FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO In FOCUS, WILDFIRE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THE FEDERAL HELP OUR GOVERNOR IS REQUESTING AND WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO CONTROL THE CRISIS.

PLUS ... Samuel: WE UNDERSTAND THAT BOARDING SCHOOL POLICIES WERE, ALONG WITH OTHER AGGRESSIVE ASSIMILATIONIST POLICIES, WERE A PART OF THE FORMATION OF THE SETTLER STATES.

Gene: WHERE DOES NEW MEXICO FIT AFTER THE POPE'S APOLOGY TO CANADA FOR PAST ATROCITIES AT NATIVE BOARDING SCHOOLS.

NEW MEXICO In FOCUS STARTS NOW.

Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE'RE BARELY OVER A MONTH AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE IMPACTING KEY CONTESTS.

IN ABOUT 25 MINUTES, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE WHERE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

OUTDATED AND DEFICIENT.

THOSE ARE JUST TWO OF THE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE THE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS PROGRAM IN A REVIEW FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOW, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE TO PRIORITIZE TRIBAL NEEDS AND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE TAXPAYERS.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM NEW MEXICO'S NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE, MAGGIE HART STEBBINS.

IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS ASKS HER ABOUT THE RECENT $1.5 MILLION SETTLEMENT TO RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AT FORT WINGATE, THE FORMER ARMY INSTALLATION NEAR GALLUP.

BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE ONGOING AND SHOCKINGLY EARLY START TO THE FIRE SEASON.

CREWS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CALLED TO DOZENS OF FIRES WITH MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN GROWING OUT OF CONTROL.

THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED FOR A STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

LET'S GET TO THE LINE.

Gene: HELLO, WELCOME TO OUR LINE PANELISTS THIS WEEK.

WELCOME BACK TO FORMER STATE SENATORS DEDE FELDMAN AND DIANE SNYDER, BOTH.

AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ATTORNEY ED PEREA BACK WITH US, AS WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WILDFIRES BURNING ACROSS THE STATE.

WE GAVE YOU SOME CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE ON WHY THIS FIRE SEASON STARTED SO EARLY DURING "THE LONGEST SEASON - AN OUR LAND WILDFIRE SPECIAL” WHICH AIRED LAST WEEK.

NOW, SCIENTISTS HAVE EXPLAINED THAT INCREASED DROUGHT IS ONLY MAKING THESE FIRES WORSE.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAM HAS ALREADY ISSUED AN EMERGENCY ORDER SAYING 93% OF THE STATE IS CURRENTLY DEALING WITH SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

THE GOVERNOR AND STATE FOREST OFFICIALS ARE ASKING FOR MORE RESOURCE AND MORE FIRE CREWS.

ED, LET ME START WITH YOU.

IS THIS THE RIGHT MOVE AT THE RIGHT TIME?

Edmund: ABSOLUTELY.

ALL THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WE CAN GET TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THESE UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD FIRES, WILD FIRES, FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS IN THIS STATE, BUT I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

WE HAVE FIRES IN THE NORTH, WE HAVE FIRES IN THE SOUTH, AND IT'S CREATING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURES OUT THERE.

THERE APPARENTLY ARE ISSUES WITH THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO FIGHT THESE FIRES, SO THAT'S ANOTHER MANPOWER ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AND THE LONGER IT TAKES TO CONTROL ANY OF THESE FIRES, THE MORE DESTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION AND DESTRUCTION TO PRIVATE PROPERTY IT'LL CAUSE.

SO YEAH, THIS IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT MOVE.

I THINK IF IT'S THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD STEP, THAT'S GOOD, BUT WE NEED A LOT MORE EFFORT IN WHICH TO BRING PEOPLE IN, BRING RESOURCES IN, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL, WHETHER IT'S SHARING WITH OTHER STATES, IN ORDER TO GET THESE FIRES UNDER CONTROL.

WE ARE VERY EARLY IN THE SEASON, AND SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO GO.

SO THE MORE WE DO NOW, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE DOWN THE ROAD.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

SENATOR SNYDER, THE GOVERNOR REQUESTED 25 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OFFICERS TO HELP COORDINATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THAT'S A GOOD START FOR SURE.

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR MIND'S EYE OR IN YOUR VIEW THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD BE DOING AT THIS POINT?

Diane: WELL, I THINK SHE'S DOING WHAT SHE'S LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO.

THE LEGISLATURE -- AND I'M GOING TO DEFER TO SENATOR FELDMAN ON ALL THE DETAILS, BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH SEVERAL GOVERNORS ABOUT GETTING SOME CONTROL OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH.

I WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE WHERE NEW MEXICO FIT IN NATIONALLY, AND THERE'S A WONDERFUL STUDY.

THIS WAS FROM 2021.

AND THE TOP FIVE STATES DO NOT INCLUDE US.

IT'S CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, MONTANA, AND TEXAS.

NEW MEXICO IS 11th AT HAVING THE MOST WILDFIRES.

BUT THE THING THAT ABSOLUTELY STRUCK ME THE MOST IS THAT THROUGH THEIR STUDIES AND COLLECTION OF DATA, 85% OF THE FIRES ARE STARTED BY HUMAN BEINGS, OR CAN BE TIED TO AN ACTION OF SOME KIND, WHETHER IT'S A CAMPFIRE OR A CIGARETTE TOSSED.

THAT'S NOT ALL ARSON, IT'S UNINTENTIONAL FIRES STARTED BY HUMAN BEINGS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT SCARES ME TO DEATH.

I THINK ABOUT IT AND I GO, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO BE -- I MEAN, EVEN SMOKY THE BEAR, ALL THE -- SMOKY BEAR; PARDON ME.

NO "THE" IN SMOKY BEAR.

HOW MUCH MORE EDUCATION CAN WE DO TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION WHEN THEY GO INTO OUR STATE FORESTS OR OUR NATIONAL FORESTS.

THEY'RE TALKING AND PLAYING WITH EVERYBODY'S FUTURE.

AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEVASTATION OF HOMES AND LIVESTOCK AND FAMILIES.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THIS YEAR.

WE'VE ONLY LOST TWO DEAR, WONDERFUL OLDER PEOPLE.

BUT THAT'S JUST LUCKY THAT WE HAVEN'T LOST MORE BY ALL OF THE FIRES GOING ON.

Gene: I AGREE.

Diane: SO I GUESS THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, IS WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO STEP UP, DO THE EDUCATION, AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT 85% OF OUR FIRES ARE RELATED TO A HUMAN BEING'S ACTIONS.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT IN SOME WAY.

Gene: LET ME ASK SENATOR FELDMAN ABOUT HOW WE DO IT.

IS IT TIME FOR, OR MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT ON THE AIR ALREADY, A MAJOR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN?

I REALIZE APRIL KIND OF TOOK EVERYBODY A LITTLE OFF GUARD, AND THEY CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR THAT, BUT SHOULD THERE AT THIS POINT PERHAPS BE A BIG TV CAMPAIGN AROUND THE STATE, NEWSPAPERS, EVERYTHING?

