Carlsbad, N.M. – The Permian Strategic Partnership (the PSP), in collaboration with the Eddy County Board of Commissioners, Eddy County Fire & Rescue and regional public safety partners, today announced two major initiatives designed to dramatically improve roadway safety, reduce emergency response times, and reinforce first responder readiness across the rapidly growing Permian Basin region of Southeast New Mexico (SENM).
The investments include:
- $2,000,000 for the Eddy County Highway Safety Team
- $1,700,000 for the SENM Regional First Responder Training Accelerator
Eddy County Highway Safety Team
The PSP is partnering with Eddy County to launch the Eddy County Highway Safety Team (HST), a fully equipped, 24/7 rapid-response unit dedicated to the high-risk NM 128 corridor. This unit will provide immediate on-scene support, reduce emergency response times, and enhance overall safety along one of the region’s most frequently traveled industrial routes.
Today, response times on NM 128 can reach nearly 40 minutes, and it’s these delays that increase risks for motorists and first responders. The HST is structured to significantly cut response times, reduce secondary crashes, and establish a visible safety presence along a 20-mile stretch of the corridor from NM 31 to Buck Jackson Road.
“This program fills a critical gap in one of the most dangerous and fastest-growing corridors in Southeast New Mexico,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the PSP. “By investing in a dedicated Highway Safety Team, we are helping ensure that first responders can reach emergencies faster and save lives.””
SENM Regional First Responder Training Accelerator
In addition, the PSP is partnering with the Eddy County Board of Commissioners and Eddy County Fire & Rescue to launch the Southeast New Mexico Regional First Responder Training Accelerator. This multifaceted initiative will increase the availability of advanced fire and EMS training in Eddy, Lea, and Chaves Counties.
The Accelerator will establish a centralized advanced training hub in the Permian Basin, build a state-compliant burn building with basement-fire simulation capabilities, formalize technical education partnerships with Southeast New Mexico College, Eastern New Mexico University– Roswell, and New Mexico Junior College, provide secondary education grants, and create a work-study pipeline for high school graduates. The program is expected to support more than 300 trainees annually.
“I want to thank the PSP for your continued support of emergency responders and the communities in the Permian Basin.”” Josh Mack, Chief, Eddy County Fire and Rescue
About the Permian Strategic Partnership: The Permian Strategic Partnership (the PSP) is a coalition of 25 leading Permian Basin energy companies and two university systems that have joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and natural gas resources of the Permian Basin in the states of New Mexico and Texas. The PSP members are BPX Energy, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Deep Blue, Devon Energy, Diamondback Energy, Energy Transfer, EOG Resources, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Helmerich & Payne, Kinetik, Liberty Energy, Mewbourne Oil Company, Occidental, Oncor, Ovintiv, Permian Resources, Phillips 66, Plains All American, ProPetro, SLB, Targa Resources, The Texas Tech University System, The University of Texas System, WaterBridge Resources, and Western Midstream. For more information, visit www.permianpartnership.org.