REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD, THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WELCOME BACK.

>>STEPHANIE: THANK YOU, LORENE.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.

>>LORENE: WELL YOU HAVE A MYSTERIOUS DIVISION OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND I FEEL IN A WAY, I'M DEDICATED TO LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO AND HOW MUCH MONEY YOUR OFFICE IS SAVING THE NEW MEXICO TAXPAYER.

BUT LET'S START WITH YOUR BACKGROUND A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I WAS A GREAT FAN OF YOU, YOU WERE FIVE YEARS IN THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE AND SOME OF YOUR ISSUES, GUN CONTROL, I REMEMBER YOU ADDRESSING A CROWD FULL OF PEOPLE CARRYING, OPEN CARRYING.

GUN CONTROL, EDUCATION, RAPE KIT PROCESSING AND OTHER WOMEN'S ISSUES, YOU WERE THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO BE LAND COMMISSIONER AND THE FIRST EDUCATOR, WHICH IS PERFECT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THE LAND COMMISSION DOES IS TO PROVIDE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS.

YOU HAVE LIVED IN MANY PLACES, GIVE US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU CHOSE TO RUN FOR LAND COMMISSIONER.

>>STEPHANIE: SO YES, IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU HERE ON YOUR PROGRAM AND WE, AS WELL, ARE DEDICATED TO EDUCATING NEW MEXICANS AROUND THIS VERY IMPORTANT OFFICE.

SO YES, I AM THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS, I OVERSEE 13 MILLION ACRES OF NEW MEXICO'S PUBLIC STATE LANDS AND THOSE ARE LANDS THAT WERE DEEDED OVER TO THE STATE TO PAY FOR VERY IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS LIKE YOU MENTIONED, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND HOSPITALS.

MOST OF OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE BENEFICIARIES OF MY OFFICE, ALL OF OUR SPECIAL SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF HERE IN SANTA FE, SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND DOWN IN ALAMOGORDO, THE NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE, ALL OF THOSE ARE BENEFICIARIES AS WELL AS A HANDFUL OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND HOSPITALS.

I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE IT PAYS FOR EDUCATION, THE BULK OF THE MONEY THAT WE MAKE GOES TO K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE PED, PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND I THOUGHT WHAT BETTER PERSPECTIVE THAN SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE VALUE OF EVERY DIME, EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS RAISED FOR A CLASSROOM.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS TO A TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM.

>>LORENE: AND SO YOU WERE ELECTED IN 2018, AND I THINK PEOPLE GOT OVER IT PRETTY QUICKLY THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT TO HAVE A WOMAN IN THIS JOB.

>>STEPHANIE: I COULD TELL YOU SOME STORIES, IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING.

>>LORENE: REALLY?

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH.

>>LORENE: OH WELL.

WE WILL SAVE THAT FOR WHEN WE ARE OFF THE AIR.

I THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY IMPRESS UPON PEOPLE, AGAIN, YOU HAVE MENTIONED THE BENEFICIARIES AND HOW MUCH IS IN FUND, HOW BIG IS THAT FUND COMPARED TO THE PERMANENT, WELL, TALK ABOUT SOME BIG FUNDS THAT THE STATE CONTROLS.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT.

SO MY OFFICE'S REVENUE, THOSE ARE IN FLOWS INTO THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND.

>>LORENE: THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT IS THE MOST WELL-KNOWN OF ALL OF OUR FUNDS.

THERE IS THE SEVERANCE TAX FUND AND OTHER FUNDS.

BUT THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND IS RIGHT NOW, ITS WORTH IS $36 BILLION DOLLARS, REMEMBER WE ARE NOT TALKING IN MILLIONS ANYMORE.

AND IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ENDOWMENT FUNDS OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE BEGUN, THE VERY FIRST YEAR I WAS ELECTED, DESPITE ALL OF THE NAYSAYERS THAT SAID, "OH, THIS WOMAN IS GOING TO COME IN AND KILL ALL THE BUSINESS," WE HAD HISTORIC REVENUES TO THE TUNE OF A BILLION DOLLARS THAT FIRST YEAR.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DO THAT AND WE MAYBE ON TRACK THIS YEAR TO TOP OUT TWO BILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE LAND OFFICE JUST BUSINESS IS REALLY BOOMING FOR US.

