NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department is highlighting the ongoing success of its Enforcement Watch initiative, a transparency-focused program that provides the public with consistent and timely information about the Department’s enforcement actions across environmental protection, public health, and worker safety programs.

By making enforcement data accessible, Enforcement Watch reinforces NMED’s commitment to New Mexico residents for accountability and regulatory compliance statewide.

Launched in May 2023, Enforcement Watch shares monthly updates on enforcement actions and their resolutions.

These updates are broadly divided into two categories:

• Active Matters: Alleged violations of state regulations, rules, permits, or licenses that are currently under investigation or pending resolution.
• Resolved Matters: Cases that have been adjudicated in court or administratively resolved, including the full payment of any civil penalties.

Spotlight: Occupational Health and Safety Bureau

The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) enforces New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, investigates workplace safety and health complaints, provides compliance assistance to employers, and conducts enforcement activities to help protect workers across the state.

The Bureau serves a critical role in protecting New Mexican workers from workplace safety hazardous, including in industries like oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.

One of OHSB’s recent actions involved a flash fire at a HF Sinclair refinery in Artesia occurring during a scaffold installation in October 2025, when a leaking pipe released a vapor cloud that ignited—injuring three workers.

Over the last several months, OHSB investigated the incident and identified safety deficiencies that increased the risk of hazardous releases and fire. The investigation found that HF Sinclair employees had not received adequate training on compression fitting assembly and that the facility lacked an effective quality assurance system to verify the integrity of critical safety equipment.

According to the investigation, these deficiencies increased the risk of equipment failures, resulting in the release of flammable materials and placing workers at risk of serious injury.

“Safety must remain the highest priority in every New Mexican workplace,” said Bob Genoway, Deputy Director of the Compliance and Enforcement Division. “The HF Sinclair incident highlights the importance of assuring workers receive proper training, safety critical equipment is correctly installed and verified, and that employers maintain effective systems to identify and address hazards before an accident occurs.”

OHSB issued a citation and notification of penalty of $34,002 to HF Sinclair for the serious violations.

To help prevent such incidents, OSHB regularly conducts inspections, investigates complaints, provides compliance assistance, and enforces safety regulations to help assure effective safety systems, training, and hazard controls.

Enforcement Watch updates for May 2026

This past month (May 2026), the Compliance and Enforcement Division of NMED added 145 new cases to Active Matters and resolved 93, demonstrating ongoing enforcement and accountability across the state.

The following enforcement cases were initiated in May: 

• 75 notices of violation issued by the Water Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau 
• 38 notices of violation issued by the Food Safety Program to retail food establishments 
• 20 notices of violation issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau
• 6 notices of violation issued by the Resource Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau
• 6 notices of violation issued by the Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau

 The following enforcement cases were resolved in May: 

• 60 cases in the Food Safety Program to retail food establishments
• 12 cases in the Water Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau
• 9 cases in the Resource Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau
• 5 cases in the Public Pools/Spas Bureau 
• 4 cases in the Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau
• 3 cases in the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau

Highlights of alleged violations and resolved enforcement actions in May include:

• The Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Matador of Dallas following a review of Excess Emissions Reports submitted for seven facilities in southeast New Mexico. The notice cites the company’s failure to comply with permitted emission limits for regulated pollutants under its General Construction Permit for Oil and Gas facilities.
• The Resource Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Trash Talk Hauling LLC of Santa Fe for operating as a commercial hauler in New Mexico without an approved commercial hauler registration, in violation of state solid waste regulations.
• The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau issued a Citation and Notification of Penalty to Gallatin Operational Solutions of Santa Fe for failing to maintain a clear and unobstructed exit route at its facility, exposing employees to potential hazards during an emergency, in violation of occupational safety and health regulations.
• The Water Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Cubero Elementary School in Grants for failing to correct significant deficiencies identified during a 2025 sanitary survey of its public water system, in violation of Safe Drinking Water Act sanitary survey requirements.
• The Water Protection Compliance and Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Lea County Electric Cooperative Inc. of Lovington for failing to collect and submit the required microbiological sample during March 2026, in violation of Revised Total Coliform Rule monitoring requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Enforcement Watch provides the public, the business community, environmental nongovernment organizations, and municipal governments with easy access to see which organizations NMED has alleged are in violation of regulations, permits, and/or licenses administered by the Department. It is updated when violations are alleged or resolved. Retrospective enforcement matters are added as staffing resources allow. Organizations remain on Enforcement Watch until the alleged violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the Department.

The easiest way for an organization to avoid appearing on the Enforcement Watch is to stay off it in the first place by remaining in full compliance with applicable regulations. NMED encourages organizations that are unclear of their regulatory responsibilities to contact a consultant and conduct a third-party compliance audit and disclose potential violations.   

NMED provides detailed compliance and enforcement metrics in the Compliance Measures section of the Quarterly Performance Report.

The full Enforcement Watch can be viewed at https://www.env.nm.gov/enforcement-watch.