Air Quality Bureau

Permits Bulletin

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Announcement for Oil and Gas Regulatory Guidance Document

In response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 public health crisis, the New Mexico Environment Department is offering air quality regulatory guidance to the oil and gas industry to ensure both human health and the environment are protected. The guidance, issued today, includes the electronic submission of documents, inspections, enforcement, permitting and extensions related to compliance with the federal Clean Air Act and the State Air Quality Control Act. NMED has been delegated authority to administer the federal Clean Air Act in New Mexico.

This guidance document can be found on the Air Quality Bureau web site on the Permitting Home page, at the following link:

https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/permitting-section-home-page/

The guidance covers:

Permitting: NMED is now accepting electronic pre-submittals of permitting and other required documentation. Hard copies still must ultimately be submitted for some documents.

Extensions: In general, NMED will evaluate requests for extensions for performance testing and reporting requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Inspections: During the Public Health Emergency, NMED will not routinely perform in person air quality inspections. However, NMED may elect to conduct targeted, field-based investigations if warranted. Operators are reminded that they are responsible for monitoring the compliance status of their facilities and should disclose possible violations at the earliest opportunity.

Enforcement: Owners or operators claiming that the COVID-19 public health emergency directly or indirectly caused or contributed to a violation must meet certain conditions. NMED will evaluate such claims on a case-by-case basis under NMED’s existing regulations and policies to determine what enforcement relief, if any, is warranted. 

For additional information concerning this bulletin or the guidance document, please contact: 

Permitting: Ted Schooley, Ted.Schooley@state.nm.us

Extensions: Allan Morris, Allan.Morris@state.nm.us

Inspections: Cindy Hollenberg, Cindy.Hollenberg@state.nm.us

Enforcement: Shannon Duran, Shannon.Duran@state.nm.us

As we are working from home, for privacy, please communicate via e-mail.

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, or if you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a NMED program or activity, you may contact: Kristine Yurdin, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, NMED, 1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502, (505) 827-2855, nd.coordinator@state.nm.us. You may also 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