WOULD THAT BE MONEY WELL SPENT?

Dede: YES, WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT, DEFINITELY.

I THINK THAT THE FOREST SERVICE ALREADY DOES THAT.

AS DIANE SAID, SMOKY BEAR IS OUT THERE, BUT NOT ENOUGH.

AND THE STATE FORESTER -- KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE BANS ON FIREWORKS, CIGARETTES, CAMPFIRES ON FOREST SERVICE LANDS, AND THE STATE FORESTER CAN ALSO BAN THOSE ACTIVITIES ON ANY NONMUNICIPAL LAND AND ON STATE LANDS.

SO THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT THEY ARE HONORED IN THE BREACH RATHER THAN -- AND ARE LARGELY UNENFORCED.

I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ENFORCE THOSE REGULATIONS.

AND THE FOREST SERVICE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO DO THAT.

THEY'RE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO FIELD THE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIGHT THE FIRES, WHICH ARE ALSO, JUST TO ED'S POINT, QUITE COSTLY.

QUITE, QUITE COSTLY.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE FIRES IN FIRE SUPPRESSION ALONE, AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT THE OTHER EXPENSES OF, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY RELIEF, INSURANCE PROTECTION, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING A FIRE AND IN ITS AFTERMATH.

Gene: ED, I WANT YOU TO PICK UP ON THAT.

IT SEEMS TO ME, AND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE, THIS IS NOT MY IDEA, WHY DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEAVE THIS UP TO STATES TO FIGHT THEIR OWN FIRES?

WHY DON'T WE HAVE A FEDERAL, I DON'T KNOW, NOT A TASK FORCE, BUT A FEDERAL SOMETHING THAT THEY COME IN AND ACTUALLY DO THIS?

WE PAY THEM GOOD TAX MONEY TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS, AND WHY DON'T THEY HAVE ALL THE PLANES, HAVE ALL THE FIRE SUPPRESSION STUFF AT THEIR DISPOSAL READY TO COME INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT FOR THE GOVERNORS TO FIGURE THIS OUT?

Edmund: YOU'RE RIGHT, GENE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTS IT ON THE STATES.

AND THERE IS SOME FEDERAL SUPPORT FROM TIME TO TIME.

Gene: BUT WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE THE LEAD?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHY ARE THEY IN A SUPPORT POSITION?

Edmund: AND THAT'S RIGHT, GENE.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS IN MANY CASES, THERE'S THE ARGUMENT.

WHAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT IS THE STATE'S?

AND I THINK SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE A DECISION WAS MADE, AND MAYBE THE STATES WANTED A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OVER HOW THEY DEAL WITH THEIR FIRE SITUATION.

BECAUSE IF YOU TURN OVER MORE CONTROL ON THIS ISSUE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEN WHEN IT COMES TO BURNS AND OTHER THINGS OF MANAGING THE FOREST LANDS, THAT MAY REMOVE SOME OF THE CONTROL FROM THE STATES.

SO THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A STEP BACK AND ALLOWED THE STATES TO DO IT.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A RESOURCE.

THEY DO HAVE THE RESOURCES.

AND, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT.

I KNOW THEY HAVE BECOME INVOLVED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAVE NOT BECOME MORE INVOLVED.

BUT THEY DO, AND THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED.

Gene: RIGHT.

SENATOR FELDMAN, PICK UP ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

Dede: I REALLY THINK THEY ARE TAKING THE LEAD.

THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEYOND ONE STATE'S CAPABILITY, AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE HOTSHOT CREWS DIRECTED INTO THOSE FIRE AREAS FROM OTHER STATES.

AND THAT'S THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, AND THAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THEY SET UP INCIDENT COMMAND CENTERS.

THERE WAS ONE SET UP RECENTLY IN JEMEZ FOR INFORMATION ON THE CERRO PELADO FIRE.

THEY CAME AND THEY GIVE THE LOCAL RESIDENTS INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE FIRE IS, WHERE IT SPREADS, WHERE THE EVACUATION ORDERS ARE.

AND SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OVER A THOUSAND FIREFIGHTERS NOW IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, AND MANY OF THEM ARE FROM OUT OF STATE, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE AGREEMENTS THAT THE FOREST SERVICE HAS IN ITS WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING TASK FORCES AND CREWS.

Gene: I'M CURIOUS, SENATOR SNYDER, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AS WELL.

I REALLY DON'T HEAR A LOT OF SENATORS, AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT OUR SENATORS UNDER THE BUS HERE, BUT WHEN FIRE SEASON ENDS, IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE THE DISCUSSION ENDS WITH IT.

YOU NEVER REALLY HEAR, LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS GETTING WORSE, HERE'S OUR PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR, HERE'S OUR PLAN FOR THE YEAR AFTER THAT.

AND I SAY PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE ISSUE ED BROUGHT UP EARLIER, WHICH IS MANPOWER, AND THESE FOLKS BEING PAID $15 AN HOUR TO RISK THEIR LIVES GOING FROM FIRE TO FIRE TO FIRE.

WHERE IS THE PUSH IN CONGRESS TO GET BETTER PAY, RECRUIT MORE FIREFIGHTERS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF?

AM I OFF HERE?

I JUST NEVER HEAR THAT DURING THE OFF FIRE SEASON.

Diane: NO, I THINK WE'RE VERY HUMAN IN THE SENSE THAT WE GO, OH, IT'S GONE, NOW WE CAN BREATHE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.

IN MY OPINION, WE'RE NOT PREPARING ENOUGH IN ADVANCE.

IN THE REPORT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE LEAST FIRES, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO ME, ARE DELAWARE, RHODE ISLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT AND CONNECTICUT.

AND THEY ALL HAVE FORESTS.

THEY ALL HAVE MORE WATER, OBVIOUSLY, AND MOISTURE THAN WE DO, BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE MUST BE SOME STATES THAT WE COULD LEARN SOME BEST PRACTICES FROM.

WHAT CAN NEW MEXICO DO?

AND I LOOK AT ALL THIS MONEY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND IF THERE WAS EVER GOING TO BE A TIME TO INVEST IN THE STAFF, THE EQUIPMENT -- AND I KNOW FROM WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE HOW HARD I FOUGHT TO GET EQUIPMENT, ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE.

FOREST PEOPLE COME OUT WAY BELOW THEM IN THE PRIORITIES.

AND I'M JUST GOING, YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE HERE, DO SOMETHING.

THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND INVEST IT IN WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.

Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

GO AHEAD, ED, REAL QUICK.

Edmund: THIS IS REALLY A POLITICAL ISSUE.

THERE'S THIS TUG OF WAR AS TO WHO TAKES THE LEAD, THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE PREVIOUS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, I'M THROWING IT ON THEM WITH SOME CRITICISM WITH HOW THE FIRES WERE BEING DEALT WITH IN CALIFORNIA, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AT THAT TIME WAS, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, YOU DEAL WITH IT, AND THEY SHOULDN'T PUT IT ON THE STATES.

