LET'S PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

My wife, Evelyn is a certified chemist and has been a professional in the environmental and water analyses field for 34 years. The idea of environmental protection has taken many forms. Native Americans speak of it in terms of considering the needs of many generations to come. When organic method growers deal with pests, they look for methods which minimize effects on non-target organisms. When State government looks at pest management, such thoughtfulness seems to be lacking.

We must introduce & pass stronger laws with enforcement against mining operations that strip our land of its precious metals and leave behind an indignant environment and water that has been tainted with heavy metals, cyanide and sulfates. In addition, some government agencies have used organics to control aquatic weeds in canals, lakes and near surface waters. Organics are approved by EPA for use near drinking water, as is cyanide, in low ppb levels.

Regardless of the level of contaminants that might be permitted in our drinking water, it is contrary to public health principles to permit a contaminant to be deliberately introduced into the water supplies. Surface water bodies recharge the aquifer naturally; the underground aquifer is what recharges and feeds the private wells and municipal water supplies.

Water is our life-blood and our most precious commodity; I will fight to protect it. We must take the long view approach instead of a quick-fix attitude.


ALTERNATIVE FUEL

While alternative fuel is a political issue on the table today, I have addressed this issue in the last eight years.  I assisted in the development of the only fully functioning bio-diesel plant in the United States located in Costilla County.  “It produces enough fuel to operate the County’s entire heavy duty equipment and truck fleet.  The bi-product is sold as cattle feed and we can’t keep up with the demand”. 

“In the anticipation that fuel prices would go up and in order to save on fuel expenditures, we began the process to create a bio-diesel that would cost less than 1/3 the cost of diesel in 2002, at that time $.85 cents a gallon.  In today’s fuel costs, the savings are fantastic.”

Biodiesel fuel is a clean burning alternative fuel that comes from 100% renewable resources.  It is considered the fuel of the future.  Biodiesel does not contain petroleum, and can only be used on diesel engines.  Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, making it extremely safe and environmental friendly, unlike traditional fuels and does produce the high emissions.

I completely support and encourage the fabrication of more bio-diesel plants and have seen that it is a proven vital alternative energy source, not only because of our dependency on foreign oil but its greenhouse gas reduction effects.