SO THAT MONEY GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE PERMANENT FUND AND THEN IT IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE BENEFICIARIES.

NOW THOSE ARE VERY CRUCIAL PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT THEN THE TAXPAYERS DON'T HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR IT.

SO WE ESTIMATE WE ARE SAVING NEW MEXICO TAXPAYING FAMILIES ABOUT $1500 IN UNPAID TAXES A YEAR.

>>LORENE: AH.

YES, THAT IS WHY I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO RESPECT WHAT YOU DO AND YOU DO WELL FOR THE STATE, BUT YOU ALSO DO SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR THE STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE READ THAT YOU HAVE NOW ESTABLISHED A BAN ON THE USE OF FRESH WATER FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.

SO, HOW HAS THE INDUSTRY RESPONDED TO THAT, WE ARE IN A DROUGHT, TODAY AND THE WIND, NEW MEXICO IS BLOWING AWAY.

WE HAVE TO SAVE THAT POTABLE WATER FOR USES FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS NOT NECESSARILY FOR OIL AND GAS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT'S RIGHT, LORENE.

SO YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY WHEN THIS SHOW AIRS, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF WILDFIRE SEASON IN NEW MEXICO, MAYBE SOME OF THE EARLIEST WILDFIRES WE HAVE EVER SEEN AND DIRECTLY TIED TO WILDFIRES IS THIS NOTION OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.

WE ARE NOT ONLY IN A HISTORIC DROUGHT HERE IN OUR STATE, BUT THE DESERT SOUTHWEST, OUR CLIMATE, HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 100 YEARS, 50 YEARS, EVEN 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW SINCE I GREW UP IN NEW MEXICO.

AND IT WAS UNTHINKABLE TO ME WHEN I LEARNED THAT FRESH WATER, SO LIKE I HAVE A GLASS OF WATER IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, FRESH WATER, THAT IS DRINKABLE FOR AGRICULTURE, FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, WAS BEING USED IN FRACKING OPERATIONS.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, SO THERE IS TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS FOR USE OF THEY CALL IT RECYCLED WATER, PRODUCED WATER, WHERE RECYCLING CAN OCCUR AND THAT RECYCLED WATER THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, CAN BE REUSED IN WELLS.

AND SO ONCE I REALIZED THAT, I DISCOVERED IT, I HEARD HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF FRESH WATER WE BEING USED EVERY DAY.

>>LORENE: AND IRRETRIEVABLE.

>>STEPHANIE: AND IRRETRIEVABLE, IT BECOMES A WASTE PRODUCT AFTER THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DID IMPLEMENT A BAN ON THE USE OF FRESH WATER FOR OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS.

IT HAS BEEN A BUMPY ROAD, THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS WHO YOU KNOW THEY MAKE THEIR LIVING OFF OF SELLING FRESH WATER TO OIL AND GAS.

WHAT WE DID NOT BAN, WE STILL HAVE FRESH WATER EASEMENTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES, SO FOR HUMAN USE AND FOR AGRICULTURE.

WE ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, USING FRESH WATER FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

>>LORENE: WE HAVE TO BECAUSE WE EAT THAT FOOD.

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH.

EXACTLY.

>>LORENE: YEAH, WELL, I THINK PEOPLE KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THEY KNOW WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY THINK THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE SUDDENLY, AND EVEN IN THE OGALLALA AQUAFER IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER, YOU KNOW, AND TEXAS IS TAKING A STRAW FROM THEIR SIDE OF THE BORDER AND WE ARE GOING TO, WE COULD DEPLETE IT.

>>STEPHANIE: IT IS A FINITE RESOURCE, IT IS SCARE.

