NEWS - Press Releases
This is the archive of the latest press releases from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. Feel free to redistribute. We have an RSS feed for keeping up to date on NMELC's work. Sign up by clicking the RSS FEED button at the bottom of our navigation menu on the left.
Dissenting Judge Says Court Decision Puts Health of Navajo People at Risk
SANTA FE, N.M. – A federal appeals court judge has condemned a decision of two of his colleagues that upholds the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) license allowing Hydro Resources, Inc. (HRI) to mine for uranium in Churchrock and Crownpoint chapters of the Navajo Nation. The 10th Federal Circuit Appeals Court in Denver, CO returned with their decision today upholding the NRC license allowing HRI to mine for uranium in Crownpoint’s municipal water supply.
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Learn more about the Hydro Resources, Inc. uranium mines case
Bluestone Named NM Environmental Law Center Board President
SANTA FE, NM - The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC), a nonprofit, public interest, environmental law firm, announces the appointment of Stuart Bluestone as their new Board of Directors president, effective January 1, 2010. Bluestone is the Senior Counsel to the Attorney General of New Mexico and brings more than 35 years of legal experience, primarily in consumer protection and public interest law to this well respected organization. The position of president is for a one-year term. Bluestone replaces outgoing president Dale Pontius.
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MOTHER EARTH, FATHER SKY Benefit Lecture Series Begins Tonight!
SANTA FE, NM — The 7th annual lecture series, presented by Southwest Seminars, will offer unique perspectives on the environment of the American West every week at 6 pm at the Hotel Santa Fe. Mother Earth, Father Sky is offered as a benefit event for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) and will have something for everyone: from a geologist’s look at the ancient landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, to an ethnobotonist’s answer to the age old question “What’s for dinner?”—300 years ago in Colonial New Mexico.
Go to Events Page for full line up
Environmental Group Appeals OCC’s Roll Back of Pit Rule to Save Industry Money
SANTA FE, N.M.—An environmental group has appealed the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission’s (OCC) decision to weaken an important environmental standard that protects New Mexico’s ground water from pollution by oil and gas operations.
Learn more about the Pit Rule Roll Back case
Download copy of filed Statement of Appellate Issues
Van Buren Joins Local Environmental Nonprofit Board of Directors
SANTA FE, N.M - The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC), a nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm, announces the appointment of long-time writer, artist, teacher and activist Alice van Buren to the Board of Directors. Van Buren, a former National Public Radio commentator, magazine editor, television researcher and writer, brings her passion for protecting the environment to this well respected organization.
Remembering the 30th Anniversary of the Largest Radioactive Spill in US History
“The largest release of radioactive waste occurred right down the road from me. To this day, this dangerous contamination has not been adequately addressed.” Larry J. King, Churchrock resident, before the U.S. House of Representatives, October 23, 2007
CHURCH ROCK, NM - 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 30th Anniversary Commemoration of the Church Rock Uranium Tailings Spill on July 16, 2009.
New Mexico Environmental Law Center Launches New Website
SANTA FE, NM – In order to offer the public better access to information about the environmental health of their communities, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) is excited to announce the launch of their new website just in time for Earth Day. The new website will offer regular updates on cases, issues and events, as well as easier navigation and a cleaner interface.
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New Mexico’s Land and Water Face Challenge from the Oil and Gas Industry
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - Three organizations announced today their opposition to a state plan to weaken a hard-fought water and land protection rule. On February 18, Governor Richardson announced he was directing the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to work with industry to develop amendments that would save them the cost of compliance to the recently amended Pit Rule.
A Joint Release from New Mexico Citizens for Clean Air and Water, New Mexico Environmental Law Center and EARTHWORKS’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project
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Enviro Groups Push for Better Regs to Protect Groundwater from Exploratory Mining Wells
New Mexico Environmental Law Center, representing its clients Amigos Bravos and Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP), will present testimony on March 23rd to support strengthening New Mexico’s mining exploration permitting regulations in order to protect groundwater from contamination caused by mining exploration wells.
The hearing is open to the public.
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NM Grant County Groundwater Supplies Protected Today
The Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP) and Law Center today hailed state regulators for placing valuable New Mexican groundwater supplies ahead of Freeport-McMoRan mining company’s profits at its Tyrone copper mine in Grant County.
The company argued that groundwater supplies under the Tyrone mine site are not required to be protected under the Water Quality Act. The Water Quality Control Commission unequivocally rejected that land ownership and control of the land surface are relevant to determining whether groundwater will be used in the future.
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ENDANGERED Culture: The Galisteo Basin as seen by 28 Photographers
Photo-Eye Gallery and The Galisteo Basin Photography Project present a benefit exhibition and print sale in support of the preservation of the Galisteo Basin. The mission of the Project, is to raise public awareness of what may be irretrievably lost if the Galisteo Basin is allowed to become an oil and gas production field. Find out more
Opening Friday, January 23rd, 2009 5-7pm. The exhibition continues through March 7th. New Energy Economy has petitioned the state Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt new regulations that would dramatically reduce global warming pollution over the next decade. Get Press Release in PDF format SANTA FE, NM — The New Mexico Environmental Law Center introduces the Justice Bar this week, just in time for the holidays and perfect for stocking stuffers. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center is one of the oldest and most respected independent non-profit environmental groups in New Mexico. These delicious chocolate bars will help protect the beautiful vistas and diverse communities of New Mexico because 100% of the net proceeds from Justice Bars go to the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, New Mexico’s only not-for-profit environmental justice law firm. The beautiful landscape photographs of New Mexico on the labels were donated by John Vavruska and remind chocolate lovers of what is at stake. Get Press Release in PDF format In a response to the industry’s exaggerated claims that renewed uranium mining would be a multi-billion dollar economic bonanza for New Mexico and the Grants area, the Law Center commissioned Dr. Thomas M. Power to evaluate the true economic impacts of uranium mining in New Mexico. The result is the only independently reviewed analysis of the subject in New Mexico entitled An Economic Evaluation of a Renewed Uranium Mining Boom in New Mexico. Get Press Release in PDF format On September 17, 2008, Broe Land and Acquisitions, Inc. LLC (Broe) filed a notice that it was withdrawing all of its applications for water rights that are currently pending before the State Engineer. Broe, a Denver corporation specializing in real estate speculation, had filed a total of 16 water rights applications to appropriate thousands of acre-feet of groundwater per year from the Gallup underground water basin in Catron County. Broe’s decision to withdraw resulted from a motion filed by New Mexico Environmental Law Center (the Law Center) staff attorney Bruce Frederick on behalf of its clients. Frederick argued that the appropriation would have violated state law that requires water rights be owned by the same entity that owns the land. Broe’s water rights applications violated this law because the company would have ended up owning water rights to land owned by the State of New Mexico. Get Press Release in PDF format
NM Group Calls for Urgent Action on Global Warming
Justice is Sweet
Cost Analysis of Uranium Mining in New Mexico Shows No Economic Boon
Law Center and Citizens Defeat Water Grab