Mission

The MWL is a 2.6-acre SWMU located in the north-central portion of Technical Area-III, approximately five miles southeast of the Albuquerque International Sunport. The MWL was used as a disposal area for low level radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and mixed waste generated at SNL/NM research facilities and offsite locations from March 1959 to December 1988. In the May 2005 Final Order, the NMED selected a vegetative soil cover with a biointrusion barrier (i.e., evapotranspiration cover) as the remedy for the MWL that includes unsaturated zone and groundwater monitoring. On January 8, 2014, NMED approved the MWL Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan (LTMMP), which started the first five-year evaluation period.

NMED received the MWL Second Five-Year Report in December 2023. The May 2005 Final Order requires that NMED provide a process whereby members of the public may comment on the MWL Second Five-Year Report and its conclusions and respond to those comments in its final approval of the MWL Second Five-Year Report.

The NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau opens the comment period for Clean Water Act 401 Certification of the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the Doña Ana County Salem Wastewater Treatment Plant, NPDES permit # NM0030457.

This is a notification that EPA’s public notice and associated federal comment period have been opened for the draft Doña Ana County Salem Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit number NM0030457. Additionally, NMED has opened the simultaneous comment period for the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification of the draft NPDES permit.

When EPA Region 6 drafts a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for a discharge into one of New Mexico’s surface waters, NMED has an opportunity to assure that the discharge will not negatively affect the receiving waterbodies. This is documented through the 401 Certification and is required in accordance with state regulations at 20.6.2.2001 NMAC. NMED can make the draft permit more stringent if based on state law or can make comments to EPA for consideration in the final permit. NMED also has the authority to deny certification if the permitting circumstances will not guarantee that the discharge will meet water quality standards. 

The facility is located at 1297 Bishops Lodge Road, City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. The discharges from the facility are to the Little Tesuque Creek, thence to Rio en Medio, and thence to the Rio Grande the Rio Grande in Segment 20.6.4.121 NMAC in the Rio Grande Basin in Santa Fe County, New Mexico..
The draft permit, draft fact sheet/statement of basis, and other associated information can be found at the EPA public notice website and the NMED public notice website.

EPA has included the Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) monitoring requirements based on the memo from EPA headquarters addressing PFAS discharges in NPDES Permits and through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs.

For this facility, if you have comments that you would like NMED to consider as the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification is drafted, please submit them using the NMED Public Comment Portal or send them to:
     Susan A. Lucas Kamat, Program Manager
     NMED SWQB Point Source Regulation Section
     PO Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     telephone 505-946-8924
     email psrs.program.manager@env.nm.gov
Tutorial videos on how to use the Public Comment Portal are available in both English and Spanish.

NMED SWQB will accept written comments until the end of the business day (5pm MST) on Monday, July 29, 2024.

Persons who need language services (e.g., assistance for an interpreter) or persons with disabilities who need services to participate in this public process should contact:
     Susan A. Lucas Kamat
     PO Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     telephone (505) 946-8924
     email susan.lucaskamat@env.nm.gov

TDD or TTY users please access the number via the New Mexico Relay Network, 1-800-659-1779 (voice); TTY users: 1-800-659-8331.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Anuncio del aviso público sobre el Certificación de la Sección 401 de la Ley de Aguas Limpias

Esta es una notificación de que el aviso público de la EPA y el período federal asociado de comentarios han sido abiertos para la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales del condado de Doña Ana de Salem, número de permiso NPDES NM0030457. Además, NMED ha abierto el período simultáneo de comentarios para la Certificación de la Sección 401 de la Ley de Agua Limpia del borrador del permiso NPDES mencionado anteriormente.

Cuando la Región 6 de la EPA redacta un permiso del Sistema Nacional de Eliminación de Descargas de Contaminantes (NPDES, por sus siglas en inglés) para una descarga en aguas superficiales de Nuevo México, se requiere que NMED concuerde con que la descarga no afectará negativamente a los cuerpos de agua receptores. Esto se documenta a través de la certificación 401 y se requiere de acuerdo con 20.6.2.2001 NMAC. NMED puede hacer que el borrador del permiso sea más estricto si se basa en la ley estatal o puede hacer comentarios a la EPA para su consideración en el permiso final. NMED también tiene la autoridad para denegar la certificación si las circunstancias de los permisos no garantizan que la descarga cumpla con los estándares de calidad del agua.

La instalación está ubicada en 2800 B.B. Roming Drive en el condado de Doña Ana en Nuevo México. Las descargas de la instalación son al Río Grande en el segmento 20.6.4.1o1 NMAC en la cuenca del Río Grande en el condado de Doña Ana en Nuevo México.

El permiso, la hoja de datos/declaración de base y otra información relacionada se pueden encontrar en los siguientes sitios web del EPA y sitios web del NMED.

La EPA ha incluido los requisitos de monitoreo de sustancias perfluoradas y polifluoradas (PFAS) con base en el memorando de la sede de la EPA que aborda las descargas de PFAS en los permisos NPDES y a través del programa de pretratamiento y los programas de monitoreo.

