NMED News:
SANTA FE —The New Mexico Environment Department’s Surface Water Quality Bureau invites the public to comment on proposed amendments to the state’s surface water regulations.
The public draft of the changes can be found here. The 60-day public comment period opened Aug. 15, 2025, and will close Oct. 14, 2025. Comments may be submitted by mail, email or through NMED’s SmartComment portal.
Comments submitted to NMED will help refine the proposed amendments before the agency petitions the Water Quality Control Commission for a rulemaking hearing. An additional public comment period will be held during the rulemaking hearing.
Background
The federal Clean Water Act aims to restore the nation’s waters, including those in New Mexico. To uphold the Act’s goal, NMED is legally required to adopt water quality standards that protect public health and welfare and enhance water quality.
As part of the rulemaking process, states are required to hold public hearings at least once every three years to review, amend, and adopt water quality standards. This process is called a “Triennial Review.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the last Triennial Review of the state’s surface water quality standards in January 2023. NMED intends to consider public comments and petition the WQCC by the end of 2025 for a hearing in the second half of2026.
Participation Opportunities
To submit comments:
- Email Michael Baca, Water Quality Standards Coordinator, at michael.baca1@env.nm.gov
- Mail to P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502
- Submit to NMED’s SmartComment portal
In addition, NMED will host a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to present and discuss the proposed amendments and provide a forum for the public to ask questions. Go to the NMED Events Calendar webpage or the SWQB 2026 Triennial Review webpage for more information.
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