Air pollution controls adopted by The State of New Mexico could be made tougher than federal law as a bill advanced in the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday and could next face a vote on the Senate Floor.
Sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-25), Senate Bill 8 was intended to allow the State to adopt air pollution controls as stringent or tougher than federal restrictions through the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Improvement Board.
As the Air Quality Control and Hazardous Waste acts currently read, New Mexico is not capable of implementing stricter air quality controls than federal law.
If signed into law, SB 8 would amend both acts.
A bipartisan bill intended to increase oversight of oil and gas pipelines by shifting authority to New Mexico’s main extraction compliance agency was introduced in New Mexico’s Senate Rules Committee Wednesday, but a vote was delayed, and the bill was expected to be brought forth again in next year’s session.
Senate Bill 409 would transfer authority over pipelines, pipeline safety and evacuation of underground facilities from the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) through its Pipeline Safety Division to the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) within the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMRND).
Doing so would mean amending the Pipeline Safety Act to transfer functions, personnel, appropriations, property, records and contracts to the OCD related to pipelines.