SO IT'S A POLITICAL HOT POTATO, PARDON THE PUN, SO TO SPEAK WHEN IT COMES TO WHO ULTIMATELY TAKES CONTROL.

BUT THERE IS SOME SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT MORE OF IT AND HOW TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

Gene: ABSOLUTELY.

HEY, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT DISCUSSION.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE WITHOUT A LOT OF CLEAR SOLUTIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT FOR YOU THROUGH THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME.

WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH OUR LINE PANELISTS IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AHEAD OF THE JUNE PRIMARY.

Maggie: FORT WINGATE WAS USED FOR DECADES TO STORE MUNITIONS AND DESTROY OBSOLETE MUNITIONS, AND SO THERE WERE RELEASES OF CONTAMINATION INTO THE WATER, INTO THE SOIL, AND DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT.

Gene: POPE FRANCIS HAS APOLOGIZED TO CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S ROLE IN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS WHERE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WERE ABUSED AND THOUSANDS DIED.

THE POPE MADE THE APOLOGY AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS AFTER MEETINGS WITH AN INDIGENOUS DELEGATION THAT TRAVELED TO THE VATICAN FROM CANADA.

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS WERE RUN BY CHURCHES AND FUNDED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT FROM THE LATE 1800s WITH THE LAST ONE CLOSING IN 1996.

THE UNITED STATES HAS A SIMILAR HISTORY WITH BOARDING SCHOOLS, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE.

SO THIS WEEK, CORRESPONDENT ANTONIA GONZALES SPEAKS WITH MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOL HEALING COALITION ABOUT WHAT THE APOLOGY MEANS IN CONTEXT.

Antonia: SAMUEL AND JOANNIE, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO In FOCUS.

Joannie: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

Antonia: JOANNIE, START US OFF AND JUST TELL US, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD THAT POPE FRANCIS HAD APOLOGIZED TO CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S ROLE IN THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS?

Joannie: THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, ANTONIA.

YOU KNOW, FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT BROUGHT UP A LOT OF UNRESOLVED TRAUMA, THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE CONDUCTED AS A STUDENT CURRENTLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA PURSUING A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, AND ALSO MY WORK FOR THE NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOL HEALING COALITION BASED OUT OF MINNESOTA, AND ALSO IN DEEP REFLECTION OF MY PUEBLO/IRISH ROOTS HERE IN NEW MEXICO AND UNDERSTANDING THE DEEPLY ENTWINED AND VERY NUANCED WAYS IN WHICH CATHOLICISM HAS WOVEN ITSELF INTO OUR PUEBLO CULTURE.

I ALSO REFLECTED ON THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO DID NOT RETURN HOME, MAY HAVE HAD MIXED FEELINGS ON THE APOLOGY, WHETHER IT WAS ACCEPTED WHOLEHEARTEDLY OR THAT IT'S A GOOD START.

BUT PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT GOING BACK TO MY OWN PUEBLO AND CORE VALUES, FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES THAT WE PRACTICE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

Antonia: AND SAMUEL, YOUR THOUGHTS.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEARD POPE FRANCIS APOLOGIZED TO CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

Samuel: FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING OUR VOICE ON THIS SEGMENT RIGHT NOW, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORDS SHARED BY JOANNIE.

IT'S A COMPLICATED AND NUANCED SETTING, OF COURSE.

AS JOANNIE MENTIONS, VERY MUCH LOOKING AT IT AS AN IMPORTANT DIALOGUE STARTER.

AND I THINK NUMBER ONE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RECOGNITION OF THE HARMS DONE I THINK IS ALWAYS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

BUT AS WE KNOW AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH APOLOGIES AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MADE IN THE PAST, WE MUST KNOW THAT ACTIONS AND AN INTENTION TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT COULD CREATE A SYSTEMIC ENVIRONMENT OF OPPRESSION SUCH AS THE FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES, OF CANADA, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ISSUING AN APOLOGY, OF COURSE, I THINK IS IMPORTANT, AND IT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED THAT FOR MANY SURVIVORS, DESCENDANTS, FAMILIES, RELATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THIS, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME TO HEAR WORDS SUCH AS THESE.

SO THERE IS SOME HEALING POWER IN THAT, IN THE ABILITY TO TRANSFORM THOSE DEEP WOUNDS INTO A PLACE OF HOPE, OF GROWTH, OF HEALING.

THAT SAID, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ALSO A LOT THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OTHER CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS AND SETTLER NATION GOVERNMENTS CAN DO TO BE ABLE TO BACK UP THOSE WORDS OF APOLOGY, AND THE WORK OF THE HEALING COALITION HAS FOR YEARS BEEN VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THESE CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO INCREASE THE ACCESS OF BOARDING SCHOOL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS, THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO GENERATE SUCH HEALING POWER FOR RELATIVES THAT ARE LOOKING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR ANCESTORS, THEIR RELATIVES THAT IN SOME CASES ARE STILL LIVING.

THOSE DOCUMENTS OFTEN ARE SO POWERFUL FOR FAMILIES, FOR NATIONS TO BE ABLE TO MORE DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF DAMAGE, THE SCOPE OF THE IMPACTS WHICH ARE STILL ONGOING.

Antonia: AND JOANNIE, THE APOLOGY FROM POPE FRANCIS WAS TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHEN IT COMES TO NATIVE AMERICANS, ALASKA NATIVES, WHO WENT THROUGH BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEMS HERE, WHICH A LOT OF OUR STORIES MIRROR WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CANADA, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT NATIVE PEOPLE HERE WANT TO SEE FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

Joannie: THANK YOU.

I CAN'T AGREE MORE WITH MY BROTHER, SAM, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL THIS IS A GREAT STEP.

THERE'S SO MUCH MOMENTUM HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

AND MUCH LIKE OUR METIS, OUR INUIT, AND FIRST NATIONS RELATIVES IN CANADA, WE WANT AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AS WELL, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT EACH COMMUNITY AND THEIR RESPECTIVE EXPERIENCES ARE GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DEFINE AS REPARATIONS, WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE, BUT IN TERMS OF A CALL TO ACTION FOR RIGHT NOW, IN TAKING THOSE MEASURABLE STEPS, I THINK THAT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE FOR THE POPE TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL, TO SET FOOT ON OUR SOIL HERE ON TURTLE ISLAND AND TO BEGIN HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

Antonia: AND ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT, SAMUEL, ABOUT NOT ONLY JUST HERE, THE LOWER 48 TRIBES, BUT ALSO PEOPLE IN ALASKA, AS WELL, THAT YOU WORK WITH WHO HAVE SOME SIMILAR BOARDING SCHOOL STORIES?

Samuel: IT IS AN INESCAPABLE ENTANGLEMENT THAT IS CLEARLY THERE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY HELPFUL TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IS WHERE AND HOW THIS APOLOGY HAS COME TO BE.

IT DIDN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THE FINDINGS OF FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES WITH THE GROUND PENETRATING RADAR AND MAGNETOMETRY CEMETERY SURVEY RESULTS OF THE PAST YEAR, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HAD IN A VACUUM.

THEY HAVE NOT EMERGED AS A RANDOM SET OF OCCURRENCES.

