If you were unable to make the copper rule hearings last week, here are some excerpts from Staff Attorney, Bruce Frederick’s opening statement to the commission. Get full statement here. Learn more about the rule.
My name is Bruce Frederick. I am an attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. I represent the Gila Resources Information Project, or GRIP, and Turner Ranch Properties. I am making this opening statement on their behalf and on behalf of Amigos Bravos.
Before I go any further, I want to say unequivocally, we are NOT against copper mining. And contrary to what others have said about us, our aim is not to preserve every drop of water in its pristine condition. Our purpose in these proceedings is to assist the Commission and the public in understanding the Department’s proposed rule, and why that rule is such a bad deal for New Mexico.
04/15/2013 • Back to top
The New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned a decision made by the state’s Construction Industries Commission in 2011 to extensively amend the green building regulations implemented by the previous governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson…The New Mexico Environmental Law Center hailed the decision made by the Court of Appeals, saying that the current administration’s efforts to soften Richardson’s building codes were not in accordance with the law. Design Build Source
Go to Design Build Source for full story.
04/15/2013 • Back to top
In a conference call with reporters, Douglas Meiklejohn of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center said he had never seen anything like it in 40 years of practicing law….The codes were implemented in 2010 under former Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, after a year of study and consultation with those in the industry. Republican Martinez became governor in 2011, and her Construction Industries Commission voted in June of that year to revise the codes. Las Cruces Sun-News
Go to Las Cruces Sun-News for full story.
04/12/2013 • Back to top
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center late Thursday asked the court to hold the state Construction Industries Division in contempt for continuing to enforce revised building codes that the court had ordered set aside…The Construction Industries Division responded this week, saying it would continue to enforce the revised codes until the commission meets next week to decide whether to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Las Cruces Sun-News
Go to Las Cruces Sun-News for full story.
04/12/2013 • Back to top
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has filed a motion with the State Appeals Court asking it to hold the New Mexico Construction Industries Division in contempt after the state announced it would continue to enforce its 2011 building codes despite a contrary court decision last week. Albuquerque Business First
Go to Albuquerque Business First for full story.
04/12/2013 • Back to top
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Environmentalists are accusing state construction regulators of running afoul of the New Mexico Court of Appeals…The New Mexico Environmental Law Center is now asking the court to hold the division in contempt for continuing to enforce the codes. KOB
Go to KOB for full story.
04/12/2013 • Back to top
For 25 years,
the New Mexico Environmental Law Center has worked every day to protect our region's water, land and air from toxic pollution; and to help New Mexico's many and diverse communities protect their environment.
SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) filed a request for a public hearing regarding a proposed permit revision to put the Mt. Taylor uranium mine on active status. The mine, near Grants, NM, has been inactive (on “standby” status) without cleanup for 23 years. The mine’s owner, Rio Grande Resources, received a fourth renewal for the standby permit in January 2012, but on April 12, 2013 it notified the public it was seeking a revision to change the mine’s status to “active”. The NMELC filed the hearing request on behalf of its clients, Amigos Bravos and the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE).
Go to case page.
SANTA FE, N.M. - The New Mexico Court of Appeals struck down an effort by the Martinez Administration to repeal regulations favorable to the environment and reinstated the state’s energy efficiency building codes.
The energy codes, adopted before Governor Martinez came into office, were repealed by the State Construction Industries Commission in the summer of 2011. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) appealed the Commission’s move on seven grounds, including that the Commission failed to state the reasons for its decision as is required of all administrative agencies. The Court of Appeals agreed, and reversed the Commission’s decision. (Get PDF of Court of Appeals ruling)
Visit Repeal of Energy Efficient Building Codes case page
