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.
Opponents of Augustin Plains Water Application Await Decision
KUNM covered the hearing yesterday in Socorro, NM. Listen to the story here. Learn more about the case.
NM regulators repeal carbon cap and trade rules
(AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico’s participation in a regional cap and trade program aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions became more unlikely Monday with a unanimous vote by state regulators… “It’s obvious that anything that industry wants, they’re going to get from this board, whether it’s good for public health or the environment or not,“ said Bruce Frederick, a staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. CBSNews.com
EIB Repeals State Carbon Regulations
The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board repealed a statewide cap on carbon emissions at a hearing today. The regulations, originally approved by the EIB in fall 2010, were designed by the state Environment Department while former Gov. Bill Richardson was still in office… “The hearing initiated by the EIB and PNM et al was a very expensive formality,” Frederick said in a news release. “They essentially agreed to repeal the regulations long before the hearings began.” New Mexico Business Weekly
Environmental Improvement Board Gives Industry Everything, But It’s The Public Who Pays
SANTA FE, N.M. — As expected by proponents of the statewide carbon pollution cap and trade law (Rule 350), the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) unanimously voted today to repeal the controversial regulation. In deliberations that lasted about three hours, EIB based its decision on the belief that Rule would be too burdensome on the New Mexico economy and that the costs outweigh the benefits.
“The hearing initiated by EIB and PNM et al. was a very expensive formality,” says Bruce Frederick, New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) Staff Attorney. “They essentially already agreed to repeal the regulations long before the hearings began. By law, EIB must be an impartial decision maker. In this case, however, it is not impartial.”
Hearing Set in San Augustin Plains Water Case
SOCORRO, N.M. (AP) - A hearing is scheduled next week in Socorro on a proposal to pump what would amount to billions of gallons of water from the San Augustin Plains in central New Mexico… More than 80 are represented by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and staff attorney Bruce Frederick. He says the application doesn’t comply with state law because Augustin Plains Ranch has failed to identify exactly how and where it intends to use the water. NewsWest9.com
San Augustin Plains Water Grab Motions to be Heard
SANTA FE, N.M.— After four years of delays and false starts, the State Engineer is finally hearing motions to dismiss an application to take 54,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually from Catron County. The application, filed by a New York based corporation, is being protested by over 200 residents who live in and around Datil, NM – an area known as the San Augustin Plains. The residents fear that the San Augustin basin that supplies their wells with water and contributes flow to the Rio Grande and Gila River stream systems will be decimated if the application is granted. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) represents over 80 Protestants.
NMELC filed a motion to dismiss the application one year ago. “The application must be thrown out because it does not comply with basic New Mexico law,” said Bruce Frederick, NMELC Staff Attorney. “The corporation’s application seeks a permit to use or sell a vast amount of water for any purpose within seven New Mexico counties. Under New Mexico law, however, the corporation was required to identify exactly how and where it intends to use the water, and its failure to do so means that the State Engineer cannot consider or approve its application.”
The hearing will be held in Socorro, NM on February 7th.