AND FOLKS THAT ARE NOT AS AWARE OF THIS ONGOING WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON TURTLE ISLAND FOR MANY DECADES, MANY GENERATIONS OF TRUTH SEEKING, OF TRUTH TELLING, HAD A VERY CONSEQUENTIAL MOMENT WITH THE CANADIAN TRUTH IN RECONCILIATION COMMISSION IN THE EARLY 2000s.

AND SO CANADA IS IN SOME WAYS, SHAPE OR FORM A BIT FURTHER AHEAD THAN THE UNITED STATES.

AS IT RELATES TO THE WORK IN THE COALITION, WE HELPED TO WRITE BOTH HR5444 AND SENATE BILL 2907, THE TRUTH AND HEALING COMMISSION ON INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL POLICIES ACT.

AND WE ARE GENERATING A LOT OF INTEREST, DOING A LOT OF EDUCATION WORK AND ADVOCACY AROUND THE BILL, BUT THIS IS WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE CODIFIED INTO LAW AND NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Antonia: THERE IS A NATIONAL INVESTIGATION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES LED BY SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DEB HAALAND, AND THE COALITION IS TAKING PART IN THAT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNCOVER THESE DOCUMENTS, TO HAVE PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORIES?

AND IT IS TRAUMATIZING.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN INDIAN COUNTRY HAS BEEN IMPACTED, GENERATIONS, BY INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A HISTORY THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO, IT'S STILL IMPACTING OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT.

SO JOANNIE, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS INVESTIGATION TO UNCOVER DOCUMENTS, BUT ALSO JUST SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC?

Joannie: IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW, AS OF TODAY STILL, HOW MANY CHILDREN WENT MISSING WHILE AT FEDERAL INDIAN RUN BOARDING SCHOOLS.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MOMENTUM HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PUEBLO SISTER SECRETARY HAALAND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME REALLY GREAT STRIDES IN THIS AREA, AND TO CALL TO ACTION THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RECORDS, TO CHURCH RECORDS, TO RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVE AND OTHER LOCATIONS, AND ALSO TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE INTERGENERATIONAL IMPACTS OF TRAUMA THAT IT'S HAD ON COMMUNITIES.

AND WE'VE SEEN THESE RIPPLE EFFECTS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE TIME-LINE OF FEDERAL INDIAN LAW AND POLICY, AND LOOKING AT EDUCATION BEING ONE OF THOSE LONGSTANDING PIECES IN WHICH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE PUSH FOR ENGLISH-ONLY LITERACY, THE PUSH FOR THE CATHOLIC DENOMINATION WITHIN COMMUNITIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, TO BE THE WAY FORWARD.

AND NOW WE'RE IN A RACE WITH TIME TO SAVE OUR CULTURES AND LANGUAGES, TO HEAL OUR TRAUMA, TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES, AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS ALSO GENERATIONAL WORK.

IT'S THE PRAYERS OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO ARE NOT VERY FAR REMOVED, SIX OR SEVEN GENERATIONS BACK, WHO ATTENDED PLACES LIKE CARLISLE INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AND WHO DID NOT MAKE IT HOME.

AND THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED TRAUMA WHILE AT SCHOOL AND/OR THE LOSS OF THEIR PEERS, AND THEN RETURNING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TRYING TO REINTEGRATE THEMSELVES INTO PUEBLO CULTURE OR INDIGENOUS CULTURE IN GENERAL, WE SEE THOSE EFFECTS TODAY.

AND PARTICULARLY FAMILIES AT THE COMMUNAL LEVEL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NATION BUILDING, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW WE RECLAIM OUR CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE.

Antonia: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, SAMUEL AND JOANNIE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE POPE'S APOLOGY AND THE WORK OF THE COALITION.

THANK YOU.

Joannie: THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

Samuel: YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW.

Gene: WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

LOOKING AHEAD TO JUNE PRIMARY, THE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR IS TAKING A LOT OF THE HEADLINES RIGHT NOW BUT A RECENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT IS RAISING QUESTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS WELL.

STATE AUDITOR BRIAN COLON RECEIVED MORE THAN 150,000 FROM OUT-OF-STATE LAW FIRMS SUPPORTING HIS CAMPAIGN.

THE SPECULATION IS THESE DONATIONS COULD LEAD TO STATE CONTRACTS ON BIG CASES IF MR. COLON WERE TO BE ELECTED.

NOW, SENATOR SNYDER, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS.

SHOULD THIS BE CONCERNING TO VOTERS?

IS THIS INSIDE POLITICAL BASEBALL?

HOW BIG IS THIS IN YOUR VIEW?

Diane: I THINK FOR MOST VOTERS, THEY WEREN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK MOST PEOPLES' IMMEDIATE REACTION IS WHAT?

YOU'RE TAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE THEN AWARDING CONTRACTS TO?

BUT, IN READING ABOUT THIS, I GUESS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I CERTAINLY DON'T ADVOCATE THAT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT, THAT IT MAKES IT LEGITIMATE.

BUT I LOOKED UP -- I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND CENTERS FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY HAD A LIST.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPORT WAS FROM 2016 SO I DON'T KNOW IF NEW MEXICO HAS CHANGED ANY LAWS OR NOT.

MAYBE YOU ALL CAN HELP ME WITH THAT.

BUT THERE WERE ONLY 15 STATES THAT HAD ANY RESTRICTIONS LIKE THAT ON ATTORNEY GENERAL RACES.

ANY KIND OF RESTRICTIONS OF ANY KIND ON ATTORNEY GENERAL RACES.

NEW MEXICO WAS ONE OF THEM.

BUT, WHEN YOU READ ON INTO IT, YOU FOUND THAT IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS WHILE THEY ARE RUNNING, BEFORE, WHEN THEY ARE ELECTED, AND THEN AFTER A CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED.

THE ONLY RESTRICTION IS THEY MAY NOT ACCEPT NEGOTIATIONS -- MAY NOT ACCEPT DONATIONS DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS OF A CONTRACT.

WELL, IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN THE MONEY UP FRONT, THAT LITTLE CAVEAT IS WORTH NOTHING, IN MY OPINION.

THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT GOES, I UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY COMBINING WITH OTHER STATES AND YOU END UP -- I BELIEVE IT WAS NEW YORK CITY, WASHINGTON D.C.

SEEMED TO BE THE BASIS FOR MOST OF THESE OUT OF STATE BIG LAW FIRMS THAT NEW MEXICO IS CONTRACTED WITH.

Gene: HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT?

THAT IS INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

IT REALLY IS THESE BIG NEW YORK AND DC FIRMS.

Diane: AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT ONE CANDIDATE MR. COLON HAS ACCEPTED A NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT CONTRACT CURRENTLY OR IN THE PAST AND MR. TORREZ HAS NOT BUT HE HAS ACCEPTED IT FROM LOCAL FIRMS.

Gene: RIGHT.

