New Mexico Environment Department Announces Upcoming Rulemaking to Adopt New Methane Abatement Rule

New Mexico Environment Department sent this bulletin at 07/16/2026 02:42 PM MDT

Air Quality Bureau

Regulatory and SIP Bulletin

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NMED announces an upcoming rulemaking to adopt new rule 20.2.51 NMAC, Methane Abatement.

The rule would establish a methane super-emitter program to reduce large, uncontrolled releases of natural gas that can go unidentified and unabated for extended periods. The availability, use and expansion of remote sensing technologies for methane super-emitters is already utilized by many entities for this type of detection, and this rule would enable certified third-party notifiers to submit notifications of super-emitter events detected using approved technologies to NMED. Under the rule, NMED would provide notification of the super-emitter event to the owner or operator of any source located within 50 meters of the event location. The owner or operator would then be required to conduct an investigation to determine the source of the super-emitter event and repair the responsible methane leak(s).

The new rule would also establish a zero methane emission standard beginning in 2031 for natural gas-driven pneumatic controllers at gathering and boosting stations, natural gas processing plants, tank batteries, transmission compressor stations, and well sites.

In addition to complementing the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Methane Waste Rule, 19.15.27 and 19.15.28 NMAC, NMED’s implementation of a methane super-emitter program and eliminating all methane emissions from pneumatic controllers are two of the measures outlined in the State’s Climate Action Plan to help New Mexico achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45% by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels.

A stakeholder review draft of new rule 20.2.51 NMAC is available on NMED’s proposed air quality regulations and plans web page at https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/proposed-regs/#part51new for public review and comment before NMED finalizes its petition proposal. NMED will accept comments on the draft rule until 11:59 p.m. on July 29, 2026.

Comments may be submitted via NMED’s online public comment portal at https://nmed.commentinput.com?id=WgPKHShZG.

NMED currently plans to petition the EIB to adopt 20.2.51 NMAC on August 12, 2026, and to request that the Board consider the petition at its regular meeting on August 28, 2026. NMED anticipates requesting that the EIB schedule a public hearing beginning on or about December 7, 2026, and continuing as long as required to hear all testimony, evidence, and public comment. The EIB’s August 28, 2026, meeting agenda will be posted on the Board’s website at https://www.env.nm.gov/opf/environmental-improvement-board/ at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.

NMED will also continue to work with stakeholders on input and feedback to the proposed rule leading up to the rulemaking hearing.

For more information or to request a one-on-one meeting with NMED to discuss the draft rule, contact Julianna Montoya, Senior Program Coordinator, at julianna.montoya@env.nm.gov or 505-479-2910.

For additional information concerning this bulletin, please contact Julianna Montoya at julianna.montoya@env.nm.gov or 505-479-2910.

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. Parts 5 & 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: Kate Cardenas, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, NMED, 1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502, (505) 827-2855, nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov. 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

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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. Parts 5 and 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: Kate Cardenas, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, NMED, 1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502, (505) 827-2855, nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov. You may also visit our website at env.nm.gov/non-employee-discrimination-complaint-page/ to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.

El Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por sus siglas en inglés) no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, discapacidad, edad o sexo en la administración de sus programas o actividades, como lo exigen las leyes y reglamentos aplicables. El NMED es responsable de la coordinación de los esfuerzos de cumplimiento y la recepción de las consultas relativas a los requisitos de no discriminación implementados por 40 C.F.R. Partes 5 y 7, incluyendo el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, con sus enmiendas; la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973; la Ley de Discriminación por Edad de 1975, el Título IX de las Enmiendas de Educación de 1972, y la Sección 13 de las Enmiendas de la Ley Federal de Control de Contaminación del Agua de 1972. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este aviso o cualquiera de los programas, políticas o procedimientos de no discriminación del NMED, o si cree que ha sido discriminado con respecto a un programa o actividad del NMED, puede comunicarse con: Kate Cardenas, coordinadora de no discriminación, NMED, 1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502, (505) 827-2855, nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov. También puede visitar nuestro sitio web en https://www.env.nm.gov/non-employee-discrimination-complaint-page/ para saber cómo y dónde presentar una queja por discriminación.