By Phaedra Haywood, The Santa Fe New Mexican Jul. 4--The New Mexico Department of Energy Minerals and Natural Resources wants to extend the state moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin at least six months to equip enforcement regulations with more teeth. When Gov.

By STACI MATLOCK STATE OIL CONSERVATION COMMISSION A state district judge has upheld the state's move to tighten regulations on surface waste disposal from oil and gas operations over the protest of 16 companies.

By PHAEDRA HAYWOOD, PHOTO: LUCAS IAN COSHENET/THE (FARMINGTON) DAILY TIMES; ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDER USATINE Extracting oil and gas can take a toll on the land and water supply, despite pledges of environmentally sound practices How do you drill through a drinking water aquifer and extract oil from the earth below without polluting that water with oil -- and threatening public health? That's a question Galisteo Basin residents have been asking since last fall, when Tecton Energy announced plans to drill for a million barrels of light, sweet crude in the area.

By STACI MATLOCK Two agencies hold oil and gas firms accountable for protecting environment A Senate Finance Committee decision to cut funds and attorneys for the state Environment Department and the Oil Conservation Division prompted a flurry of concern and an angry post on the governor's blog.

By Staci Matlock, The Santa Fe New Mexican Feb. 6--A Senate Finance Committee decision to cut funds and attorneys for the state Environment Department and the Oil Conservation Division prompted a flurry of concern and an angry post on the governor's blog.