Office of the New Mexico Natural Resources Trustee Seeks Public Comment on Draft Cimarron Canyon Restoration Plan

by · Published · Updated

Draft plan proposes projects to restore natural resources injured by 2016 Fuel Spill


(Albuquerque, NM) — The New Mexico Office of the Natural Resources Trustee (ONRT) announced today that it is seeking public comment on its Draft Cimarron Canyon Natural Resources Restoration Plan for the Fronk Oil Spill. The draft plan presents restoration projects intended to compensate the public for injuries to fish and other aquatic natural resources resulting from a fuel spill into Cimarron River.


Four years ago, a Fronk Oil Company tanker truck carrying petroleum products overturned on U.S. Hwy 64, releasing approximately 1,100 gallons of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel into a section of the Cimarron River located in the Colin Neblett Wildlife Management Area of the Cimarron Canyon State Park. Fronk Oil completed a clean-up of the spill in December 2017, under the direction of the New Mexico Environment Department. In December 2020, ONRT reached a settlement, pending court approval, in which the Fronk Oil Company agreed pay $150,000 to implement restoration projects that benefit the natural resources injured, destroyed, or lost following the fuel spill.


As required by the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), restoration activities must produce benefits that are related to the injuries caused by the spill. ONRT has completed an evaluation of potential restoration projects and published the draft plan that includes details of projects under consideration and results of the evaluation. The final selection of restoration projects will be identified in a final restoration plan after ONRT has reviewed public comments.


ACCESSING THE DRAFT RP: The Draft Cimarron Canyon Natural Resources Restoration Plan for the Fronk Oil Spill is available at https://onrt.env.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021.02.17.Fronk_.RP_.pdf or may be requested from the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee, 121 Tijeras Avenue NE, Suite 1000, Albuquerque, NM 87102, (505) 699-5083. A copy may also be viewed at the Cimarron Village Hall, 356 E 9th Street, Cimarron, New Mexico 87714.


The public comment period starts on February 17 and ends on March 19, 2021. Comments should be addressed to Ralph Gruebel, Office of New Mexico Natural Resources Trustee at nm.onrt@state.nm.us or at 121 Tijeras Avenue NE, Suite 1000, Albuquerque, NM 87102, and should reference: Draft Cimarron Canyon Restoration Plan. Comments must be received in writing on or before March 19, 2021 at 5:00 PM MST. For information on the Fronk Oil settlement, please visit https://onrt.env.nm.gov/fronk-oil-spill/.