As oil and gas production surges in New Mexico’s Permian Basin, state and federal regulators are intensifying their enforcement of environmental laws. Recent inspections by the New Mexico Environment Department and the EPA revealed potential air quality violations at over half of the 124 facilities inspected, with 75 facilities found to be non-compliant with volatile organic compound (VOC) emission standards.
The inspections, which utilized satellite data, document reviews, and on-site visits, covered operations by major companies such as Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Earthstone Energy, Inc., and XTO Energy, Inc. In response to these findings, New Mexico plans to refer potential criminal violations to the Environmental Crimes Task Force, while the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice will address regulatory issues.
With only six people managing over 114 active enforcement cases, New Mexico’s Environment Department faces significant resource challenges. The department is advocating for increased permit fees to fund enforcement efforts and address the state’s growing air quality permitting workload, which has surged by over 2,200 percent in the past two decades. The department aims to protect public health, particularly for the one in seven New Mexicans suffering from respiratory conditions.
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