Air Quality Bureau

Regulatory and SIP Bulletin

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The Air Quality Bureau has developed a draft dust mitigation plan and proposed fugitive dust control rule for Doña Ana and Luna counties in southern New Mexico. Mitigation plans are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in areas where recurring natural events (in this case, high winds resulting in blowing dust) cause exceedances of the health based national standards for Particulate Matter. 

Some of the required elements of a mitigation plan include:

·       Steps to identify and study sources of dust;

·       Mandatory or voluntary control measures to abate sources of dust that cause or contribute to exceedances of the standards to better protect public health;

·       Public education and notification programs aimed at reducing individuals’ exposure to unhealthy levels of particulate matter in the air before, during, and after high wind events; and

·       Public review and periodic evaluation of the mitigation plan.

Draft documents of the dust mitigation plan and fugitive dust control rule may be downloaded here.  The Air Quality Bureau will accept comments on the draft documents through April 30, 2018.  Although this is considered an informal comment period, the Bureau plans to respond to every submission received and incorporate input as appropriate.  A formal comment period will be held in conjunction with the rule making process and will be announced at a later date.          

For more information on blowing dust in New Mexico please click here.  For more information about mitigation plan requirements please visit EPA’s Exceptional Events website.       

For additional information concerning this bulletin and to submit comments on the draft documents, please contact Michael Baca at (575) 288-2050 or michael.baca1@state.nm.us

NMED does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in the administration of its programs or activities, as required by applicable laws and regulations. NMED is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Part 7, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. If you have any questions about this notice or any of NMED's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

Kristine Pintado, Non-Discrimination Coordinator

New Mexico Environment Department

1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050

P.O. Box 5469

Santa Fe, NM 87502

(505) 827-2855

nd.coordinator@state.nm.us

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to an NMED program or activity, you may contact the Non-Discrimination Coordinator identified above, or visit our website at https://www.env.nm.gov/non-employee-discrimination-complaint-page/ to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.

NMED Air Quality Bureau

525 Camino de los Marquez, Suite 1

Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505-1816

(505) 476-4300