SOMETIMES THE RIGHT THING TO DO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE BOLD AND OUT FRONT AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN MY DECADE OF CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

SOMETIMES THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS NOT ALWAYS THE POPULAR THING TO DO.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

SO ANOTHER THING THAT IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND A PROJECT THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED WORLDWIDE FOR A WHILE, BUT YOU ARE HELPING IMPLEMENT IT HERE, IS WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

YOU WROTE AN EXQUISITE EDITORIAL, BUT TELL PEOPLE WHAT WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ARE, WHY WE NEED THEM AND THEN MAYBE YOU COULD JUST READ A TINY BIT OF THAT BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL.

>>STEPHANIE: THANK YOU, LORENE.

SO, YES.

IN 2019, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR'S ACT.

AND ESSENTIALLY, IT DIRECTED STATE AGENCIES TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN WHERE THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME BASE LEVEL RESEARCH AROUND MIGRATORY PATTERNS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.

SORT OF A FOCUS IN ON CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE WE WANTED TO DEVELOP SAFETY CORRIDORS FOR ANIMALS DURING THEIR BREEDING SEASONS, DURING THEIR MIGRATORY SEASONS, AND BECAUSE STATE LAND IS SITUATED SO GEOGRAPHICALLY SPREAD, IT MADE SENSE THAT WE WOULD BE A PARTNER IN THIS WORK.

AND SO, YES, I PENNED AN OP-ED ABOUT WILDLIFE CORRIDORS MEANING BEING LIFE OR DEATH FOR THESE SPECIES AND NOT JUST FOR INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS BUT FOR ENTIRE SPECIES AND FOR LIFETIMES OF SPECIES.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WORK THAT IS SIGNIFICANT NOT FOR TODAY, MAYBE NOT EVEN FOR OUR LIFETIME BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REALIZED BY THOSE WHO COME AFTER US.

SO THAT IS WHY THIS WORK MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF A LONG-TERM STRATEGY.

AND I DID WANT TO JUST GIVE A BRIEF SHOUT OUT TO RAY POWELL BECAUSE HE IS A FORMER COMMISSIONER, HE IS A VETERINARIAN, PROFOUND LOVE OF ANIMALS AND HE DID SEE THE WORK OF THE LAND OFFICE AS WHEN HE WAS COMMISSIONER, HE SAW THE WORK OF THE LAND OFFICE AS REALLY FOCUSING IN ON THE WELFARE OF WILD LIFE.

HE THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF THE RESOURCE, THAT WE ARE STEWARDING, IN OUR CAPACITY, THERE AT THE LAND OFFICE.

SO WE TOOK WHERE HE STARTED AND WENT ON FROM THERE.

>>LORENE: AND HE IS ONE OF THE FINEST NEW MEXICANS ALIVE NOW.

>>STEPHANIE: HE IS ONE OF THE FINEST NEW MEXICANS.

>>LORENE: HE IS REALLY WONDERFUL.

HE IS AN INSPIRATION TO ME, AND HIS WORK WITH JANE GOODALL IN "ROOTS AND SHOOTS" AND ALL OF THESE BENIGN THINGS.

BUT IT HAS WORKED INTERNATIONALLY, TOO, I THINK I WANT YOU TO READ THAT FIRST AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THESE WILD LIFE CORRIDORS MADE OF, HOW DO YOU BUILD THEM, HOW DO YOU DESIGN THEM?

BUT THIS IS SO LOVELY.

>>STEPHANIE: SO THE PIECE I REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE LIKE I WAS SAYING BEFORE, "AS NEW MEXICO'S COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS, I AM MANDATED BY OUR STATE'S CONSTITUTION TO BE A STEWARD OF STATE TRUST LAND.

AND ASSURE THAT RESOURCE AND THE PROTECTION OF THAT RESOURCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

NOW SOME MAY SAY PRIORITIZING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS SHOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO NEW POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES, BUT THE WAY I SEE IT, WILDLIFE PROTECTION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ANY SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN."

SO FOR US AT THE LAND OFFICE, WE STEWARD THIS RESOURCE, WE CAN'T STEWARD THE LAND WITHOUT STEWARDING THE WATER, WITHOUT STEWARDING THE WILDLIFE, ALL OF THOSE ARE VERY INTRICATELY TIED TOGETHER.

