New Mexico lawmakers unanimously that would help stop a sinkhole from forming in Carlsbad. measure would take a little over 4 percent of state vehicle tax money and put it toward filling Carlsbad鈥檚 brine well.
鈥淗ope we get that accomplished before there鈥檚 a tragedy,鈥� said State Representative Cathrynn Brown of Carlsbad. She鈥檚 hopeful they鈥檒l get the funding, she said, but the city is getting ready in case that doesn鈥檛 happen and .
鈥淭he plan is to block off all of the highways and the roads in that area, to evacuate everybody," said Brown. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be left with pretty much an economic and very likely a personal and social disaster.鈥�
The risk of a sinkhole was created by years of mining salt for oil drilling that damaged the structure of the ground. Studies show the brine well could collapse as soon as 2020.
The measure would generate about $30 million over of three years. Governor Susana Martinez has until noon Thursday, Feb. 15, to sign it.
