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Mission

Our mission is to protect and restore the environment and to foster a healthy and prosperous New Mexico for present and future generations. We implement our mission guided by four tenets:

Science

Using the best available science to inform our decision-making in protecting public health and the environment.

Innovation

Employing creative engineering and technological solutions to address environmental challenges.

Collaboration

Engaging communities and interested stakeholders in environmental decision-making outcomes.

Compliance

Ensuring meaningful compliance with state regulations and permits; leveling the playing field through enforcement.

Non-Employee Discrimination Complaints

NMED does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in the administration of its programs or activities. To learn more or to file a complaint, visit our Equity webpage.

Quejas por Discriminación de No-Empleados

El Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por su sigla en inglés) no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, discapacidad, edad o sexo en la administración de sus programas o actividades. Para obtener más información o para presentar una queja visite Equity webpage.

Happening Now

28 Mar

60-day Public Comment Period: Sandia National Labs Burn Site Groundwater Area of Concern Remedy Selection

5pm MDT
The New Mexico Environment Department (Department/NMED) proposes to select a remedy for corrective action for the Burn Site Groundwater (BSG) Area of Concern (AOC) at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) conducted a Corrective Measures Evaluation (CME) to evaluate different alternatives for remediation of the BSG AOC and submitted a CME Report to NMED on January 30, 2023 (SNL 2023). NMED is proposing this action under the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act, NMSA 1978 §§ 74-4-1 to 74-4-17, and under the terms of the Compliance Order on Consent (Consent Order), dated April 29, 2004, executed by NMED and by the DOE and Sandia Corporation. The BSG AOC has been under investigation since the 1990s. Based on the information collected, NMED intends, pending public input, to select a remedy for the BSG AOC.

The public comment period for this Remedy Selection for the Burn Site Groundwater Area of Concern will run from February 15, 2024 through April 15, 2024. Any person who wishes to comment on this action should submit written comments in nmed.commentinput.com… or e-mail comments with the commenter's name and address to neelam.dhawan@env.nm.gov . Only written comments received on or before 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2024, will be considered.
27 Feb

Department’s Analysis Available for Review, Second 30-day Public Comment Period: Short Line LLC-Las Vegas Aggregate Crusher and Screening Plant Air Quality Construction Permit Application 10131

The Department’s analysis, including the draft permit, air dispersion modeling, and draft Statement of Basis are available for review. The second 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Miguel County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

Department’s Analysis Available for Review, Second 30-day Public Comment Period: Short Line LLC-Las Vegas HMA Plant Air Quality Construction Permit Application 10129

The Department’s analysis, including the draft permit, air dispersion modeling, and draft Statement of Basis are available for review. The second 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Miguel County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

Mesa Verde Enterprises-MV 400 TPH Gencor HMA Plant Air Quality Construction Permit Application 5880M1

The 30-day comment period is open for this application.  Visit the NMED website at www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right.  Click Public Notices and look under Otero County to see documents related this permitting application.  Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

Harvest Four Corners LLC-Val Verde Gas Treatment Plant Air Quality Operating Permit Application P118-R4

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under San Juan County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

30-day Public Comment Period: Frontier Field Services, LLC – Empire Abo Compressor Station Air Quality Construction Permit Application 0126M12

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under Eddy County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

Department’s Analysis Available for Review, Second 30-day Public Comment Period: Mesa Verde Enterprises – MV 400 TPH Astec HMA Plant Air Quality Construction Permit Application 9079M1

The Department’s analysis, including the draft permit, applicants air dispersion modeling, and draft Statement of Basis are available for review. The second 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under Doña Ana County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
28 Mar

30-day Public Comment Period: Dept of the Army - White Sands Missile Range Air Quality Operating Permit Application P085-R4

The 30-day comment period is open for this permit application. Visit the NMED website www.env.nm.gov and look for the Public Participation menu in the top right. Click Public Notices and look under Socorro County, Sierra County, Otero County, Lincoln County, and Dona Ana County to see documents related to this permitting application. Click Public Comment Portal on the Public Participation menu to submit comments or use the link below.
01 Apr

Reminder: Send tank system testing results to Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau

Owners, operators, and testers of petroleum storage tank systems, please email all required tank system test results to: PSTB.compliance@env.nm.gov with a copy to the facility inspector, if known, to allow for receipt and tracking of these reports. Report a suspected or confirmed leak or spill from a petroleum storage tank within 24 hours here (this includes failed or inconclusive test results). Send passing test results within 60 days of when they're done.

