The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) recently disclosed updates for December 2023 on the Enforcement Watch. The report revealed that within this period, 99 new entries were added to the active matters listing, while seven matters were moved to the resolved matters listing.
Enforcement Watch has documented various alleged violations and resolved cases. The Drinking Water Bureau issued 86 notices, the Occupational Health & Safety Bureau issued seven, and the Air Quality Bureau issued five. Additionally, the Solid Waste Bureau issued one notice. However, no new actions were taken by the Food Safety Program due to a software transition. Among the resolved cases were three in the Hazardous Waste Bureau, two in the Solid Waste Bureau, one in the Air Quality Bureau, and one in the Radiation Control Bureau. Notable instances included a Notice of Violation to Sono Bello Albuquerque, a Settlement Agreement with Robert Medina and Sons Concrete and Sand Inc., a Notice of Violation and Resolution to Camino Real Landfill, and a resolution of a Notice of Violation with Lotus LLC. According to an NMED press release, these actions underscored their ongoing commitment to safeguarding the environment for present and future generations.
"The transparency provided by Enforcement Watch allows the citizens of New Mexico to see not only violators but also those who work responsibly to resolve compliance issues," said Bruce Baizel, NMED Compliance and Enforcement Director according to an NMED press release. He further commended companies like Lotus LLC for their cooperation with their Radiation Control Bureau in ensuring that regulated Naturally Occurring Radioactive Waste is disposed of by properly licensed companies at permitted hazardous waste disposal facilities.
According to information available on its webpage provided by the state of New Mexico, NMED remains committed to protecting and restoring the environment for present and future generations' well-being. It employs innovative engineering solutions, ensures compliance with state regulations, and holds polluters accountable for fostering a fair and sustainable New Mexico.