AND SO THAT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY.

>>LORENE: SO THE PICTURES THAT I HAVE SEEN, SAY IN EUROPE, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF THIS IN EUROPE, AND HARRISON FORD USED TO BE THE FACE OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THERE ARE NOT SO MANY, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN SO MANY HERE, WE HAVE A FEW.

BUT THEY OFTEN WILL HAVE SOME AUTOBAHN OR SOME HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC ARTERIES, SAY IN GERMANY, AND THEN THEY WILL BUILD, IN EFFECT, A BRIDGE MADE OF EARTH OVER THIS THING AND PLANT SOME TREES ON IT AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE ITS CONTIGUOUS WITH ONE SIDE AND THEN THE OTHER.

AND SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO HERE, IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE THAT?

>>STEPHANIE: SO IT IS NOT QUITE SO NATURE ORIENTED.

WHERE I HAVE SEEN IT BUILT OUT AND THIS IS ALONG THE 550 ON THE WAY TO CUBA, NEW MEXICO.

THEY HAVE GOT SOME WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCING UP AND THEN SOME CROSSINGS THERE, THERE IS A LOT OF SIGNAGE, THERE ARE LIGHTS THAT ARE DIRECTING MOTORISTS TO SLOW DOWN THAT THEY ARE COMING UP TO A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AREA.

THERE ARE CROSSINGS THAT GO UP AND OVER BRIDGES THAT GO UP AND OVER AND SORT OF, I THINK THE IDEA IS TO CHANNEL THE WILDLIFE INTO CROSSING AT A PARTICULAR LOCATION.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>STEPHANIE: THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS WORK AND THE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ACT IS THAT WE HAVE GOT SO MANY MULTI-JURISDICTIONS.

SO MIGRATION PATTERNS DON'T FOLLOW STATE BORDERS, THEY DON'T FOLLOW COUNTRY BOUNDARIES YOU KNOW AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS LIKE SAY IN COLORADO, IN ARIZONA, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MIGRATION OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS FROM ANIMALS THAT CROSS STATE BOUNDARIES ARE CARED FOR ON BOTH SIDE OF THE STATES.

>>LORENE: UM, I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

WELL, AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS ANOTHER REALLY BIG FACTOR HERE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE VEGETATION THAT... >>STEPHANIE: THE HABITAT.

>>LORENE: HERBIVORES MIGHT BE EATING MIGHT NO LONGER THRIVE WHEN THEY HAVE GOT TO GO FIND FOOD AND YOU KNOW TAKE CARE OF HERDS.

IT IS REALLY INTRIGUING TO ME, THANK YOU.

WE ARE TALKING TODAY WITH STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD OUR LAND COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU STEWARD NOT JUST THE LAND BUT THE RESOURCES AND WATER, VEGETATION AND THE ANIMALS.

HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE LIKE MAYBE THEY WANT TO GO LOOK AT A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR?

>>STEPHANIE: YES, SO ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING IS ON OUR WEBSITE, NMSTATELANDS.ORG.

BUT THE DOT IS ACTUALLY THE STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTION PLAN.

AND SO I AM SURE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW THOSE FOLKS FOR MORE INFORMATION AROUND THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

>>LORENE: OH, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

ANOTHER WAY YOU STEWARD THE LAND THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, SINCE SUMMER IS COMING IS THAT YOU HAVE A MOTTO THAT STATE LANDS ARE OPEN FOR ADVENTURE AND THE PUBLIC LANDS ARE THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY.

>>STEPHANIE: THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

>>LORENE: SO THERE ARE SOME SITES THAT YOU REALLY LOVE THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT, SO TELL US ABOUT WHERE, IF EVER THE WIND STOPS, AND SPRING AND SUMMER COME, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO.

I MEAN A LOT OF THE VERY POPULAR PLACES WILL BE VERY CROWDED AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME STATE LANDS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE OFF THE BEATEN PATH AND HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

>>STEPHANIE: SO BEFORE I TALK ABOUT MY FAVORITE PARCELS OF STATE LAND FOR RECREATION, I JUST DO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR MILLIONS OF ACRES ARE OPEN FOR RECREATION, BUT YOU DO NEED TO APPLY FOR A REC ACCESS PASS.

