For decades PNM has been dumping toxic coal ash in unlined pits. HB 142 would assess what remediation is needed and force PNM to remediate. A game breaking hearing is scheduled for tomorrow at 10am. We provide all you need to take action. Please take that action RIGHT NOW!!!!

We were told by Chair Munoz that this bill will be heard in Senate Finance Committee, Room 322 at 10am on Friday. If the bill passes SFC, it will only need to pass the House floor to get to the Governor. We’ve already sent two alerts today, so we’ll use the blog to give you this heads up.

The full title of the bill is the Generating Facility and Mine Remediation and Restoration Study Act. We provide a summary of why we view this as such an important bill below. Please use the summary below to prepare email and calls to SFC membersand/or to make plans to attend . List below.

What Would Hb 142 Do

HB 142 would require the state to obtain a thorough and independent assessment of the threat posed by coal ash is essential to protect the communities that rely on the San Juan River and its tributaries.

Why is the Assessment & Clean Up of San Juan so Important?

The San Juan Watershed is jeopardized by the extraordinary volume of toxic coal ash disposed at the San Juan Generating Station and the San Juan Mine. To protect human health and the environment, hazardous substances in the 59 million tons of disposed ash must be prevented from entering groundwater and surface water.

From Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel Earthjustice, author of “Cleaning up Coal Ash for Good:”

“In light of the history of toxic substances leaching from coal ash improperly disposed by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) at the San Juan plant and mine, an independent assessment is essential to ensure timely actions are taken to protect the watershed, and the communities that rely on it, in perpetuity.”

– Lisa Evans, Senior Counsel Earthjustice, author of “Cleaning up Coal Ash for Good”

The economic risks posed by potential contamination of groundwater wells and the San Juan River are enormous.

• The river is a primary water source for Navajo and Jicarilla Apache people – well over 50 percent of the San Juan River watershed are Native American lands.
• The impacts of contamination will be much more widespread, with nearly every major population in New Mexico impacted by the river, whose waters are diverted to feed the Rio Grande reaching all the way to
• Albuquerque.
• Two hundred thousand acres of land are irrigated in the San Juan watershed and recreational boating, fishing and rafting bring vital economic dollars to local communities.

To ensure that toxic chemicals from the San Juan site do not contaminate groundwater and flow into the San Juan River, it is critical to remove coal ash from any risk of contact with groundwater. If coal ash comes in contact with groundwater, hazardous toxins will continue to leach into water in perpetuity.

Contamination of the river via careless industry oversight poses an enormous economic risk to our state.

The health of the San Juan watershed and the people who depend on it cannot be left in the hands of corporate executives. It must be independently verifiable, transparent and thorough.

Read more at: Poisonous Coverup: The Widespread Failure of the Power Industry to Clean Up Coal Ash Dumps,

Hearing Info

For public participation and to register for Zoom, send email to
SFC.Zoom@nmlegis.gov
To attend meeting via Zoom, click the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81696207177
Meeting ID: 816 9620 7177 Zoom Call: +1 699 444 917

Contact info

• Chair: George K. Munoz (D). District 4 (Cibola, McKinley & San Juan). Room 325B, 986-4371. Email: george.munoz@nmlegis.gov
• Vice Chair: Nancy Rodriguez (D). District 24 (Santa Fe). Room 325A, 986-4264. Email: nancy.rodriguez@nmlegis.gov
• Ranking Member: William E. Sharer (R). District 1 (San Juan). Room 415H, 986-4381. Email: bill@williamsharer.com
• Member: William F. Burt (R). District 33 (Chaves, Lincoln & Otero). Room 415C, 986-4366. Email: bill.burt@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Pete Campos (D). District 8 (Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel & Taos). Room 302B, 986-4311. Email: pete.campos@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Crystal R. Diamond (R). District 35 (Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra). Room 414C, 986-4703. Email: crystal.diamond@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D). District 6 (Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe & Taos). Room 218A, 986-4362. Email: roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Siah Correa Hemphill (D). District 28 (Catron, Grant & Socorro). Room 416F, 986-4863. Email: siah.hemphill@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Michael Padilla (D). District 14 (Bernalillo). Room , . Email: michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Jeff Steinborn (D). District 36 (Doña Ana). Room 302A, 986-4862. Email: jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov
• Member: Pat Woods (R). District 7 (Curry, Quay & Union). Room 415D, 986-4393. Email: pat.woods@nmlegis.gov

Bulk mail: “William F. Burt” <bill.burt@nmlegis.gov>, “Pete Campos” <pete.campos@nmlegis.gov>, “Crystal R. Diamond” <crystal.diamond@nmlegis.gov>, “Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales” <roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov>, “Siah Correa Hemphill” <siah.hemphill@nmlegis.gov>, “George K. Munoz” <george.munoz@nmlegis.gov>, “Michael Padilla” <michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov>, “Nancy Rodriguez” <nancy.rodriguez@nmlegis.gov>, “William E. Sharer” <bill@williamsharer.com>, “Jeff Steinborn” <jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov>, “Pat Woods” <pat.woods@nmlegis.gov>

In solidary, hope & fumes 😉

Paul & Roxanne

Categories: Local-State Government & Legislation

Tags: Featured, NM State Legislature, read more, Roundhouse