Diane: I AM NOT SURE WHAT THAT SAYS EITHER BUT -- Gene: LET ME ASK SENATOR FELDMAN THAT VERY QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE THAT POINT THAT MR. TORREZ, THE OTHER DEMOCRAT IN THAT AG'S RACE HAS NOT TAKEN ANY MAJOR DONATIONS FROM OUT OF STATE BUT 32,000 FROM INSTATE.

DO YOU CUT A DIFFERENCE THERE, BETWEEN IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE WITH THESE DONATIONS?

Dede: NOT REALLY.

NOT REALLY, I THINK THAT IS PART OF A BIGGER PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE PROBLEM OF QUID PRO QUO MAKING A CONTRIBUTION AND THEN GETTING A CONTRACT.

WE DO -- WE HAVE VERY FEW LAWS THAT COVER THIS.

AND BECAUSE IT LOOKS ALMOST LIKE LEGALIZED BRIBERY, YOU KNOW.

WE DO HAVE ONE LAW THAT I WAS INVOLVED WITH AND THAT IS AT LEAST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BIDDING ON THE CONTRACT HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT THEY HAVE MADE A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU KNOW.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LEAST THEY COULD DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT DIANE IS RIGHT, I MEAN, THIS IS A TIME HONORED PRACTICE.

IT GOES BACK TO PATRICIA MADRID, TO UDAHL, TO EVERYONE AND WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERALS SAY IS THAT UNLESS THEY HAVE THE TOP NOTCH LAWYERS, THE TRIAL LAWYERS FROM OUT OF STATE, WHO ARE EXPERTS AT TAKING ON BIG PHARMA, TAKING ON THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, WE ARE LITTLE NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET VERY FAR WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING CONSUMERS.

SO, THIS HAS BEEN THE REASON IN THE PAST AND IT IS SOMEWHAT VALID.

I THINK THE WHOLE THING WOULD BE SETTLED IF ATTORNEY GENERALS LIKE OUR JUDGES WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PUBLIC FINANCING PROGRAM WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING BEHOLDING TO THEIR CONTRIBUTORS SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS ANOTHER SOLUTION.

Gene: THAT IS INTERESTING.

ED, LET ME READ YOU A QUOTE FROM A FELLOW YOU GUYS KNOW DAYMON ELY, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR FROM -- STATE REPRESENTATIVE, EXCUSE ME, FROM CORRALES.

HIS PROBLEM WITH THIS IS QUOTE, HE SAID, EXTENSIVE USE OF OUTSIDE LAWYERS HAS ERODED LEGAL EXPERTISE WITHIN THE AG'S OFFICE.

THE SECOND POINT I WANT YOU GUYS TO TOUCH, HE SAYS OUTSIDE FIRMS HAVE INCENTIVES TO SETTLE A CASE QUICKLY IN ORDER TO GET PAID QUICKLY.

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A DEAD END.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF IT ERODES EXPERTISE IN THE AG'S OFFICE.

YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

Edmund: I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS STATED FOR GOING EXTERNALLY IS BECAUSE WE LACK THE EXPERTISE HERE.

SO, YOU LOSE YOUR EXPERTISE BY NOT GIVING LOCALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THAT EXPERTISE.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN -- Gene: AND TO INTERRUPT, TO MAKE THE BIG DOUGH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN BECAUSE IT IS ALL GOING TO DALLAS AND CHICAGO AND NEW YORK.

Edmund: AND THAT GOES TO YOUR SECOND POINT, MOTIVATIONS, YOU ARE RIGHT.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE LOCAL AND YOU HAVE LOCAL MOTIVATIONS AND YOU HAVE INTEREST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT IF YOU'RE A NEW YORK FIRM OR AN LA FIRM, WELL, IT IS ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.

IT IS HOW YOU MAKE THE QUICKEST BUCK FOR YOUR FIRM AND IN MOST CASES GO TO SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT PHASE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET IN AND GET OUT FOR YOUR MAXIMUM BENEFIT.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THOSE ARE TWO VALID CONCERNS THAT WERE MADE BUT I THINK THIS IS A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

THIS IS THE WAY POLITICS ARE DONE THESE DAYS.

UNDER CITIZENS UNITED, UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISION OF 2010, IT OPENED UP THE AVENUES OF CONTRIBUTIONS ESPECIALLY WITH MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

I MEAN, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT BUT IS NOT A LOCAL PROBLEM.

IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS ALLOWED.

SO THE QUESTION REALLY IS IF YOU WANT TO PLAY BY THE RULES AND USE THE RULES TO OUR ADVANTAGE OR LOOK AT THIS FROM ANOTHER ANGLE.

RIGHT NOW ALL APPEARANCES ARE THAT THE CURRENT STATE AUDITOR, MR. COLON, IS PLAYING BY THE RULES AND THE OTHER SIDE YOU SAY, WELL, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEIR REASONING FOR NOT GETTING OUT OF STATE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE BUT IN FULL DISCLOSURE HERE, I WAS CANDIDATE FOR THE DA'S OFFICE IN 2016 AND MY CAMPAIGN WAS OUTSPENT 8 TO 1 BY MY OPPONENT, MR. TORREZ, HE AND RECEIVED HUGE FUNDS FROM SOROS.

IF YOU'RE THE LOCAL CANDIDATE AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS, YOU PROBABLY SAID, HEY WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS IN THIS?

HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE GETTING CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE LEGAL UNDER CITIZENS UNITED, YOU'RE SAYING, HEY, I AM PLAYING BY THE RULES.

SOMETIMES IT IS A DECISION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE, BUT THE STATE HAS ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.

UNTIL THERE IS A DECISION TO THE CONTRARY, THIS IS THE WAY THE POLITICAL GAME IS BEING PLAYED.

Gene: SENATOR SNYDER, YOU HAVE A POINT?

Diane: IT'S A CONCERN.

I WAS READING IN THE MOST RECENT SETTLEMENT WITH THE SOLAR COMPANY IN THE NEWS, WE HEAR, OH, SO AND SO, AG, AND THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO WON THIS LAWSUIT AND THIS IS AMOUNT OF MONEY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO NEW MEXICO.

WELL, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO WHEN IT GETS HERE?

AND AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING IS NOT A SINGLE NEW MEXICAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE CASE GOT ANY OF THE MONEY THAT CAME IN.

IT WAS -- IT CAME IN, WENT OUT TO THE BIG COMPANIES, LAW FIRMS.

IT WENT INTO THE STATE BUT -- AND OUR AG SIGNED A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD NOT TELL PEOPLE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED.

BUT THEY DID RESEARCH AND THEY CANNOT FIND ONE SINGLE NEW MEXICAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAWSUIT GETTING COMPENSATION FROM THE SETTLEMENT.

Gene: WE HAVE TO END IT THERE.

THAT IS INTERESTING.

I THINK THAT MAKES THE POINT THAT SENATOR FELDMAN MADE JUST A BIT AGO, PERHAPS WITH SOME REFORM ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY IS DOLED OUT, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE OUR AG'S FOLKS WITH HAT IN HAND ACROSS STATE BORDERS.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO OUR PANEL.

WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST OVER 10 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT OIL AND GAS LEASING OPENING UP ON PUBLIC LAND.

UP FIRST, THE LATEST ON A SETTLEMENT REGARDING POLLUTION AT THE FORT WINGATE DEPOT.

NEW MEXICO NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE, MAGGIE HART STEBBINS DISCUSSES THE SETTLEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS, AS WELL AS ANOTHER PAYOUT OVER THE GOLD KING MINE SPILL.

Laura: MAGGIE HART STEBBINS, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

Stebbins: IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

Laura: LET'S START WITH YOUR OFFICE.

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE NEW MEXICO NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE?

Stebbins: IN 2019, GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM APPOINTED ME TO BE NEW MEXICO'S NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE.

WHAT OUR OFFICE DOES IS WE SUE POLLUTERS.

WHEN THERE IS RELEASE OF SOME KIND OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE INTO NEW MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT PLAYS THE ROLE OF MAKING SURE THAT GETS CLEANED UP TO A HEALTH BASED STANDARD.

THEN THE OFFICE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE REACHES OUT TO THE PARTY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT RELEASE OF CONTAMINATION AND WE ASK FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE INJURY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

SO NATURAL RESOURCES, GROUNDWATER, SURFACE WATER, DRINKING WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, ANY PART OF THE NATURAL, YOU KNOW, BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS IN A PLACE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY COMPLIMENTARY AND PARTNER WITH THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT BUT OUR ROLE REALLY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW MEXICANS ARE COMPENSATED WHEN THEY HAVE SUFFERED A LOSS OF ACCESS TO THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES.

Laura: YOUR OFFICE ANNOUNCED A SETTLEMENT INVOLVING FORT WINGATE WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. ARMY.

FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH FORT WINGATE, IT IS A 15,000 ACRE DEPOT THAT THE ARMY STARTED USING IN THE 19TH CENTURY, USED THROUGH THE 90'S AND I GUESS IT IS STILL USED FOR MISSILE LAUNCHING ACTIVITIES.

SO, WHAT IS THE SETTLEMENT THAT YOUR OFFICE WAS WORKING THROUGH WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THE ZUNI TRIBE AND NAVAJO NATION?

Stebbins: FORT WINGATE WAS USED FOR DECADES TO STORE MUNITIONS AND DESTROY OBSOLETE MUNITIONS.

SO, THERE WERE RELEASES OF CONTAMINATION INTO THE WATER, INTO THE SOIL AND DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT.

AND SO IN 2008, MY PREDECESSOR, JIM BACA, WHEN HE WAS NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE, HE BEGAN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING A NATURAL RESOURCES DAMAGE CLAIM AGAINST THE ARMY.

SO THIS STARTED IN 2008 AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF WORK DONE TO EVALUATE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARMY, ACTUALLY, IT WAS A COOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT, TO EVALUATE WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND THEN WORK DONE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING THESE NATURAL RESOURCES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONDITION.

THAT IS OUR MISSION AT ONRT, TO BRING NATURAL RESOURCE BACK TO THE CONDITION THEY WERE IN BEFORE CONTAMINATION.

SO, THIS WORK BETWEEN 2008 AND 2012, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK DONE, AGAIN, THE ZUNI TRIBE, NAVAJO NATION, THE BIA, WAS ENGAGED IN THAT DECISION, WILDLIFE SERVICE AND FOREST SERVICE IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO COMPENSATE THE COMMUNITY AND BRING RESOURCES BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION.

IN 2012 THERE WAS A CONSENT DECREE THAT WAS AGREED UPON IN PRINCIPLE AND SO FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET ALL THE SIGNATURES, GET THAT FINALIZED.

THAT WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

SO THERE IS A 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, CLICK ON THE FORT WINGATE LINKS AND SEE WHAT THAT CONSENT DECREE IS AND IT INVOLVES A PAYMENT OF ABOUT 1.4 MILLION THAT WILL BE USED TO COMPENSATE PAST COSTS AND PAY FOR FUTURE RESTORATION PROJECTS.

Laura: SO, WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP DOCUMENT, THERE IS LIKE THINGS LIKE EXPLOSIVES, PERCHLORATE, NITRATE, PCB'S, PESTICIDES, LIKE ALL KINDS OF CONTAMINATION OUT THERE.

HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN CLEANED UP ALREADY AND HOW MUCH IS STILL LIKE A WORK IN PROGRESS?

Stebbins: I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS ON THAT.

ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, THEIR HAZARDOUS WASTE BUREAU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ELEMENT OF IT.

OUR PIECE IS SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT OF THAT.

Laura: SO THAT 1.4 MILLION THAT YOU MENTIONED, LIKE WHAT DOES THAT GO TOWARD?

BECAUSE WHEN I THINK OF LIKE THE SCALE OF THE POLLUTION OUT THERE, THAT DOESN'T, LIKE 1.4 MILLION DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ENOUGH TO CLEAN IT UP OR FIX IT.

WHAT DOES THAT 1.4 MILLION GO TOWARD?

Stebbins: I THINK THE 1.4 MILLION-DOLLARS, THERE IS ABOUT 1.2 MILLION THAT IS FOR FUTURE RESTORATION PROJECTS AND SO THAT CAN BE -- ANYTHING THAT BENEFITS WATER QUALITY, WATER AVAILABILITY, SO THAT CAN BE LIKE, FREE OUT OF SIGHT REMOVAL, CUTTING OFF CURRENT SOURCES OF POLLUTION THAT CONTINUE TO DEGRADE THE WATER QUALITY.

THERE IS ABOUT 120,000 FOR CULTURAL LOSSES AND SO, I THINK, WE WILL DEFER TO ZUNI TRIBE AND NAVAJO NATION TO DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT THAT MONEY TO BE USED AND THEN THERE IS PART OF THAT SETTLEMENT IS PAST ONRT COSTS OR ACTUALLY PAST TRUSTEE COSTS, ALL OF OUR CO-TRUSTEES HAVE INCURRED COSTS AND THEN THIS FUTURE COST OF PUTTING TOGETHER A RESTORATION PLAN.

Laura: WE HAVE TALKED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE PENTAGON HAD ADDED FORT WINGATE TO ITS LIST OF POSSIBLE LOCATIONS WHERE PFAS SUBSTANCES HAD BEEN RELEASED.

DID THE PENTAGON EVER COMPLETE THAT STUDY?

DO WE KNOW IF THERE IS PFAS OUT THERE AS PART OF THE CONTAMINATION?

Stebbins: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WE HAVE NOW REALLY COVERS KNOWN SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION OR KNOWN CONTAMINATION.

PFAS, YOU KNOW, AT LAST, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT DETERMINATION OF PFAS HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT PROCESS, BUT WE DO -- WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND PURSUE THAT SHOULD PFAS BE FOUND ON FORT WINGATE.

Laura: THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE I WAS READING IN THE SETTLEMENT THAT WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT SAID THAT PARTIES CAN'T SUE OVER CERTAIN THINGS SO IF THERE WERE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS, THE STATE CAN KIND OF -- Stebbins: THIS CONSENT DECREE REALLY COVERS THE CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE KNOWN AS OF RIGHT NOW.

