About 100 Inspectors Monitor 100,000 New Mexico Wells

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The number of oil and gas wells is steadily increasing in New Mexico but there are still fewer than 100 state and federal inspectors to watch over them.

The Bureau of Land Management and the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division oversee about 100,000 wells and both say their inspectors do a good job.

But activists say letting regulators just say "trust us" isn't enough. Some government entities apparently agree, with Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties restricting drilling and Las Cruces recently passing a total ban.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that inspectors are lucky to get to each well every three years.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.