler, Join the Sierra Club Camilla Feibelman, Rio Grande Energy/Climate Change: [email protected], 303-217-1943 You can join the Sierra Club (your Chapter director, 505-715-8388, Chair: Karl Braithwaite membership is to both the national [email protected] Water: Dale Doremus Coalitions/Working Groups group and the Rio Grande Chapter) for Miya King-Flaherty, Our Wild New Dairy: Dan Lorimier, America Votes: Richard Barish, only $15! Just go to riograndesierra- Mexico organizing representative, [email protected] Chaco Coalition: Miya King-Flaherty, club.org/join or send a $15 check with 505-243-7767, Water Sentinels: Shannon Romeling Teresa Seamster your name, address and the code 1700 [email protected] Public Lands: Chair: Derrick Toledo Coalition for Clean Affordable in the memo line to: Nuclear-Waste Storage: Chair: Energy: Karl Braithwaite, Camilla Cecilia Chávez Beltrán, Sierra Club John Buchser Feibelman Excursiones a la Naturaleza, Attn: Member Services Wildlife: Chair: Mary Katherine Ray, Doña Ana County Coalition: [email protected], 2101 Webster St., #1300 505-243-7767 575-537-1095, [email protected] Howie Dash Four Corners: Miya King-Flaherty, Friends of the Rio Grande del Oakland, CA 94612 Roddy Hughes, Beyond Dirty Fuels [email protected] Norte: Eric Patterson Do you have a membership ques- Campaign senior campaign Methane: Camilla Feibelman, Otero Mesa Action Team: representative, (202) 271-5881 tion? Call 415-977-5653 or e-mail [email protected] Antoinette Reyes [email protected] [email protected]. Mining, Sand & Gravel: Allyson Valles Caldera Coalition: Scan the QR code below on your cell Northern New Mexico Office Siwik, [email protected] Teresa Seamster phone to join the Rio Grande Chapter 1807 Second St., Unit 45 Transportation: Chair: Ken Hughes. Nuclear-waste storage: Patricia Santa Fe, NM 87505 • 505-983-2703 Zero Waste: Central NM Group: Cardona, John Buchser using our online form. Mona Blaber, communications, 505- Carol Chamberland, Chihuahuan Desert Border 660-5905, [email protected] [email protected], Coalition: Antoinette Reyes, Kurt Claire McKnight, PAC treasurer, 646- 505-341-1027 Anderson 864-0209, [email protected] Activism Teams National Representatives Brintha Nathan, bookkeeper, 505- Communications Team: Chair: 310-0595, brinthÍ[email protected] Council of Club Leaders Delegate: Shannon Romeling. Members: Shannon Romeling. Alternate: Susan Southern New Mexico Laurence Gibson, John Buchser Martin Antoinette Reyes, Southern New Rio Grande Sierran Editorial Building Healthy Communities Mexico organizer, 575-342-1727, Board: Laurence Gibson, Ken Hughes, Team facilitator: Ken Hughes, 505- [email protected] Mary Katherine Ray, Jody Benson, 316-2278, [email protected] Western New Mexico David Coss, Shannon Romeling Sierra Club Wildlands and Sierra Club National 2101 Webster St., Suite 1300, Oak- land, CA, 94612. 415-977-5500 Local Groups Central New Mexico Group, 2215 Lead Ave. SE, Albuquerque, 87106 Chair: Diane Reese, reesedianem@ gmail.com. El Paso Group, P.O. Box 9191, El Paso, TX 79995, Chair: Laurence Gibson, [email protected], 915-309- 5419. Northern New Mexico Group, 1807 Second St., Unit 45, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 505-983-2703, Chair: John Buchser, [email protected], (505) go.sunpower.com/partner/sierra-club/rio-grande/ 820-0201. 2 Rio Grande Sierran May/June 2020 San Juan coal exit, relief funds OK’d By Mona Blaber proposal to delay approval of Chapter communications a full replacement scenario to allow a bid by Enchant, the he New Mexico corporation that will attempt Public Regulation Commission on to keep burning coal at San April 1 unanimously Juan and capture some of the approved Public Service CO2 to either sell for enhanced T oil recovery or sequester. Company of New Mexico’s request to exit the coal-fired The commissioners’ decision San Juan Generating Station to allow PNM to exit San Juan and use low-interest bonds to Generating Station and to finance the stranded costs of finance the exit using low-rate the plant.