Laura: OKAY.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD UNTIL MAY 2.

WE'LL PUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

YOUR OFFICE NEGOTIATED ANOTHER SETTLEMENT RECENTLY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOLD KING MINE.

Stebbins: I THINK MOST NEW MEXICANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE GOLD KING MINE RELEASE, SO IT WAS A RELEASE OF MANY MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF TOXIC CONTAMINANTS THAT WERE RELEASED OUTSIDE SILVERTON AND FLOWED DOWN INTO THE ANIMAS RIVER IN NEW MEXICO AND INTO THE SAN JUAN AND TURNED THE RIVERS A BRIGHT YELLOW COLOR.

SO, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST BOTH THE MINING DEFENDANTS, THEIR CONTRACTORS AND -- SORRY, MINING DEFENDANTS, EPA AND THEIR CONTRACTORS.

SO IN JANUARY OF 2021, THOSE PARTIES INCLUDING ONRT REACHED SETTLEMENT WITH THE MINING DEFENDANTS THAT BROUGHT 11 MILLION TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

ONE MILLION OF THAT WAS FOR NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES.

SO THAT CAME TO ONRT AND JUST TWO WEEKS AGO -- SO WE WENT THROUGH A WHOLE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FOUR CORNERS AREA.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MILLION DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED?

WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS THAT YOU FEEL WOULD COMPENSATE FOR THE INJURY TO NATURAL RESOURCES?

AND WE RECEIVED FOUR PROPOSALS.

WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO FUND THEM ALL SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED.

WE WENT THROUGH AGAIN PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ONCE WE HAD SELECTED THE PROJECTS AND ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE MOA'S WITH THE PROJECT PROPONENTS TO GET THOSE PROJECTS UNDERWAY.

SO, THAT IS VERY EXCITING.

Laura: WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS?

LIKE WHAT DO THEY INVOLVE?

Stebbins: WE'LL PARTNER WITH SAN JUAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT ON A BOAT RAMP THAT WILL HELP COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF ACCESS TO THE RIVER FOR THE OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY.

WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THE HOGBACK CHAPTER HOUSE TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH FARMINGTON, CITY OF FARMINGTON, ON A PAVILION THAT WILL PROVIDE BETTER CONDITIONS FOR THEIR FARMERS MARKET.

AGAIN LOOKING AT THE FARMERS, AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY WHICH REALLY WAS DAMAGED BY THAT RELEASE, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR FIELDS BUT ALSO THE STIGMA THAT CONTINUES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM THAT AREA.

AND THE FOURTH ONE WE ARE PARTNERING WITH SAN JUAN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ON A SOIL HEALTH PROJECT THAT WILL BOTH IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE A REAL BENEFIT FOR FARMERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING TO LOWER THEIR COSTS AND IMPROVE THEIR SOIL CONDITIONS.

SO, ALL FOUR OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE REALLY EXCITING AND I THINK WE ARE JUST REALLY EAGER TO GET STARTED.

Laura: THANKS MAGGIE HART STEBBINS FOR JOINING ME AND WATCHING OUT FOR NEW MEXICO'S NATURAL RESOURCES.

Stebbins: WELL, THANKS TO YOU.

Gene: LET'S WELCOME LINE OPINION PANELISTS ONE FINAL TIME TO TALK ABOUT OIL AND GAS LEASING OPENING BACK UP ON PUBLIC LAND.

LEASING PUBLIC LAND FOR EXTRACTION HAD BEEN PUT ON HOLD BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT AFTER 13 STATES FILED AN INJUNCTION TO END THAT MORATORIUM, A JUDGE SIDED WITH THOSE STATES.

NEW MEXICO IS NOT PART OF THE COMPLAINT BUT MORE THAN 520 ACRES IN OUR STATE ARE SET TO BE AUCTIONED OFF.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ALSO DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TO REVIEW THE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS PROGRAM.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST WITH A WIDE BRUSH OF ONLY 13 STATES REQUESTING A CHANGE, SENATOR FELDMAN, IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LETTING STATES LIKE NEW MEXICO DOWN HERE?

Dede: WELL, I THINK SO.

I THINK THAT THE PRESSURE TO DO SO WAS TREMENDOUS, HOWEVER.

AND SO THE COURT SETTLEMENT SAID THAT YOU HAD TO OPEN UP LEASING AGAIN AND WE, OF COURSE, ARE LUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CAVEAT THAT OIL AND GAS LEASING CANNOT BE DONE WITHIN A 10-MILE BUFFER ZONE SURROUNDING CHACO CANYON, BUT OIL AND GAS LEASING IS RESUMING MOST NOTABLY IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DRILLING WILL BEGIN, THOUGH.

I THINK THAT THE LANDS WILL JUST BE LOCKED UP SO THAT DRILLING CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE MARKET FAVORS IT.

OF COURSE, THE MARKET IS BEGINNING TO FAVOR IT.

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, ANY CONSERVATION EFFORTS, ANY PLAN FOR THAT AREA WILL BE STIMIED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN NOW BECAUSE THE LAND IS KIND OF LOCKED UP FOR THAT PURPOSE.

SO IN THAT SENSE, YEAH, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT IT IS RESUMING BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE TO DO SO.

Gene: JUST A QUICK NOTE, SENATOR FELDMAN WAS TALKING, ONE OF THE SITES IN CHAVES COUNTY BETWEEN ARTESIA AND ROSWELL, AND FOUR SITES IN LEA COUNTY FURTHER EAST OF THE TEXAS BORDER, AND 10 YEAR LEASES WILL BE ISSUED TO THE BIDDER.

SOME OF THE SPECIFICS IN THAT REVIEW FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, IT SAYS THE PROGRAM, QUOTE, FAILED TO PROVIDE A FAIR RETURN TO TAXPAYERS, INADEQUATELY ACCOUNTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS, FOSTERS SPECULATION BY OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AND LEAVES COMMUNITIES OUT OF IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

END QUOTE.

DESPITE ALL THAT, LEASING IS BACK ON.

AT WHAT POINT SHOULD ALL OF THIS BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION?

Edmund: THE MODERN VIEW IS, AND I DO UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THIS ARGUMENT, ON THE FRINGES, IS THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, EMISSIONS, OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND THE OIL INDUSTRY IS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE REGULATORY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH DRILLING WHICH HAS CAUSED SOME OF THEM TO STOP DRILLING.

OF COURSE, CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, NEED FOR GREATER OIL PRODUCTION HAS CREATED THIS NEED FOR MORE DRILLING.

SO, I GUESS, BOTH SIDES -- THE ISSUES ON BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE LOOKED AT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE MIDDLE GROUND IS LET'S CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE LEASES TO TAKE PLACE AND THE OPTION TO DRILL, BUT LET'S TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A REDUCTION OF THESE GREEN HOUSE GASES AND EMISSIONS CAUSED BY OIL USE AND DRILLING.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THEY HAVE A VALID POINT THAT WITH THESE LEASES, LOCKING UP THESE LANDS, THAT THOSE ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED.

