A Colorado company plans to build a 140-mile pipeline across northwestern New Mexico that would be capable of carrying 50,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
The Bureau of Land Management is considering whether to permit the project by Saddle Butte Pipeline LLC. A public meeting was set for Thursday evening in Lybrook, but it could be early next year before the agency makes a final decision.
Industry experts say the San Juan Basin — an area along the New Mexico-Colorado border known for its natural gas deposits — is on the verge of a shale-oil boom. They say a new pipeline would ensure the oil gets to market.
Environmental groups are accusing federal regulators of fast-tracking the pipeline without considering how best to manage the impending boom.
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