NMELC in the News
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center is frequently in the news, both locally and nationally. If you see references that we've missed, please forward them on to us at: nmelc@nmelc.org. Thank you.
‘Water grab’ protesters unite
“Fredrick said at the time that he hoped to get the case thrown out on legal grounds. He said Augustin Plains Ranch doesn’t own the rights to the water it plans to pump, so the application is frivolous. ‘Basically they’re staking a claim, and you can’t do that under western water law,‘ he said. ‘So, in my opinion, it’s defective on its face. We’re going to try to nip it in the bud on legal grounds before it gets to experts.‘ “ El Defensor Chieftain
Learn more about the San Augustin Plains Ranch water rights application case.
Navajo Petition Against Uranium Mining Is Denied - ‘America’s First Warriors’ - Uranium Question
“ ‘This is sad day for justice,” said Eric Jantz, staff attorney at the New Mexico Environmental Law Center…‘The evidence was clear that wholesale groundwater pollution and radioactive air contamination will result from HRI’s mining operations, but based on a legal technicality, the 10th Circuit has allowed this injustice to continue,‘ “ Before It’s News
Group Takes Emissions Battle to NM Supreme Court
“The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has filed a petition with the court, asking it to order a state judge in Lovington to reverse an earlier decision [on proposed greenhouse gas cap regulations].“ Forbes
Proposed Mt. Taylor Uranium Mine Faces New Obstacle
“Since General Atomics acquired the Cotter Corporation in 2000, the company has had over a hundred violations of federal and state environmental laws,” Jantz told The Independent. “This demonstrates a pattern of willful disregard for environmental law, which is a real concern for the community.” The New Mexico Independent
Earth Day A-Z
“New Mexico Environmental Law Center This Santa Fe-based nonprofit law firm takes cases related to everything from oil and gas drilling and uranium mining to environmental justice and acequia water rights. It also sells Justice Bars, organic chocolate bars made with local New Mexico ingredients.“ Santa Fe Reporter
Waste Not … or Get Nukes
“To begin with, there’s the issue of who benefits from increasing nuclear power generation. At every point along the nuclear fuel chain, the flow of money reinforces current economic and social power disparities.“ Eric Jantz
Read full blog post on The Grange at HCN.org
A new wave of uranium mining threatens Indigenous communities in the Southwest
“ ‘The Navajo [Diné] communities … are demanding that they [the mining companies] stay off of Navajo lands,‘ wrote the New Mexico Environmental Law Center in a March 9 press release. ‘This court setback is even more devastating now that the nuclear industry ramps up its lobbying campaign to gain access to stimulus funds for construction of new nuclear plants. … It’s critical to look at the entire nuclear fuel chain.‘ ” The Indypendent
Hot Rocks: Hidden Cost and Foreign Ownership of “Clean” Nuclear Fuel Emerging
“ ‘Both the BLM and the Forest Service have taken the position that they are unable to say ‘no’ to exploration or mining on federal lands under the 1872 mining act,‘ says Eric Jantz, an attorney for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.“ The Huffington Post
Amigos Bravos Talks to KSFR About Dairy Regs Case
Listen in to the KSFR’s Radio Cafe tomorrow morning! Our client, Michael Jensen of Amigos Bravos will be talking to Mary-Charlotte about the New Mexico dairy discharge regulations case.
WHEN: Thursday, April 1st, 8:00 am
WHERE: KSFR 101.1 FM, Santa Fe, NM
Brave Nuke World
“ ‘This opinion has signaled to the NRC that it can regulate however it wants, no matter how lax,‘ Jantz says. ‘If there’s a nuclear renaissance, we’re going to have the same situation we had in the last uranium boom: millions of acre-feet of contaminated ground and surface water and whole communities of sick people.‘ ” Santa Fe Reporter
Emissions-Caps Foes Reduced to Whining
“The New Mexico Environmental Law Center, which has been carrying much of the petition load, dismisses the commercial call to dismiss the proposal as so much legal folderol; the companies just plain don’t want any greenhouse-gas regulation.“ Santa Fe New Mexican
Eating Wrong
“With an impressive list of more than 30 partners - ranging from Santa Fe Alliance and Sierra Club to Architecture 2030 and New Mexico Environmental Law Center - translating Dreaming New Mexico from a fantasy to an atlas for action is more than doable.“ Santa Fe Reporter
New Emissions Cap Proposal Draws Fire in NM
“Bruce Frederick, an attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, which filed the petition on behalf of New Energy Economy, said the motion is just another attempt by the oil and natural gas industry and electricity producers to kill the effort to establish a greenhouse gas emissions cap. ‘They will continue to complain. They really don’t want any greenhouse gas regulation at any cost,‘ Frederick said.“ Associated Press
Go to New Mexico Greenhouse Gas Emission Caps case page
Court denies review of uranium mining permit in NM
“Attorney Eric Jantz of the Santa Fe-based Environmental Law Center, which represents mining opponents, said his clients were disappointed, but it’s not the end of the road. ‘If this project is allowed to continue, the folks in the Crownpoint and Church Rock communities are going to be left holding a very toxic bag,‘ Jantz said.“ Associated Press
Appellate court upholds HRI’s mining permit
“ ‘We are very disappointed in the court’s decision,‘ stated Eric Jantz, staff attorney of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and lead attorney on the appeal, in a press release. ‘The majority passed up the opportunity to protect the health and safety of the people of Crownpoint and Church Rock - because the NRC won’t.‘ “ The Navajo Times