Mission

Our mission is to protect and restore the environment and to foster a healthy and prosperous New Mexico for present and future generations. We implement our mission guided by four tenets:

Science

Using the best available science to inform our decision-making in protecting public health and the environment.

Innovation

Employing creative engineering and technological solutions to address environmental challenges.

Collaboration

Engaging communities and interested stakeholders in environmental decision-making outcomes.

Compliance

Ensuring meaningful compliance with state regulations and permits; leveling the playing field through enforcement.

Frequently Viewed

Non-Employee Discrimination Complaints

NMED does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in the administration of its programs or activities. To learn more or to file a complaint, visit our Equity webpage.

Quejas por Discriminación de No-Empleados

El Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por su sigla en inglés) no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, discapacidad, edad o sexo en la administración de sus programas o actividades. Para obtener más información o para presentar una queja visite Equity webpage.

Comments and Testimony

Happening Now

09 May

30-day Public Comment Period: Frontier Field Services, LLC – Dagger Draw Gas Plant Air Quality Construction Permit Application PSD0001M13

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under Eddy County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

Greater Kudu, LLC-Greater Kudu - Los Lunas Facility Air Quality Construction Permit Application 7026M6

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under Valencia County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

30-day Public Comment Period: Western Refining Terminals LLC - Bloomfield-Bloomfield Products Terminal Air Quality Construction Permit Application 0402M13

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Juan County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

30-day Public Comment Period: Farmington Electric Utility Systems – Bluffview Power Plant Air Quality Operating Permit Application P228R3 & P228AR4

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Juan County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

30-day Public Comment Period: Harvest Four Corners LLC-32-9 Central Delivery Point Air Quality Operating Permit Application P030-R5

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Juan County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

Targa Northern Delaware LLC-Cadillac Compressor Station Air Quality Construction Permit Application 7995M4

09 May

30-day Public Comment Period: Enterprise Field Services, LLC-3B-1 Turley Compressor Station Air Quality Operating Permit Application P256R2

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Juan County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.

09 May

Training: Lead & Copper Rule Service Line Inventory Training

9am – 12pm MDT

The NM Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau and the University of New Mexico’s Southwest Environmental Finance Center are providing a free training workshop for the LCR Service Line Inventory, a new federal requirement for ALL community (C) and non-transient/non-community (NTNC) water systems. Initial inventories need to be submitted by October 16, 2024.

*Pending Approval -3 hours of Board and Operator Credits

Items to bring to workshop:

Laptop (optional but encouraged)
Membership or billing list of physical addresses
System plans/specs/engineering docs
Enthusiasm

13 May

Water Quality Control Commission Monthly Meeting and Hearing on WQCC 23-84 (R)

9am – 6pm MDT

WQCC 23-84 (R): In the Matter of Proposed New Rule 20.6.8 NMAC

Meeting Notice

Public Notices - English and Spanish

Meeting link:
nmed-oit.webex.com…
Meeting number: 2632 974 3200
Password: 5VvVH678gmP

Join by phone
+1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Access code: 2632 974 3200

14 May

Water Quality Control Commission Monthly Meeting and Hearing on WQCC 23-84 (R)

9am – 6pm MDT

15 May

CLOSED - 30-day public comment period for Canadian and Upper Rio Grande Lakes TMDL

NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, SURFACE WATER QUALITY BUREAU PROPOSES TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS (TMDLs) FOR THE CANADIAN AND UPPER RIO GRANDE LAKES NOTICE OF A 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND COMMUNITY MEETING

The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) is inviting the public to comment on the draft “Total Maximum Daily Load” (TMDL) document for the Canadian and Upper Rio Grande lakes. The draft TMDL is available online at: www.env.nm.gov…. Draft TMDLs in this document include:

•Eagle Nest Lake – Plant Nutrients
•Lake Maloya – Plant Nutrients
•Santa Cruz Lake – Aluminum (Total Recoverable), Plant Nutrients, Temperature
•Shuree Pond North – Plant Nutrients

A TMDL is a planning document that establishes specific goals to meet water quality standards in waterbodies where pollutant limits are exceeded. It includes current pollution loadings, reduction estimates for pollutants, information on probable sources of pollution, and suggestions to restore or protect the health of the waterbody.

