NMED News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) enforcement actions generated more than $30 million across the state in fiscal year 2024, marking a major milestone in efforts to target polluters while improving water systems, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing environmental health.

The total amount of environmental fines collected by the department––$30.2 million–– exceeded the $25.5 million operating budget ($25.5 million) appropriated by the legislature for the department in FY 2024. This amounts to an 18.43% return on investment at no cost to taxpayers. 

“I am extraordinarily proud of our department’s commitment to environmental enforcement that improves the lives New Mexicans while strengthening our economy,” Environment Secretary James Kenney said. “We will continue to hold bad actors accountable and lead the way in reducing climate emissions, improving air quality, cleaning up contaminated water and land, ensuring employees are safe at work.”

In addition to returning more general fund than it spent, the Department invested $78 million to improve water and wastewater infrastructure, river water quality and riparian habitat, promote recycling and addressing illegal dumping, and reduce vehicle carbon and smog-forming emissions. The efforts are part of the department’s mission to create a healthier, more sustainable New Mexico. 

NMED’s $78 million of investments for water projects for communities is up $28 million from the previous year, demonstrating the department’s commitment to get New Mexico’s water and wastewater systems in compliance and ensuring safe drinking water for residents.

Since 2019, the NMED’s general fund has increased from $11.9 million to $25.5 million, making it more resilient today than any time in recent history and at no cost to taxpayers in FY24. 

However, none of NMED’s outward-facing successes could have been possible without investments in our staff. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s and the Legislature’s advocacy for appropriate placement, which provided substantially better compensation for many NMED employees, was crucial to our achievements in FY 2024.

“I fought hard for appropriate placement because my staff deserve compensation for their invaluable service to the Department’s mission,” said Kenney. “My NMED family is close to my heart, and I will continue to fight for them.” 

As a result of appropriate placement, NMED increased staffing by 8.5%, reducing its funded vacancy rate to 15.4% by the end of FY24. This staffing boost enables NMED to provide better customer service and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Even better, NMED still has a multitude of positions available across the state in fields ranging from human resources to hydrology.

Enforcement efforts included 9,802 inspections, 2,176 enforcement actions, and 373 resolved violations, resulting in three programs beating their fiscal year compliance targets.

These include:

• Surface Water Quality Bureau: 95% in compliance, 10% above fiscal year goal.
• Liquid Waste Program: 97.4% in compliance, 12.4% above fiscal year goal.
• Ground Water Quality Bureau: 98.6% in compliance, 6.6% above fiscal year goal.

Despite these successes, challenges remain. NMED’s Air Quality Bureau found that 70% of inspected facilities were out of compliance. To address this, the department has petitioned to raise air quality permit fees, which is currently under consideration by the Environmental Improvement Board.

For more information and to view the entire FY24 Q4 Performance Assessment, click here.