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In This Issue
Executive Director, Brian Shields
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Upcoming Events
October 22nd
Rivers Run Through Us
Save the Gila
Fundraiser
Feature Film:
"Damnation!"
Speakers:
Norm Guam
Steve Harris
Q&A
to follow
Center for Contemporary Arts
Santa Fe, 7pm
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side canyon of the
Rio Chama
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Are you a member
of Amigos Bravos?
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Amigos Bravos Staff
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Amigos Bravos Office.
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The Southwest Rural Policy Network
is comprised
of fourteen organizations from Arizona,
New Mexico and Colorado, each working on
a variety of social issues that affect the people
and communities of the rural Southwest.
Amigos Bravos has been a member
of the Network for 5 years.
To learn more, please visit;
southwestruralpolicynetwork.org
We value your feedback
regarding all aspects of our work!
Would you like to support
the preservation of the cultural
and
ecological richness
of New Mexico's waters?
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Join our efforts today
by becoming a member
or making a contribution
toAmigos Bravos
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Please consider taking a moment to
and help grow the community
that truly cares about water!
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DEAR FRIENDS OF NM'S WATERS ~
Tuesday, September 30th, is the deadline for Amigos Bravos to meet the annual Challenge Match provided by a group of anonymous long-time Amigos Bravos supporters -- and we are not quite there yet!
Please help us meet the Challenge, by
making a contribution, now. You have the opportunity to double the worth of your gift, which will help assure the continued effectiveness of Amigos Bravos.
and help us make the match!
 | | Molycorp/Chevron Mine |
CHEVRON ONLY LIABLE FOR $4 MILLION IN NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES!
On September 6, 2014, the State of New Mexico and Chevron Mining Inc. announced that they had reached a $4 million settlement to compensate for natural resource damages as a result of hazardous substances being released from the molybdenum mine in Questa. Amigos Bravos is concerned that this settlement is totally inadequate to compensate for damages caused by the mine to the Red River, the groundwater aquifers, and the community of Questa over the past century.
The settlement agreement cost $3.6 million to prepare and it calls for spending $2.5 million on projects to offset damages to ground water and $1.5 million to mitigate damages to terrestrial and riverine habitats. In addition, the 225 acre Anderson Ranch northwest of Questa will be transferred to the federal government for conservation and natural resource protection.
Amigos Bravos is concerned that the $1.5 million is not adequate to undertake
restoration projects that would compensate for damages to 8 miles of the Red River - as well as damages to riparian areas, acequia ditches, and farmlands - caused by over 110 tailings spills, not to mention damages caused by blowing dust from the tailings sites.
Unfortunately, the Consent Decree filed with the federal judge does not provide information regarding how the settlement amount was reached. Amigos Bravos has filed an Inspection of Public Records Request with the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee, and will be requesting an extension of the comment period so that we can have time to review the methodology used for determining the settlement amount.
To take action on this issue, please send a request for an extension of the comment period along with your comments and concerns to:
pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov
 | | Amigos Bravos Bird Watching Walk |
AMIGOS BRAVOS DEVELOPING-INTO-SOMETHING-GOOD COMMITTEE HOSTS BIRD-WATCHING WALK
The Amigos Bravos Developing-Into-Something-Good Committee recently offered the first in a series of Bird-Watching Walks as a way to say "thank you" to Amigos Bravos supporters in the Water Stewards, Water Guardians, Water Angels, Water Benefactors, Water Spirits, Water Keepers, and Water Visionary categories. Member Robert Templeton, of Dixon, generously and skillfully led the walk through Orille Verde, along the Rio Grande, on a beautiful mid-September morning. Templeton introduced the fundamentals of birding both by sight and sound, including instruction in the effective use of field guides and binoculars, as well as discussion of bird behavior, habitat interactions, and the basics of migration. Among the birds spotted that morning were black crowned night heron, western tanager, warbler, scrub jay, downy woodpecker, eastern kingbird, western kingbird, blue-grey natcatcher, piņon jay, black phoebe, eurasian collar dove, mourning dove, sandpiper, waxwing, and mallard.
Templeton, who has been leading bird walks for adults and children for more than a decade, also graciously set up a special website for Amigos Bravos members. To view the website go to:
AMIGOS BRAVOS IS CELEBRATING
26 YEARS OF PROTECTING & RESTORING NEW MEXICO'S WATERS
Please celebrate with us and help to make sure Amigos Bravos remains strong for the
DONATE NOW!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF AMIGOS BRAVOS AND NEW MEXICO'S RIVERS & WATERWAYS!!!
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