Water Resources, Oil & Gas Well Inspections, Whole Foods Language policy

This week, NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS continues its multi-part series “New Mexico’s Drought Crisis,” with a conversation about water resources. UNM professor and director of the school’s Water Resources Program, Bruce Thomson, sits down with John D’Antonio, former state engineer and current deputy district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Albuquerque. The pair talks about efforts to conserve water use, as well as trends in the transfer of water rights.

The Line opinion panel looks at the fallout from the now-shelved annual permit program for inspection of oil and gas wells in New Mexico. Under the “E-Vacant” program, requests for electrical inspections at wells in southeastern New Mexico were set aside and well operations, okayed. Now, an Albuquerque Journal report says 85% of the wells – a number well into the hundreds – failed follow-up inspections.

The Line also examines the about-face from Whole Foods on their language policy for employees. The issue came to light after two employees claimed – and the grocer disputes – that they were fired for speaking Spanish.

The group also looks at the recent scrutiny of Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry’s “Rio Grande Vision” project.

GUESTS:
John D’Antonio, Deputy District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque
Bruce M. Thomson, Director, UNM Water Resources Program

LINE PANELISTS:
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
Christopher Sanchez, The Waite Company
Laura Sanchez, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce
Steve Terrell, The Santa Fe New Mexican

CORRESPONDENT:
Gwyneth Doland

HOST/COMMENTATOR:
Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Matt Grubs. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation. Subscribe to the New Mexico in Focus Podcast on iTunes.

Episode 651 for air June 21, 2013