Please name the documents you send as follows:

[Facility ID#] [Owner ID#] [Facility name] [Type of Test] [Date of Test]

For example: 30211 53489 Jack’s Quick Mart ATG Test 2021-06-25

The facility ID# and Owner ID# are on the registration certificates you receive after you pay your tank fees every year or may be found in the storage tank lists available near the bottom of the main PSTB (Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau)  webpage, https://www.env.nm.gov/petroleum_storage_tank/.

Information that must be included in reports:

  1. facility name and address;
    (2) facility ID number;
    (3) owner and operator name and address;
    (4) owner ID number;
    (5) date report was completed;
    (6) date of the test;
    AND MORE. See 20.5.107.715.D NMAC and others referred to below.

PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE TANK ID #

New Mexico's Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations are at 20.5 NMAC. You can look up different parts at https://www.srca.nm.gov/chapter-5-petroleum-storage-tanks/ or download the whole book here.

If you are unable to email required test results to PSTB.compliance@env.nm.gov, mail them to: Testing Results, PSTB, 2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1, Santa Fe, NM 87505.The Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations (20.5 NMAC) that were adopted by the Environmental Improvement Board on May 25, 2018 and effective July 24, 2018 require that most test result reports be sent to the Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau:

  • Storage tank system owners and operators must provide the department all reports as required in 20.5.107 NMAC within 60 days of completion of the tests (20.5.107.715.B NMAC). Owners and operators must report any failed tests or inspections to the department within 24 hours of completion of the test or inspection in accordance with 20.5.118 NMAC (20.5.107.715.C NMAC). 20.5.107.715.D NMAC lists what must be included in the reports. Similar requirements are outlined in 20.5.108.816 NMAC, 20.5.110.1016 NMAC, and 20.5.111.1112 NMAC.
  • Failing or abnormal results of ANY test or monitoring result, including investigation of an alarm, are signs of a suspected release, and owners, installers, junior installers, and testers must report these within 24 hours both by sending them to PSTB.Compliance@env.nm.gov with a cc to the PSTB inspector AND by contacting the Leak of the Week listed here: https://cloud.env.nm.gov/waste/pages/download.php?direct=1&ref=13965&size=&ext=pdf or by calling (505) 827-9329 outside of state business hours if it's an emergency. Owners and operators must also investigate these suspected releases within seven (7) days of discovery and conduct appropriate testing, site check, etc. (20.5.118.1801 NMAC).
  • Unless an owner or operator shows within 30 days that a release that was reported as a suspected release is not a release, it will be treated as a confirmed release, and you must comply with 20.5.118 NMAC and 20.5.119 or 120 NMAC, including taking corrective action, for confirmed releases.

Other requirements pertaining to testing of tanks include:

  • A qualified tester must perform the first test or inspection of existing spill and overfill prevention equipment and interstitial monitoring containment sumps by July 24, 2021. (5.105 NMAC; 20.5.106.613 NMAC, 20.5.107.704, 707, & 714 NMAC, 20.5.108.811 & 813 NMAC, 20.5.109.910 NMAC, 20.5.110.1005 & 1015 NMAC).
  • If you have a UST and/or piping that uses ATG (automatic tank gauging)(only allowed on USTs and/or piping installed before April 4, 2008), a qualified tester must test it at least annually by July 24, 2021 . (20.5.105 NMAC; 20.5.108.805 NMAC, 20.5.108.815 & 816 NMAC).

Helpful brochures to explain many requirements of the regulations are available at: https://www.env.nm.gov/petroleum_storage_tank/guidance-documents-ast-and-ust/

Find your tank inspector here: https://cloud.env.nm.gov/waste/pages/view.php?ref=10632&k=fa934e9692.
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