At 11:09 a.m. on June 20th, 2010, an unattended campfire sparked a wildfire north of Flagstaff, Arizona in Coconino County. Due to high winds and excessive forest overgrowth, the fire grew quickly, and firefighters were unable to fully contain it until July 1st. In the end, 15,000 acres on the east side of the San Francisco peaks were burned to the ground.
Read More“We thank Senator Cortez Masto for her quick and timely statement of opposition to overturning the BLM methane rule. She rightly points out that it is ‘irresponsible’ for Congress to overturn a rule that will prevent more than $330 million worth of natural gas from being wasted on public and tribal lands by venting, flaring, and leaking natural gas into the air,” said Al Martinez, HECHO Advisory Board Member.
Read MoreRight now Congress is threatening to overturn a ruling by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that would save taxpayers millions of dollars and curb harmful pollution from methane waste.
The BLM rule – which HECHO worked hard to help finalize last year -- would curb natural gas waste by requiring new and existing oil and gas operations on public lands to use the most up-to-date technology to capture wasted natural gas that is either released into the atmosphere or burned off, and repair leaks from equipment. To help prevent this important ruling from being overturned, we are partnering with other Latino groups including: the Hispanic Access Foundation; Chispa Nevada; League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance, to educate Congress, the press, and the public about this issue.
Read MoreToday, five Latino groups announced the formation of a new initiative, “Latino Partnership to Cut Waste, Protect Our Health.” The partnership includes Hispanic Access Foundation; HECHO; Chispa Nevada, League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance.
Read MoreToday, the House used a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to block the BLM’s rules to limit natural gas waste. The CRA is a reckless and blunt tool that would prevent any “substantially similar” rule from being issued – allowing the oil and natural gas industry to continue to waste hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of taxpayer owned resources every year.
Read MoreOur public lands belong to every American regardless of where they live. These public lands are our common heritage. It is also land that generates millions of visitors nationally and internationally, and are integral to the tourist economy of many counties, regions, and cities.
Read More“We call on the new Administration to make it a top priority to protect and conserve our natural resources, and to ensure that oil and gas resources are developed responsibly, with input from local governments and communities.
Read MoreHECHO thanks our nation’s leaders for listening to the many voices that supported the finalizing of the methane rule. Read more about the national thank you letter and HECHO's radio ads applauding the finalization of the rule.
Read MoreA statement from Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), on the approval by the Bureau of Land Management of the Moab Region Master Leasing Plan.
Read MoreThe following is a statement from Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) on the reports that president-elect Donald Trump will nominate Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) as Secretary of the Interior.
Read MoreOn November 11, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management finalized the long-awaited Methane and Waste Prevention Rule. The following is a statement from Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) in support of this announcement.
Read MoreThe Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the surrounding areas contain not only natural treasures, but undeveloped lands and a network of ancient roads, villages, and shrines important to local and national history. It is an important step that the Bureau of Land Management has elected to have the Bureau of Indian Land Affairs co-lead oil and gas development planning for this area, but it is also important that BLM brings in other local stakeholders as well.
Read MoreOn October 25, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners resolved to support the Bureau of Land Management’s rule to charge royalties on wasted methane—the primary component of natural gas—on federal and tribal lands. The resolution addresses the serious problem of methane waste, which is impacting state revenues, harming the environment and threatening the health of New Mexicans.
Read MoreThe following is a solidarity statement from Camilla Simon, Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Read MoreNew blog alert! The Latino Conservation Alliance launched a new blog in support of its mission to to highlight the importance of conserving the U.S.'s natural heritage for Latino communities. Check out the blog to read the inaugural post written by HECHO Director Camilla Simon.
Read MoreThe Latino Conservation Alliance released the following statement upon the introductions of Latino Conservation Resolutions in the US House of Representatives and Senate.
Read MoreThere’s no doubt that the oil and gas sector is an essential source of jobs and revenue to the state of New Mexico. It is a critical part of our economy. At the same time, New Mexico can’t afford to tie its fiscal health, and the welfare of our schools, colleges, and universities to the boom-and-bust cycles of fossil fuel markets.
Read MoreThis year’s Hispanic Heritage Month comes during an historic time for the Latino community and for the future of public lands in our country. The voices, perspectives, and input of the Hispanic community needs to play an integral role in these decisions.
Read MoreThe following is a statement from Camilla Simon, Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), on the 1st anniversary of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s announcement that the greater sage-grouse no longer needed to be considered as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Read MoreThe Latino community needs to be represented in conversations, forums, and formal consultations that are helping shape the next 100 years of our public lands. Our communities’ heritage, inter-generational wisdom, values and practices should be incorporated into the vision and implementation of public lands management plans.
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