The 30-day comment period on this document will open April 15, 2024, and will close May 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. MDT. Formal comments for inclusion in the public record must be submitted in writing via the NMED Public Comment Portal at: nmed.commentinput.com… or alternately in writing to Lucas Graunke, e-mail: lucas.graunke@env.nm.gov; or mailing address: NMED SWQB, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM, 87502; voice: (505) 819-9823; fax number (505) 827-0160.

Two public meetings will be held to summarize the information and to provide a forum for interested parties to ask questions and provide comments. The meetings will be held on May 1, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm and 5:00 to 6:30 pm via a virtual webinar. Specific meeting details will be made available in a meeting flyer posted to the SWQB website during the week of April 15th.

Following the close of the comment period, copies of the Response to Comments will be:

•Mailed to all persons who submitted written comments by May 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.; and
•Available electronically on the bureau’s website or by contacting Lucas Graunke via email orphone number provided above.

For more information, please contact Lucas Graunke via email or phone number provided above.

15 May

Se cierra el periodo de comentarios públicos - CARGAS MÁXIMAS TOTALES DIARIAS (TMDL) PARA LOS LAGOS CANADIAN Y SUPERIOR DE RIO GRANDE

LA OFICINA DE CALIDAD DE AGUAS SUPERFICIALES DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE MEDIO AMBIENTE DE NUEVO MÉXICO, PROPONE CARGAS MÁXIMAS TOTALES DIARIAS (TMDL) PARA LOS LAGOS CANADIAN Y SUPERIOR DE RIO GRANDE AVISO DE UN PERÍODO DE COMENTARIOS PÚBLICOS DE 30 DÍAS Y REUNIÓN COMUNITARIA

La Oficina de Calidad de Aguas Superficiales (SWQB, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por sus siglas en inglés) invita al público a hace comentarios sobre el borrador del documento "Carga Diaria Máxima Total" (TMDL, por sus siglas en inglés) para los lagos Canadian y superior de Rio Grande. El borrador de TMDL está disponible en línea en: www.env.nm.gov…. Los borradores de las TMDL en este documentoincluyen:

•Lago Eagle Nest – Nutrientes para plantas
•Lago Maloya – Nutrientes para plantas
•Lago Santa Cruz – Aluminio (total recuperable), nutrientes para plantas, temperatura
•Shuree Pond North – Nutrientes para plantas

Una TMDL es un documento de planificación que establece objetivos específicos para cumplir con los estándares de calidad del agua en cuerpos de agua donde se exceden los límites de contaminantes. Incluye cargas de contaminación actuales, estimaciones de reducción de contaminantes, información sobre fuentes probables de contaminación y sugerencias para restaurar o proteger la salud del cuerpo de agua.

El período de comentarios de 30 días sobre este documento se abrirá el 15 de abril de 2024 y se cerrará el 15 de mayo de 2024 a las 5:00 p.m., MDT (hora de verano de la montaña). Los comentarios formales para su inclusión en el registro público deben enviarse por escrito a través del Portal de comentarios públicos de NMED en: nmed.commentinput.com… o, alternativamente, por escrito a Lucas Graunke, correo electrónico: lucas.graunke@env.nm.gov; o dirección postal: NMED SWQB, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM, 87502; voz: (505) 819-9823; número de fax (505) 827-0160.

Se llevarán a cabo dos reuniones públicas para resumir la información y proporcionar un foro para que las partes interesadas hagan preguntas y proporcionen comentarios. Las reuniones se llevarán a cabo el 1 de mayo de 2024, de 1:00 p. m. a 2:30 p. m. y de 5:00 p. m. a 6:30 p. m. a través de un webinar virtual. Los detalles específicos de la reunión estarán disponibles en el folleto de la reunión publicado en el sitio web de SWQB durante la semana del 15 de abril.

