The draft methane (natural gas) emissions rules are available for public review. The comment period runs through Aug. 17. The rules are available at www.emnrd.state.nm.us/OCD/rules.html.

On August 6, the New Mexico Departments of Environment (NMED) and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources (EMNRD) will hold a public meeting to present on the recently released draft rules regulating waste and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The meeting will also serve as an opportunity to hear from the public and answer questions.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

4 – 4:45 p.m.: Introductions, overview of proposed rules from NMED and EMNRD
4:45 – 6 p.m.: Public question-and-answer, statement period. Please keep statements to two minutes or less.

Participants may join the meeting via webcast:

Meeting number: 146 018 6450
Password: 5MDuCY
https://nmemnrd.webex.com/nmemnrd/j.php?MTID=m9a3cd3b5679303a4730f556e5fc5602f
or by phone

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access code: 146 018 6450

The meeting will also be recorded and posted online for those unable to access the livestream. If any member of the public requires language interpretation services, please contact the NMED or EMNRD public information officers listed at the top of this press release to make arrangements.

While public comment periods are only required on the final rules, NMED and EMNRD are committed to transparency and stakeholder feedback, and both Departments are currently accepting informal public input on the draft rules. To submit feedback on the NMED draft rule, email nm.methanestrategy@state.nm.us or mail to Liz Bisbey-Kuehn, NMED Air Quality Bureau, 525 Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe, NM 87505 by 5 p.m. Aug. 20, 2020. To submit feedback on the EMNRD draft rule, email EMNRD.WasteRule@state.nm.us no later than close of business on August 17, 2020.