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NM Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau eliminates backlogged enforcement cases

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63 Enforcement Cases Now Triaged and in the Progress Pipeline

Santa Fe – On July 20, the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau announced substantial progress toward reducing a backlog of air quality violations in New Mexico.

“While remaining up-to-date with the current oversight of air quality permittees, the Air Quality Bureau as a whole, and its enforcement section in particular, have pushed through a backlog of enforcement issues—63 to be exact,” New Mexico Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn said. “Under new leadership in the enforcement section, the previously dormant and backlogged enforcement cases, dating as far back as 2006, are now triaged and each case is in the progress pipeline. Air Quality’s Compliance and Enforcement Section Chief Ralph Gruebel and staff are to be commended.”

The Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau protects the inhabitants and natural beauty of New Mexico by preventing the deterioration of air quality. The Bureau implements strategic planning to ensure that all air quality standards are met and maintained and issues air-quality construction and operating permits to make sure that air quality regulations are implemented fairly and consistently. The Bureau also ensures compliance with air-quality regulations and permit-conditions and provides guidance on air-quality modeling to demonstrate compliance with air -quality standards.

The team at Environment’s Air Quality Bureau was instrumental in accomplishing the largest greenhouse gas reduction in the history of New Mexico, projected at 5.7 tons through the San Juan Generating Station Agreement brokered through the Environment Department with the technical assistance and collaboration of the Bureau’s scientists and regulators.

More information about the work of the Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau can be found at env.nm.gov/air.html.

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