Una vez cerrado el período de comentarios, las copias de la Respuesta a los Comentarios:

•Serán enviadas por correo a todas las personas que enviaron comentarios por escrito hasta las5:00 p. m. del día 15 de mayo de 2024; y
•Estarán disponible electrónicamente en el sitio web de la oficina o comunicándose con LucasGraunke por correo electrónico o llamando al número de teléfono proporcionado anteriormente.

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Lucas Graunke por correo electrónico o llamando al número de teléfono proporcionado anteriormente.

15 May

Water Quality Control Commission Monthly Meeting and Hearing on WQCC 23-84 (R)

9am – 6pm MDT

01 Jan

Public Comment Period Begins: Notice of Intent to Approve Los Alamos National Laboratory Site Treatment Plan Update

5pm MDT

Public Notice: Los Alamos National Laboratory Hazardous Waste Facility Permit, EPA ID No. NM0890010515

Activity: The State of New Mexico is authorized to operate a hazardous waste management program in lieu of the federal program for most provisions of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Federal Facilities Compliance Act (FCCA) is codified in RCRA §6001. Under the authority of the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 74-4-1 to -14 (1953, as amended through 2018), and the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (20.4.1 NMAC), the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) may issue a Federal Facility Compliance Order (FFCO) to federal facilities located within New Mexico’s borders.

On October 4, 1995, NMED issued an FFCO to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and Regents of the University of California (UC) (collectively, the Respondents). Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) replaced UC as a co-operator in 2006. In 2019, Los Alamos Newport Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos LLC, (N3B) and Triad National Security LLC (Triad) replaced LANS as the co-operators. The FFCO requires compliance with the Site Treatment Plan (STP) Compliance Plan Volume (CPV) for the treatment and disposal of mixed waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Respondents must comply with the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act, Sections 74-4-1 to -14 and Section 3012(b) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. §6939(c), as amended by the FFCA of 1992, Public Law 102-386, 106 Stat. 1505 (1992). In accordance with Section X, “Revisions” of the FFCO, all proposed or required revisions shall be made available to the public for review at appropriate locations.

Revisions to the FFCO include but are not limited to, changes in the covered mixed waste inventories and compliance dates reported in the STP Fiscal Year (FY) Update reports received by NMED since the FFCO was issued on October 4, 1995.

NMED may: approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove; the proposed STP Update for fiscal year 2023, Revision 34.0.

Pending public input, NMED intends to approve the requested STP Update and Revision 34.0.

Availability:
The proposed permit modification is available for public review on weekdays between 8:00 am and
5:00 pm at:
NMED - Hazardous Waste Bureau
2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-6313
or at the LANL STP website: https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/lanl-ffco-stp/

For questions or comments please contact:
Siona Briley
NMED-Hazardous Waste Bureau,
2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-6313
Telephone (505) 476-6000 or by e-mail at: siona.briley@env.nm.gov

The Permittee’s compliance history is available from the NMED contact person (Siona Briley) or at the web address listed above.

The public comment period for this intent to approve the STP Update and proposed Revision 34.0
will run from May 16, 2024, through June 15, 2024.

Any person who wishes to comment on this action should submit written or e-mail comments with the commenter's name and address to the NMED Public Comment Portal nmed.commentinput.com… or to the physical or email addresses listed above.

Only written comments received on or before June 15, 2024, will be considered.
Contact: Siona Briley siona.briley@env.nm.gov )

16 May

Water Quality Control Commission Monthly Meeting and Hearing on WQCC 23-84 (R)

9am – 6pm MDT

16 May

Training: LCRR, Now LCRI - What You Need to Know

1 – 2pm MDT

With the service line inventory deadline quickly approaching, let’s talk about everything you need to know ahead of the deadline, and what to expect going forward from there. We’ll answer some frequently asked questions, and answer as many questions live as we can. We understand that the LCRI is complex and want to make sure you walk away with a solid understanding of what to expect. Don’t miss your chance to ‘ask the expert’ your LCRI questions!