RE: "Oil Drillers Approve Good Neighbor Pact" commentary by Robert Gallagher

The good neighbor practices developed by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association was announced at an event to which farmers, ranchers and citizens were neither invited nor welcomed. Copies of the pact were not offered to the public, and no time had been alltted for questions by citizens. This is strange behavior for an industry launching a communication initiative.

Industry and government claim "environmentally responsible drilling." They refuse to say where it is being done on public land or wwhere a former drilling site has been restored in an environmentally responsible manner. Surely, the president of an organization representing more than 300 companies would answer eagerly and proudly.

Evading these questions only increases the suspicion of citizens and defeats the purpose of the new communication plan. I invite New Mexicans to join me in asking government and industry to prove their claims. Let's remind them it's our land.