OTHERWISE, WE ARE JUST TAKING A STEP BACK.

Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

SENATOR FELDMAN, WE HAVE TO BRING IT UP.

IT IS OUR OWN NEW MEXICO'S SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, DEB HAALAND, OF COURSE, SHE IS SPEAKING UP ON THIS TOO SAYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS OVERLOOKED THE PRIORITIES OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

AS ED MENTIONED, WHO SEE THE MOST CONSEQUENCES FROM POLLUTION.

AND MS. HAALAND SAID SHE IS READY TO START THOSE CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THOSE CONSEQUENCES OF DRILLING.

IS SHE RIGHT?

Diane: SHE IS RIGHT AND THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HELD AROUND THE STATE ON THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE LEASING WILL OCCUR.

THIS REPORT HAS GOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN IT THAT WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND WILL ALSO ADDRESS A VERY ANTIQUATED SYSTEM IN WHICH ROYALTIES IN NEW MEXICO LAGGED FAR BEHIND TEXAS AND OTHER STATES.

SO, IN THIS RESUMPTION OF DRILLING AND LEASING, RATHER, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE ROYALTIES PAID FROM 12.5% TO 18.75% WHICH BRINGS US UP TO OTHER STATES.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO WEIGH IN.

THEY NEED TO READ THAT REPORT IF THEY CAN AND TESTIFY.

I KNOW THERE IS ONE HEARING IN FARMINGTON, AND I ASSUME THERE ARE OTHERS AROUND THE STATE.

BECAUSE THESE ARE COMMUNITY IMPACTS, METHANE EMISSIONS, DISRUPTION OF THE LANDSCAPE ESSENTIALLY WITH ROADS AND WATER DEPLETION THAT HAPPEN AROUND THESE DRILLING SITES.

Gene: INTERESTING, KIND OF CHUCKLING, WE MENTIONED ROYALTY RATES.

THAT RATE WAS SET IN 1920.

I MEAN, IT IS LIKE, HOW DO WE GET THIS FAR TO THIS POINT WE ARE KIND OF GETTING TO THIS?

SENATOR SNYDER, THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR -- STAY WITH THAT FOR A SECOND.

GOING BACK TO THE CHACO CANYON POINT MADE BY SENATOR FELDMAN A SECOND AGO, THEY ARE TAKING COMMENTS ABOUT THE SITUATION PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL FROM CHACO CANYON PROTECTING SOME 350,000 ACRES OF FEDERAL LAND FROM FUTURE OIL AND GAS LEASING FOR A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS.

I AM INTERESTED IN THE SHAPE OF THAT CONVERSATION.

IT IS A CHERISHED PART OF OUR NEW MEXICO THING AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FLAT OUT DISGUSTED THAT IT IS EVEN UNDER DISCUSSION AT ALL, THAT IT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE.

SHOULD CHACO BE COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION?

Diane: PERSONALLY I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS, SERIOUS THOUGHT TO THAT BECAUSE IT IS JUST LIKE I AM VERY INTO LOOKING AT OLD HOMES AND PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WERE BUILT DURING REVOLUTIONARY WAR TIMES AND BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, HOW MANY ARE STILL LEFT, HOW MANY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

ONCE YOU DESTROY IT, YOU DON'T GET IT BACK.

SO, I THINK WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A TREASURE, AND TO ME THIS IS JUST NOT A NEW MEXICO TREASURE, THIS IS A NATIONAL TREASURE.

HOWEVER, I GREW UP IN AN OIL AND GAS FAMILY SO I TEND TO LEAN TOWARD THEM AND HAVE SUCH RESPECT FOR THEM.

THE THING FOR ME THAT COMES TO THIS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A MENTION OF IT THAT I HAVE SEEN IS THE BIGGER PICTURE.

LOOK AT WHAT RUSSIA IS DOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES, CUTTING OFF THEIR SUPPLIES, THE UNITED STATES IS BUYING OIL FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND YET WE ARE STOPPING THE DRILLING AND PURCHASING OF OIL AND GAS HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

Gene: ARE WE A NET POSITIVE EXPORTER OF OIL AT THIS POINT?

Diane: WE ARE NOT.

WE WERE.

AND THE THING THAT IT LEADS INTO IS THAT IS ALSO HOLDING SOME COUNTRIES BACK A LITTLE -- INCREASING THEIR CAUTIOUSNESS BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR OIL AND GAS, THEIR ENERGY FROM RUSSIA.

GERMANY GETS -- ANGELA MERKEL SIGNED -- AND I REMEMBER THIS WAS A DISCUSSION BETWEEN HER AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THAT THEY BOUGHT ALL THEIR ENERGY FROM RUSSIA.

WHEN YOUR PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON THAT, THAT DOES COLOR YOUR THINKING ABOUT TAKING ON THE BIG GUY.

THE SECOND THING IS WE PRODUCE LTG, LGN, LNG, WHICH IS LIQUID NATURAL GAS.

AND THAT CAN BE SHIPPED -- WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE UNDERGROUND PIPELINES.

WE CAN SHIP IT IN TANKERS TO EUROPE.

THE UNITED STATES COULD BE SUPPLYING OIL AND GAS AND ENERGY TO MOST OF EUROPE AT THIS TIME.

SO, IT IS NOT JUST HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

I MEAN YOU LOOK AT LOUISIANA, WESTERN LOUISIANA HAS SO MUCH OIL AND GAS COMING OUT OF THERE, SO, WHEN WE CHANGE WHAT OUR STATE IS DOING OR WHAT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS DOING, WE ARE IMPACTING THE WORLD.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

Diane: NOT JUST NEW MEXICO.

Gene: THANKS TO OUR LINE PANEL.

AS ALWAYS, GREAT SUBJECTS.

GREAT DISCUSSION THIS WEEK.

NOW BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE OUR LAND HOST, LAURA PASKUS, FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK SHE HAS DONE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS COVERING EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE RELATED TO WILDFIRES IN NEW MEXICO.

IT ALL CAME TOGETHER LAST FRIDAY NIGHT WITH THE LONGEST SEASON AND OUR LAND WILDFIRE SPECIAL.

IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH IT, SEE IT IN ITS ENTIRETY ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR TUNE IN NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 5 AT 7:00 P.M. FOR A REBROADCAST.

AS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW WE ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT FIREWORKS HERE IN LATE APRIL, MEANING THE LAST TWO WEEKS MAY HAVE BEEN JUST A PRELUDE.

WHAT WORRIES ME WHEN I HEAR THE WORD FIREWORKS IS OUR BOSQUE.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE FIRE IN THE BOSQUE THAT BURNED CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION OF MONTANO AND COORS.

IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, THE REMNANTS OF THE BURNED TREES ARE NOT 50 FEET SOUTH OFF THE ROAD.

THEY ARE A REMINDER THAT DANGER IN THE BOSQUE LURKS.

CAN WE GET IN FRONT OF THAT DANGER?

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE QUESTION AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, WE NEED AN ANSWER.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.