WASHINGTON
- Today,
U.S. Senator Tom Udall
wrote to Chevron's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John S. Watson, urging the company to support the employees and community of Questa as Chevron closes its molybdenum mine. Mining operations have sustained the local economy in the Village of Questa for generations, and the mine's unexpected closure - which affects more than 300 employees - raises concerns about the community's future economic stability. Udall pressed Chevron to offer assistance and expertise to help employees find new jobs and rebuild the economy.
"While no mining operation is permanent, the news of the mine closure surprised many. With no notice between the announcement and the last day of normal operations, the more than 300 affected employees are struggling to redesign careers which were expected to last a lifetime and sustain the community for generations," Udall wrote in the letter. "As one of the largest companies in the world with over 64,500 employees, including significant oil and gas production in New Mexico, I am confident that Chevron has the resources and expertise to help the community of Questa build a better future."
Udall recognized that Chevron had made plans to provide assistance to the Village of Questa, and urged the company to help individual employees find new jobs and train for new careers. Udall encouraged Chevron to pursue all options, including private resources, to support hardworking New Mexicans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. He also recommended Chevron provide long-time employees with options to retire early. Lastly, Udall urged Chevron to hire as many local workers and contractors as possible as it closes the mine, enabling employees who can't easily relocate to stay in the community and keep working.
Udall expressed his willingness to work with Chevron to support the community of Questa, and to build a strong and diverse economy in Northern New Mexico.
Udall recently visited with local workers and community leaders in Questa and has been leading efforts to support Trade Adjustment Assistance for affected workers.
The full text of the letter is available below and
HERE
.
Mr. John S. Watson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583
Dear Mr. Watson:
I write to express my concerns regarding the closing of Chevron's molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico and urge your strongest support for your employees and the community as it seeks to rebuild. In conversations with mine workers and local community leaders, there is shared concern about the economic future of Northern New Mexico and the stability of its communities.
While no mining operation is permanent, the news of the mine closure surprised many. With no notice between the announcement and the last day of normal operations, the more than 300 affected employees are struggling to redesign careers which were expected to last a lifetime and sustain the community for generations. As one of the largest companies in the world with over 64,500 employees, including significant oil and gas production in New Mexico, I am confident that Chevron has the resources and expertise to help the community of Questa build a better future.
In meetings with the local community and my staff, Chevron has laid out its plans to provide critical assistance to the Village of Questa, including extending planned payments into the local economic development trust until 2023, along with a final $1 million dollar payment, and the creation of an economic development position to provide support for local planning organizations. I commend your plans to provide this assistance, as I know it will be key to Questa's future.
I urge you to also work diligently to ensure that individual employees are given every assistance possible in finding new jobs and retraining for new careers. I understand some of these efforts are currently underway through job and resource fairs, partnerships with local governments, and federal programs. However, I strongly encourage you to seek out every option, including private support, to ensure that these hard working New Mexicans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own can rebuild their future. Additionally, I encourage Chevron to demonstrate its commitment to those long-time employees who are very near retirement but cannot yet qualify for full retirement by giving these employees a fair option to retire.
Lastly, as you work to finalize the closure of the mine, I hope you will take every action to ensure that as many local contractors and workers as possible are employed in these activities. These jobs will help support families and stabilize the community. Many of your employees have deep roots in Questa, tracing their families back generations, and relocating for new jobs would be a severe hardship. Employing local contractors and workers for existing and new positions is critical to the short-term stability of Questa.
I welcome the opportunity to partner with Chevron and the community of Questa as we work together to build a strong and diverse Northern New Mexico economy and look forward to your updates on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Tom Udall
United States Senator