Si usted tiene algún comentario sobre esta instalación que desea que el NMED considere al redactar la Certificación de la Ley de Aguas Limpias, Sección 401, sírvase envíelos utilizando el Portal de Comentarios Públicos de NMED o enviarlo a:
     Susan A. Lucas Kamat, Program Manager
     NMED SWQB Point Source Regulation Section
     PO Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     teléfono 505-946-8924
     correo electrónico psrs.program.manager@env.nm.gov
Los videos tutoriales sobre cómo usar el Portal de comentarios públicos están disponibles en inglés y español.

NMED SWQB aceptará comentarios escritos hasta el final del día hábil a las (5 p.m. MST) del lunes, 29 de julio de 2024.

Las personas que necesiten asistencia de lenguaje (por ejemplo, asistencia para un intérprete) o las personas que tengan una discapacidad o que necesiten ayuda para participar en este proceso público deberán comunicarse con:
     Susan A. Lucas Kamat
     PO Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     teléfono (505) 946-8924
     correo electrónico susan.lucaskamat@env.nm.gov

Los usuarios de TDD o TTY pueden acceder al número a través de la red de retransmisión de Nuevo México, 1-800-659-1779 (voz); usuarios de TTY: 1-800-659-8331.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The New Mexico Environment Department (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. If you have any questions about any of the NMED’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:
     Kate Cardenas, NMED’s Non-Discrimination Coordinator
     1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050
     P.O. Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     telephone (505) 827-2855
     email nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a NMED program or activity, you may contact the Non-Discrimination Coordinator identified above or visit our website to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.

El Departamento del Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por su sigla en inglés) no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, discapacidad, edad o sexo en la administración de sus programas o actividades, según lo exigido por las leyes y los reglamentos correspondientes. Si tiene preguntas sobre cualquier programa de no discriminación, norma o procedimiento de NMED, puede comunicarse con:
     Kate Cardenas, la Coordinadora de No Discriminación de NMED
     1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050
     P.O. Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502
     teléfono (505) 827-2855
     correo electrónico nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov

Si piensa que ha sido discriminado con respecto a un programa o actividad de NMED, puede comunicarse con la Coordinadora de No Discriminación antes indicada o visitar nuestro sitio web para saber cómo y dónde presentar una queja por discriminación.

The facility is located at 1297 Bishops Lodge Road, City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. The discharges from the facility are to the Little Tesuque Creek, thence to the Rio Tesuque, thence to the Pojoaque River, and thence to the Rio Grande in Segment 20.6.4.121 NMAC Rio Grande Basin in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

EPA has included per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) monitoring requirements based on the memo from EPA headquarters addressing PFAS discharges in NPDES permits and through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs.

La instalación está ubicada en Bishops Lodge Rd en el Ciudad de Santa Fe en el condado Santa Fe en Nuevo México. Las descargas de la instalación son al Little Tesuque Creek, de allí al Rio Tesuque, de allí al Pojoaque River, de allí al Río Grande en el segmento 20.6.4.121 NMAC en la cuenca del Río Grande en el condado de Santa Fe en Nuevo México.

La EPA ha incluido los requisitos de monitoreo de sustancias perfluoradas y polifluoradas (PFAS) con base en el memorando de la sede de la EPA que aborda las descargas de PFAS en los permisos NPDES y a través del programa de pretratamiento y los programas de monitoreo.

This is a public notice that the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has opened a comment period for a certification request under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401. The certification request is from the Tico Time River RV Resort for the Tico Time Wave Project located approximately 3.5 miles north of Cedar Hill, New Mexico in San Juan County on the Animas River. The project includes constructing a grade control and drop structure in the Animas River using rocks to create a recreational wave feature for kayakers.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues CWA Section 404 permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material. The purpose of CWA Section 401 is to ensure the discharge will comply with state water quality standards. NMED has authority under CWA Section 401 to certify, certify with conditions, or deny certification of the permit. Procedures for certification of Section 404 permits are found at 20.6.2.2002 New Mexico Administrative Code.

For more information on SPA-2024-00071-ABQ, please contact:
     Alan Klatt, Watershed Protection Section
     Surface Water Quality Bureau
     New Mexico Environment Department
     P.O. Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469
     telephone: 505-819-9623
     email: alan.klatt@env.nm.gov

Este es un aviso público de que el Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México (NMED, por sus siglas en inglés) ha abierto un período de comentarios para una solicitud de certificación bajo la Sección 401 de la Ley de Agua Limpia (CWA, por sus siglas en inglés). La solicitud de certificación es del es de Tico Time River RV Resort para el Proyecto Tico Time Wave ubicado aproximadamente a 3.5 millas al norte de Cedar Hill, Nuevo México en el condado de San Juan en el río Animas. El proyecto incluye la construcción de una estructura de control de pendiente y caída en el río Animas utilizando rocas para crear una característica recreativa de olas para kayakistas.

El Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los EE. UU. emite permisos de la Sección 404 de la CWA para la descarga de material de dragado o de relleno. El propósito de la Sección 401 de CWA es garantizar que la descarga cumpla con los estándares estatales de calidad del agua. El NMED tiene autoridad bajo la Sección 401 de la CWA para certificar, certificar con condiciones o denegar la certificación del permiso. Los procedimientos para la certificación de los permisos de la Sección 404 se encuentran en el Código Administrativo de Nuevo México 20.6.2.2002.

Para obtener más información sobre SPA-2024-00071-ABQ, comuníquese con:
     Alan Klatt, Sección de Protección de Cuencas Hidrográficas
     Oficina de Calidad de Aguas Superficiales
     Departamento de Medio Ambiente de Nuevo México
     P.O. Box 5469
     Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469
     teléfono: 505-819-9623
     correo electrónico: alan.klatt@env.nm.gov

This online training will provide an overview of health impacts of lead, the recent revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule and the requirements of the initial lead service line inventory due October 16, 2024. Participants will also learn how to use the inventory template developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Check out our webpage to find useful information and templates at https://www.env.nm.gov/drinking_water/lcrr/.

To register please complete the online registration form by clicking this LINK or email us at nmenv-dwbboardtraining@state.nm.us.

Owners, operators, and testers of petroleum storage tank systems, please email all required tank system test results to: PSTB.compliance@env.nm.gov with a copy to the facility inspector, if known, to allow for receipt and tracking of these reports. Report a suspected or confirmed leak or spill from a petroleum storage tank within 24 hours here (this includes failed or inconclusive test results). Send passing test results within 60 days of when they're done.

Please name the documents you send as follows:

[Facility ID#] [Owner ID#] [Facility name] [Type of Test] [Date of Test]

For example: 30211 53489 Jack’s Quick Mart ATG Test 2021-06-25

The facility ID# and Owner ID# are on the registration certificates you receive after you pay your tank fees every year or may be found in the storage tank lists available near the bottom of the main PSTB (Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau)  webpage, https://www.env.nm.gov/petroleum_storage_tank/.

Information that must be included in reports:

1. facility name and address;
   (2) facility ID number;
   (3) owner and operator name and address;
   (4) owner ID number;
   (5) date report was completed;
   (6) date of the test;
   AND MORE. See 20.5.107.715.D NMAC and others referred to below.

PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE TANK ID #

New Mexico's Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations are at 20.5 NMAC. You can look up different parts at https://www.srca.nm.gov/chapter-5-petroleum-storage-tanks/ or download the whole book here.

If you are unable to email required test results to PSTB.compliance@env.nm.gov, mail them to: Testing Results, PSTB, 2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1, Santa Fe, NM 87505.The Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations (20.5 NMAC) that were adopted by the Environmental Improvement Board on May 25, 2018 and effective July 24, 2018 require that most test result reports be sent to the Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau:

• Storage tank system owners and operators must provide the department all reports as required in 20.5.107 NMAC within 60 days of completion of the tests (20.5.107.715.B NMAC). Owners and operators must report any failed tests or inspections to the department within 24 hours of completion of the test or inspection in accordance with 20.5.118 NMAC (20.5.107.715.C NMAC). 20.5.107.715.D NMAC lists what must be included in the reports. Similar requirements are outlined in 20.5.108.816 NMAC, 20.5.110.1016 NMAC, and 20.5.111.1112 NMAC.
• Failing or abnormal results of ANY test or monitoring result, including investigation of an alarm, are signs of a suspected release, and owners, installers, junior installers, and testers must report these within 24 hours both by sending them to PSTB.Compliance@env.nm.gov with a cc to the PSTB inspector AND by contacting the Leak of the Week listed here: https://cloud.env.nm.gov/waste/pages/download.php?direct=1&ref=13965&size=&ext=pdf or by calling (505) 827-9329 outside of state business hours if it's an emergency. Owners and operators must also investigate these suspected releases within seven (7) days of discovery and conduct appropriate testing, site check, etc. (20.5.118.1801 NMAC).
• Unless an owner or operator shows within 30 days that a release that was reported as a suspected release is not a release, it will be treated as a confirmed release, and you must comply with 20.5.118 NMAC and 20.5.119 or 120 NMAC, including taking corrective action, for confirmed releases.

Other requirements pertaining to testing of tanks include:

• A qualified tester must perform the first test or inspection of existing spill and overfill prevention equipment and interstitial monitoring containment sumps by July 24, 2021. (5.105 NMAC; 20.5.106.613 NMAC, 20.5.107.704, 707, & 714 NMAC, 20.5.108.811 & 813 NMAC, 20.5.109.910 NMAC, 20.5.110.1005 & 1015 NMAC).
• If you have a UST and/or piping that uses ATG (automatic tank gauging)(only allowed on USTs and/or piping installed before April 4, 2008), a qualified tester must test it at least annually by July 24, 2021 . (20.5.105 NMAC; 20.5.108.805 NMAC, 20.5.108.815 & 816 NMAC).

Helpful brochures to explain many requirements of the regulations are available at: https://www.env.nm.gov/petroleum_storage_tank/guidance-documents-ast-and-ust/