NOW THAT IS ONLY $35 FOR A YEAR LONG PASS STATEWIDE AND YOU CAN TAKE UP TO 10 OF YOUR CLOSEST FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH YOU ON THIS ONE PASS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE WAY NEW MEXICANS RECREATE, YOU KNOW, YOU BRING YOURTIOS AND TIAS AND YOUR COUSINS, AND EVERYONE COMES TOGETHER, BUT THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE.

SO FOR ME, OBVIOUSLY, I GREW UP IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE IN THE GILA WILDERNESS AND SO THERE IS A GORGEOUS PARCEL OF LAND AT THE GILA BOX.

WE HAVE JUST WORKED ON ACCESS DOWN TO THAT AREA FROM THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCLINE THERE, WE DO WANT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE, NO MATTER THE CAPABILITY OF OUR RECREATIONALISTS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN GET DOWN TO THE RIVER AND WE HAVE PUT UP NEW SIGNAGE THERE AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH OUR FELLOW LAND MANAGERS IN THAT AREA TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT AND INCLUDE THE GILA BOX FOR FOLKS.

SO THAT IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES.

IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE, WE DO HAVE SOME RECREATION RIGHT ON THE CANADIAN RIVER, CANYON IS APPARENTLY A WORLD PREMIERE SPOT FOR BOULDERING IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT ACTIVITY.

>>LORENE: I AM ACTUALLY FROM BOULDER, BOULDER, COLORADO.

OKAY, YEAH.

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH SO THAT IS IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE STATE THERE, THAT'S ANOTHER NICE LOCATION.

>>LORENE: AH, GOOD.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I WAS ASTONISHED AND DELIGHTED TO FIND YOU AND THE STATE LAND OFFICE ARE MOVING INTO ONE OF OUR MOST NEEDED AREAS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HONEST TO GOODNESS I WAS SO SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED.

SO, TELL ME WHAT LUMINARIA IS, OH, THESE ARE THE STATISTICS THAT ROCKED ME BACK ON MY HEELS, RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS, NEW MEXICO IS 39TH IN THE COUNTRY IN THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OVER 65.

BY 2030, THE CENSUS PEOPLE PREDICT THAT NEW MEXICO WILL BE THE FOURTH, IN THE COUNTRY, FOR GOLDEN OLDIES, AND HERE COMES THE LAND COMMISSION WITH A WAY TO START WORKING ON SOLVING THAT PROBLEM, TELL US ABOUT IT.

>>STEPHANIE: YOU KNOW WE ARE DIVERSIFYING THE WAY THAT WE MAKE MONEY AT THE LAND OFFICE.

KNOWING THAT THE BILLIONS WE ARE REALIZING RIGHT NOW FROM FOSSIL FUELS WON'T BE THERE FOREVER, WE DO NEED OTHER WAYS TO BRING MONEY IN.

AND WHEN WE CAN SOLVE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM AND MAKE MONEY FOR OUR BENEFICIARIES AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS A WIN, WIN FOR US.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME PARCELS OF LAND UP IN THE EAST SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE, ON EAST CENTRAL, AND WE PARTNERED WITH GREATER ALBUQUERQUE HOUSING PROJECT, THE NEW MEXICO MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY, WHICH I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, TO CREATE A FINANCING MECHANISM TO BUILD 92 HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS.

THESE ARE FOR FOLKS 55 AND OLDER AND THE BEST PART IS THEY ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THESE ARE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ON YOU KNOW SOCIAL SECURITY, LIMITED INCOME.

WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING IN GENERAL, ACCESS TO HOUSING IN NEW MEXICO IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS A SOLUTION, BUT IN PARTICULAR FOLKS THAT ARE ON THOSE LIMITED INCOMES, LIKE SENIORS, IT REALLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

SO WE WERE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, IT WAS A GRAND PARTNERSHIP, THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE PARTNERSHIP CALLED IT A TAPESTRY BECAUSE SO MANY AGENCIES AND FUNDING MECHANISMS HAD TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS ACTUALLY OUR LESSEE FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND SO WHERE WE CAN USE STATE LAND, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS, WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>>LORENE: I GOT TO SHIFT INTO TURBO NOW REAL QUICK.

