/tags/new-mexico-environment-department New Mexico Environment Department en-US Copyright Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:54:07 GMT /local-news/2025-04-08/new-mexico-oil-and-gas-legislation-doesnt-pass New Mexico’s biannual, 60-day lawmaking session ended after two breakneck final weeks with the Democratic-majority, volunteer legislators working right up to the noon deadline. In the end, it was another legislative session that confirmed business as usual for the state’s oil and gas industry. Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:54:07 GMT /local-news/2025-04-08/new-mexico-oil-and-gas-legislation-doesnt-pass Jerry Redfern /local-news/2025-02-16/new-mexico-fights-over-oil-and-gas-enforcement-funding New Mexico legislators have so far proposed 19 bills this session that could directly — and at times dramatically — change how the oil and gas industry operates in the state. Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:49:45 GMT /local-news/2025-02-16/new-mexico-fights-over-oil-and-gas-enforcement-funding Jerry Redfern, Capital & Main /local-news/2025-01-27/record-pfas-holloman-lake-wildlife-nm-health-alert The New Mexico Department of Health issued a health advisory Monday to those who have captured or consumed wildlife from Holloman Lake in southern New Mexico. The warning follows a report on record levels of PFAS chemicals found in wildlife and plants in the area. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:41:34 GMT /local-news/2025-01-27/record-pfas-holloman-lake-wildlife-nm-health-alert Nash Jones /local-news/2024-08-15/san-juan-generating-station-cleanup Officials sitting on the Radioactive & Hazardous Materials interim committee received an update Thursday on how the state plans to clean-up the decommissioned San Juan Generating Station. Thu, 15 Aug 2024 20:16:30 GMT /local-news/2024-08-15/san-juan-generating-station-cleanup Bryce Dix /2024-07-17/new-mexico-has-some-of-the-nations-toughest-oil-and-gas-regulations-enforcing-them-is-another-matter With the EPA hamstrung by the Supreme Court and shaky state funding, New Mexico could face a future with reduced protections. Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:43:15 GMT /2024-07-17/new-mexico-has-some-of-the-nations-toughest-oil-and-gas-regulations-enforcing-them-is-another-matter Jerry Redfern, Capital & Main /local-news/2024-07-08/violations-could-come-down-on-60-of-oil-and-gas-facilities-inspected-in-nms-permian-basin A state Environment Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspection of oil and gas facilities in New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin found more than half may be violating air quality rules. Environment Secretary James Kenney said the results are “cause for alarm.” Mon, 08 Jul 2024 23:57:34 GMT /local-news/2024-07-08/violations-could-come-down-on-60-of-oil-and-gas-facilities-inspected-in-nms-permian-basin Nash Jones /local-news/2024-02-26/another-new-mexico-legislative-session-ends-and-again-no-new-oil-and-gas-reforms But a tax break for low-producing stripper wells gets slipped into a package with green energy breaks. Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:45:44 GMT /local-news/2024-02-26/another-new-mexico-legislative-session-ends-and-again-no-new-oil-and-gas-reforms Jerry Redfern, Capital & Main /local-news/2024-02-20/state-officials-are-testing-high-schools-wastewater-for-drugs-without-a-clear-plan-for-the-results New Mexico’s state government is testing the wastewater in high schools for illegal substances. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham claims the approach will help the state narrow in on where to put resources. Critics say it’s a waste of state money that stigmatizes students. Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:07:08 GMT /local-news/2024-02-20/state-officials-are-testing-high-schools-wastewater-for-drugs-without-a-clear-plan-for-the-results Megan Myscofski /local-news/2023-12-18/nm-environment-secretary-says-its-unclear-when-epa-will-crack-down-on-permian-basin-air-pollution Earlier this year, New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney said the Environmental Protection Agency would declare parts of the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas an Ozone Nonattainment Area by the end of the year. However, as 2023 comes to a close, the EPA still hasn’t made its move. Mon, 18 Dec 2023 22:44:58 GMT /local-news/2023-12-18/nm-environment-secretary-says-its-unclear-when-epa-will-crack-down-on-permian-basin-air-pollution Nash Jones /local-news/2023-12-14/lawmakers-question-nm-environment-departments-request-for-a-bigger-budget Environment Secretary James Kenney presented his agency’s budget request to a panel of lawmakers this week, which asks for an additional $9 million dollars. It would be the fifth straight budget increase for the agency. But members of the Legislative Finance Committee questioned whether the department should get more to work with when it didn’t spend down all of this year’s budget. Fri, 15 Dec 2023 01:59:49 GMT /local-news/2023-12-14/lawmakers-question-nm-environment-departments-request-for-a-bigger-budget Nash Jones