Office of Interstate Natural Gas Markets

NMSA 1978 ch. 70, art. 11

in effect

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-1 Purpose

70-11-1. Purpose The purpose of this act [70-11-1 to 70-11-6 NMSA 1978] is to protect the economic well-being of New Mexico's interstate natural gas markets and revenues derived from those markets by conducting economic and legal studies of the federal energy regulatory commission and regulatory agencies and local distributing companies lying outside New Mexico and by authorizing the newly created office of interstate natural gas markets to take steps to protect those interests. Laws 1989, ch. 189, § 1.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-2 Office created; duties

70-11-2. Office created; duties There is created the "office of interstate natural gas markets" to be located in the energy, minerals and natural resources department. The office shall: A. conduct economic and legal studies of the interstate natural gas markets, of the trade policies and practices of the federal energy regulatory commission and regulatory agencies and local distributing companies lying outside New Mexico; B. determine the impact of those practices on the economic well-being of New Mexico, especially as it relates to severance tax, royalty and general fund income of the state; C. develop and implement marketing strategies and, if applicable, prepare legislation to promote the use of natural gas produced in New Mexico by markets in other states; D. employ legal counsel and initiate or enter lawsuits as appropriate for the purpose of protecting and promoting the public interest in matters involving interstate natural gas markets; E. initiate or intervene in cases before the federal energy regulatory commission, the California public utility commission and other regulatory agencies lying outside New Mexico to protect and promote the public interest of the state; F. present two progress reports to the legislative finance committee each year; and G. contract with state agencies and other appropriate entities and persons as may be required to carry out the purposes of this act [70-11-1 to 70-11-6 NMSA 1978] and those purposes outlined in Laws 1988, Chapter 27, Section 3. Laws 1989, ch. 189, § 2.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-3 Director

70-11-3. Director There shall be a director for the office of interstate natural gas markets. The director shall be experienced in the areas of natural gas resources and marketing and may be the director of natural gas programs. Laws 1989, ch. 189, § 3.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-4 Duties and general powers

70-11-4. Duties and general powers The director is responsible for the operation of the office of interstate natural gas markets. It is the director's duty to manage all operations of the office and to administer and enforce the provisions of Section 2 [70-11-2 NMSA 1978] of this act and the purposes outlined in Laws 1988, Chapter 27, Section 3. Laws 1989, ch. 189, § 4.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-5 Technical advisory committee; composition; duties

70-11-5. Technical advisory committee; composition; duties A. A "technical advisory committee" to the office of interstate natural gas markets is created. The committee shall consist of four members as follows: (1) the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources or his designee; (2) the director of natural gas programs or his designee; (3) the commissioner of public lands or his designee; and (4) the director of the oil conservation division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department or his designee. B. The secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the director of natural gas and the commissioner of public lands shall be voting members. The director of the oil conservation division shall be an ex-officio advisory member of the committee. The committee shall select a chairman and meet at the call of the chairman. C. The committee shall review and make recommendations to the director on how the office of interstate natural gas markets can perform the duties assigned to the office in Section 2 [70-11-2 NMSA 1978] of this act. Laws 1989, ch. 189, § 5.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-7 Findings and purpose

70-11-7. Findings and purpose A. The legislature finds that: (1) the natural gas industry is an important contributor to the New Mexico economy, as a significant source of both employment and direct state revenues; (2) New Mexico ranks second among the states in onshore natural gas reserves and will likely continue to be a major producer of natural gas for the foreseeable future; (3) a study funded by Laws 1996, Chapter 7 concluded that an additional pipeline capable of transporting New Mexico natural gas to additional markets was, at that time, not economically feasible; and (4) the study should be updated on a regular basis and the results reported to the legislature. B. The purpose of this act is to provide a mechanism for monitoring the need for an additional natural gas pipeline in New Mexico. Laws 2003, ch. 196, § 1.

NMSA 1978, § 70-11-8 Natural gas pipeline study; additional duties

70-11-8. Natural gas pipeline study; additional duties A. The energy, minerals and natural resources department and the economic development department shall jointly study the need for additional natural gas pipelines to transport natural gas produced in New Mexico to additional markets. The study shall include: (1) the economic feasibility of the proposed pipeline; (2) the necessity of the proposed pipeline; and (3) alternatives to the proposed pipeline and the environmental or economic benefit of the alternatives. B. If, at any time, the study concludes that an additional natural gas pipeline is necessary, the energy, minerals and natural resources department shall give notice to all persons the department finds, in its sole discretion, to be interested in or affected by the pipeline. If, after six months from the notice, the department finds that the need still exists and persons capable of meeting the need for the pipeline have not acted or proposed to act in a manner capable of meeting the need, the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the economic development department shall report to the legislature on funding alternatives for the pipeline. C. The energy, minerals and natural resources department and the economic development department shall annually report to the legislature on the results of the study required by Subsection A of this section and on any activities conducted pursuant to this section. Laws 2003, ch. 196, § 2.

Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18573/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026