YOU SET UP THE FIRST EVER FULL-TIME POSITION IN YOUR OFFICE, THE OFFICE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SO YOU HAVE SOME PRETTY IDEALISTIC GOALS, SO, YOU ARE GOING TO PUT MORE RENEWABLES ON STATE LANDS, TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY AND THEN TELL ME, THE AMAZING THING YOU DID ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE PERMIAN BASIN IN EDDY COUNTY, WHO IS THE COMPANY THAT IS WORKING ON RENEWABLES?

>>STEPHANIE: OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL THE GOAL WE SET FOR OURSELVES WHEN WE CAME INTO THE LAND OFFICE, WE SAID, WELL LET'S START BY DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY WE HAVE ON STATE LAND, AND WE VERY QUICKLY BLEW THROUGH THAT INITIAL GOAL.

SO WE THOUGHT YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S REALLY SET OURSELVES A CHALLENGE, TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF MEGAWATTS JUST IN MY FIRST TERM ON STATE LAND.

WELL, I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT COME JUNE, WE WILL HAVE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF MEGAWATTS THAT ARE GENERATED ON YOUR PUBLIC LANDS, THIS IS SUSTAINABLE, RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THIS IS MONEY THAT IS GOING TO THOSE BENEFICIARIES LIKE I SAID, WIN, WIN AND ONE OF OUR MORE INTERESTING PROJECTS, YES, IS AN OIL AND GAS COMPANY THAT FOLKS KNOW WELL, CHEVRON, HAS ELECTED TO PUT UP A SOLAR ARRAY ON ONE OF THEIR OPERATIONS.

THEY KNOW THAT THE VALUE OF THOSE MEGAWATTS, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE AND MORE REASONABLY PRICED BY THE DAY AND SO IT JUST MADE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS SENSE FOR THEM TO SET UP A SOLAR ARRAY DOWN ON ONE OF THEIR OIL FIELDS DOWN IN THE SOUTH.

SO I WILL ACTUALLY BE HEADING DOWN THERE TO DO THE RIBBON CUTTING IN A FEW WEEKS.

>>LORENE: WELL, I TELL YOU, THE LAND OFFICE IS FULL OF SURPRISES.

QUICKLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT SOME CLEANING UP TO DO LITERALLY, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH METHANE FLARING, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE OUR METHANE FLARES FROM OUTER SPACE, SO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT AND SOME LINE CLEAN UP ISSUES?

>>STEPHANIE: YEAH THAT IS RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR DID COME IN WANTING TO IMPLEMENT THE MOST ROBUST METHANE CAPTURE RULEMAKING IN OUR REGION AND IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HER AGENCIES, BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES ON THAT RULEMAKING.

SO THOSE RULES, ONE OF THEM IS ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED THE OTHER ONE I AM NOT SURE IS IN ITS FINAL STAGE YET, BUT WHAT THOSE RULES SHOULD DO IS HELP TO CAPTURE A LOT OF THESE EMISSIONS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

NOT ONLY CAN YOU SEE THEM FROM SPACE THEY ARE POLLUTERS, BUT THEY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR FOLKS IN THAT VICINITY, SO WE DO NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON OUR METHANE EMISSION ISSUES.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE EPA IN SOME MINE CLEANUP AROUND THE CUBA AREA, NACIMIENTO MINE IS NOW A DEFUNCT MINE THAT ACTUALLY HAD SOME OF ITS TAILINGS WERE STOCKPILED ON STATE LAND.

SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP AS WELL AND WE ARE PARTNERING TO DO THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY, I WILL COME BACK VERY SOON WITH SOME GOOD NEWS AROUND THAT MINE CLEAN UP.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW.

THE LEGISLATURE KEEPS PUTTING IN THESE BILLS TO RAISE THE ROYALTY RATE THAT OIL AND GAS PAYS FROM 20 PERCENT, HAVE THEY RAISED IT?

