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Tribal Leaders Take Aim At Oil And Gas Development

BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) — Tribal leaders from throughout New Mexico are taking aim at oil and gas development — this time spurred by a proposed ordinance that would regulate drilling across hundreds of square miles of one sparsely-populated county.

Sandoval County, home to a dozen tribal nations, currently doesn't have any rules for the industry. The commission has been working for the last two years to craft regulations that would apply to drilling in unincorporated areas.

After a contentious meeting last week, a final vote is set for January.

Tribal leaders have joined with environmentalists to voice their frustrations.

The opposition comes as tribes around the U.S. organize around land-use issues, from a pipeline in North Dakota and a disputed national park designation in Utah to a battle over cultural sites in New Mexico.