New Mexico’s oil and gas industry is potentially poisoning the very children whose education it funds, as nearly 30,000 students attend schools near wells that emit hazardous pollutants.
Key Takeaways
- An AP analysis identified 694 oil and gas wells within a mile of New Mexico schools, potentially exposing 29,500 students to harmful emissions that impact learning outcomes and health.
- Despite health concerns, the oil and gas industry contributes $1.7 billion to New Mexico’s K-12 education budget, creating a complex economic dependence.
- Air quality studies near schools like Lybrook Elementary have found dangerous levels of pollutants including benzene and hydrogen sulfide, with students reporting symptoms like nausea and headaches.
- Research shows direct correlations between fossil fuel pollution and decreased academic performance, even when controlling for socioeconomic factors.
- Regulatory efforts have been limited, with the State Land Commissioner prohibiting new leases near schools on state land, but broader legislation has failed.
Health Impacts on Native American Students
In the rural community of Counselor, New Mexico, Billton Werito watches helplessly as his son Amari suffers from unexplained nausea and debilitating headaches. Amari attends Lybrook Elementary School, situated in the heart of the San Juan Basin, one of the nation’s richest oil and gas deposits. The school serves approximately 70 Navajo students who navigate a landscape dominated by wellheads, pipelines, and industrial infrastructure daily. For these families, the proximity to energy production isn’t an abstract concern—it’s a lived reality affecting their children’s ability to learn and thrive.
The situation at Lybrook Elementary represents a much broader issue across New Mexico. According to a comprehensive Associated Press analysis, 694 oil and gas wells operate within one mile of schools statewide, potentially exposing nearly 30,000 students to harmful emissions. This industrial presence is particularly concentrated in areas with high Native American populations, creating a concerning pattern where our most vulnerable communities bear the heaviest burden of environmental impacts while receiving comparatively fewer economic benefits.
Scientific Evidence of Educational Harm
The connection between air pollution and diminished learning outcomes is not speculative. Research consistently demonstrates that fossil fuel emissions negatively impact student performance, even when controlling for socioeconomic factors and other variables. New York University economist Mike Gilraine has documented this relationship through careful analysis of academic performance data. His findings show that increased PM2.5 pollution (fine particulate matter) directly correlates with declining test scores, while improvements in air quality lead to better academic results and increased attendance.
“This kind of air pollution has a real, measurable effect on students,” states Mike Gilraine, economist at New York University.
Air quality monitoring near affected schools confirms these concerns. Studies conducted near Lybrook Elementary and other New Mexico schools have detected alarming levels of benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and other hazardous pollutants associated with oil and gas operations. These aren’t just invisible threats—they manifest in tangible health problems for students who report respiratory issues, headaches, nausea, and other symptoms that disrupt their educational experience. When children miss school due to pollution-related illness or struggle to concentrate through physical discomfort, their academic potential is compromised.
Economic Benefits vs. Health Costs
The complex reality facing New Mexico communities is that the very industry potentially harming students’ health also funds their education. The oil and gas sector contributes approximately $1.7 billion annually to the state’s K-12 education budget, creating a dependency that complicates regulatory efforts. This funding paradox leads some local officials and industry representatives to question or dismiss air quality studies, prioritizing immediate economic benefits over potential long-term health impacts on children. This short-sighted approach ignores the fact that compromised health and education outcomes will eventually undermine economic prosperity.
“Are we willing to give that up because people say our air is not clean?” questions Lee White, former Carlsbad school board member.
This view stands in stark contrast to the position of health experts and affected community members who advocate for stronger protections. Andrea Felix, another expert who has studied these impacts, emphasizes the need for more comprehensive research to fully understand the scope of the problem. Legislative attempts to establish buffer zones around schools have repeatedly failed, highlighting the industry’s significant political influence in a state heavily reliant on energy revenue. This political reality leaves vulnerable communities with few options for protecting their children’s health and educational opportunities.
“There needs to be a robust study to actually answer these questions,” argues Andrea Felix, expert on environmental health impacts.
Limited Regulatory Progress
Some limited progress has occurred. The New Mexico State Land Commissioner recently issued an order prohibiting new oil and gas leases within one mile of schools located on state-owned land. While this represents a step forward, its impact is constrained by jurisdiction limitations—the order doesn’t affect existing wells or operations on private or federal lands. Meanwhile, the state faces ongoing legal challenges seeking more comprehensive pollution controls, reflecting the growing recognition that economic prosperity shouldn’t come at the expense of children’s health and educational opportunities.
For families like the Weritos, these political and economic debates translate into daily worry about their children’s future. As Amari continues to experience unexplained health issues, his parents face difficult questions about whether to relocate their family away from ancestral lands or continue enduring potential health impacts. This impossible choice reflects the fundamental injustice of allowing industrial activities to compromise the well-being of communities that have inhabited these regions for generations, long before the first well was drilled or pipeline laid.