BECAUSE TEXAS AND COLORADO, THEY MAKE THEIR OIL AND GAS PEOPLE PAY 25 PERCENT ROYALTY AND IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING THE SAME PRICE.

>>STEPHANIE: AT LEAST AT MARKET PRICE, RIGHT.

>>LORENE: ARE WE STILL 20 PERCENT?

>>STEPHANIE: IT IS STILL 20 PERCENT.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL YET BUT WE WILL COME AND MAYBE YOU CAN HELP TESTIFY AND GIVE THAT VERY ARGUMENT, THAT IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT THE MARKET RATE RIGHT NOW FOR OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IS TO PAY A 25 PERCENT ROYALTY.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>STEPHANIE: WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT.

>>LORENE: SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHOWS WITH MORE INFORMATION PER MINUTE THAN MOST SHOWS.

BUT WHAT DID I FORGET TO SAY, WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THE LAND OFFICE IS DOING, BUT WHAT DID I FORGET TO ASK YOU?

>>STEPHANIE: I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE TO REALLY SHOWCASE THE GREAT WORK THAT THE TEAM AT THE LAND OFFICE CHURNS OUT EVERY DAY.

I JUST REALLY WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT THAT IT IS NOT A SINGLE PERSON JOB, IN FACT, I JUST KIND OF STEER THE SHIP.

WE HAVE 170 VERY DEDICATED LAND OFFICE EMPLOYEES WHO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH A SHARED MISSION.

TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL KIDS OF NEW MEXICO, IT IS KIND OF LOVELY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT WHAT OUR JOB IS.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, LORENE AND I JUST WANTED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING AND WATCHING KNOW THAT.

>>LORENE: AND HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE, GIVE US YOUR WEBSITE AGAIN.

>>STEPHANIE: SO WE ARE AT WWW.NMSTATELANDS.ORG >>LORENE:AND THE DOT?

WWW.NMDOT.NM.GOV OR WWW.WILDLIFE.STATE.NM.US/ OR WWW.WILDLIFEACTIONPLAN OR WWW.NMDOTPROJECTS.ORG / WELL, WE'LL FIND THE DOT, BECAUSE I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

>>STEPHANIE: WELL, WE WILL HAVE TO INVITE YOU TO NEXT YEAR'S WILDLIFE CORRIDOR SUMMIT.

SO IT JUST OCCURRED, YUP.

AND SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY PUT ON BY THE WILDLIFE FEDERATION, THEY PUT THAT ON EVERY YEAR AND THE SUMMIT, YOU CAN GO BACK AND PROBABLY TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE, I GAVE THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS FOR IT THIS YEAR.

>>LORENE: NO DOUBT BASED ON WHAT, MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH THE WONDERFUL ENDING OF THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS SO INSPIRING TO ME.

BY THAT I MEAN YOUR EDITORIAL ABOUT WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

>>STEPHANIE: RIGHT.

THIS IS MY EDITORIAL.

"SO THIS WORK CAN'T BE DONE IN ISOLATION BECAUSE MIGRATING SPECIES DON'T RECOGNIZE STATE BORDERS, LAND MANAGERS AND ALL STATES NEED TO ADOPT SIMILAR PROTECTIONS FOR CORRIDORS.

I URGE MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT THAT RAISES A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, BUT IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO BUILD A RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE THAT DIVERSIFIES OUR ECONOMY AND LESSENS OUR RELIANCE ON EXTRACTION.

AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND UTILIZE THEM FOR HIKING, CLIMBING, BIKING, FISHING AND HUNTING.

AND WE CAN DO ALL OF THIS WHILE PROTECTING DISTINCT WILDLIFE CORRIDORS THAT ASSURE SAFE MIGRATION, ACCESS TO FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND MATES FOR ALL ANIMALS."

>>LORENE: VERY LOVELY, VERY LOVELY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS STATE LAND COMMISSIONER, STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD AND WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY, BUT I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

>>STEPHANIE: THANK YOU, LORENE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM