News
The latest news from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.
Don’t Blame the Pit Rule for Loss of Revenue, State Budget Crisis
“The Pit Rule is responsible regulation and simply the right thing to do.“ Joanna Prukop, Former Secretary, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
Read full article in today’s Albuquerque Journal Opinion/ Guest Columns section.
Law Center Files Expert Testimony in Homestake Uranium Discharge Permitting Case
The NMELC filed expert testimony for clients Bluewater Valley Downstream Alliance (BVDA) in the matter of the discharge permit (DP-725) for the Homestake uranium tailings reclamation superfund site. Expert witness Paul Robinson of Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC), examined the permit along with supporting and historic documents and concluded in his testimony that modifications should be made in order to assure the public health and safety in the process of remediating the site.
A public hearing will be held to determine if the permit will be approved as issued or modified.
Homestake discharge permit case.
Underused Drilling Practices Could Avoid Pollution
This is a really good article, and demonstrates that local laws make the drilling industry use less toxic materials. Eric Jantz
“As environmental concerns threaten to derail natural gas drilling projects across the country, the energy industry has developed innovative ways to make it easier to exploit the nation’s reserves without polluting air and drinking water.“
Law Center files Reply to OCC Response in the Pit Rule Roll Back Appeal Case
The Law Center files Reply to the NM Oil Conservation Commission’s Response to the Oil and Gas Accountability Project’s (OGAP) Statement of Appellate Issues filed on October 1st.
Learn more about the Pit Rule Roll back case.
Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment Attend URI “Educational” Luncheon
The Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) will be peacefully walking outside an “educational” luncheon for Gallup Chamber of Commerce members and McKinley County Commissioners today in order to remind the public that the Church Rock-Crownpoint ISL Project is unwelcome and will contaminate parts of an aquifer that at least 15,000 people living in the Eastern Navajo Agency depend on as their sole source of drinking water.
Get MASE Press Release in PDF format
OGAP Files Motion for Stay in Pit Rule Roll Back Appeal Case
The Law Center filed a Motion for Stay for our clients the Oil and Gas Accountability Project (OGAP). Our clients are requesting the Motion in order to keep the higher chloride standard from being implemented by the Oil Conservation Commission until a decision on the appeal is determined.
Read the Motion for Stay in PDF format.
Learn more about the Pit Rule Roll back case
MOTHER EARTH, FATHER SKY Benefit Lecture Series
Every Monday evening, starting October 26th, at 6 pm at the Hotel Santa Fe.
For more information see our Events Page or call 505-989-9022.
10% of proceeds benefit the New Mexico Environmental Law Center
photo credit: © jdebordphoto | Dreamstime.com
7th Indigenous Uranium Forum - Leave Uranium in the Ground
Join the gathering! The Forum proposes to focus much-needed public attention on the attack of Mount Taylor by uranium mining.
Key note speaker Winona Laduke, Anishinaabe - Youth Poetry Jam - Concert & Film Festival - and much more…
Volunteers needed! Please call 505-726-9362 for more information.
Or visit the Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum website
Green Fire Report Newsletter - Summer 2009
The GFR Summer 2009 edition is now available online. Case updates, new faces and other news about our work around the state.
You can also get past issues here.
BREAKING: Tenth Circuit Grants en banc review of the EPA jurisdiction case
The US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, accepted HRI’s request for en banc review of the EPA jurisdiction case. Get PDF of the order.
Learn more about the case here
NM Water Law Conference Presentation on Ambrosia Lake Uranium Mining District
View Staff Attorney Eric Jantz’s PowerPoint presentation on Ambrosia Lake, “A Community Perspective” given at last week’s 17th annual New Mexico Water Law Conference in Santa Fe.
This presentation was converted to PDF format.
Uranium Legacy Remembrance and Action Day - Navajos Remember Church Rock Spill
On the morning of July 16th 1979, in Church Rock, NM an earthen dam that held the wastes of a uranium mill failed. It released ninety-million tons of liquid radioactive waste and 1,100 tons of solid mill wastes into the Puerco River contaminating its waters as far as Arizona.
Yesterday, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the spill, Navajo community members, friends and supporters walked the route along SR 566 for Uranium Legacy Remembrance and Action Day.
Remembering the Largest Radioactive Spill in US History this Thursday
The Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) - a coalition of community groups affected by uranium mining and committed to renewable energy development - announces the Commemoration of the Church Rock Uranium Tailings Spill on July 16, 2009 in Church Rock, NM starting at 7 am.
Please join us as we remember and honor the Diné communities that were affected by the largest release of radioactive waste in U.S. history, and to reaffirm the Navajo Nation’s ban on uranium mining and processing, as set forth in the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act (DNRPA) of 2005.
For more details, please visit our Events Page, or download a PDF of Flyer.
Become a Member of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center
Did you know that you can become a member of the NMELC for only $35? You can even sign up for monthly recurring donations. For more options and more information see our Donation page.
Your tax deductible donation will help protect the natural environment and communities of New Mexico. We couldn’t do it without you!
Lease Application Hearing Scheduled for July 28th in Rio Bonito Water Rights Case
The hearing is about an application by the Villages of Ruidoso and Capitan to lease water rights from Capitan to Ruidoso. Our client, Rio Bonito Preserve, opposes the transfer because it will cause depletion of flows in the Rio Bonito and impair the water rights of Acequias.
For more details visit the Rio Bonito Water Rights case page