Pollution control bill advances to New Mexico Senate Floor, oil and gas industry dissents

Air pollution controls adopted by The State of New Mexico could be made tougher than federal law as a bill advanced in the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday and could next face a vote on the Senate Floor.

Sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-25), Senate Bill 8 was intended to allow the State to adopt air pollution controls as stringent or tougher than federal restrictions through the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Improvement Board.

As the Air Quality Control and Hazardous Waste acts currently read, New Mexico is not capable of implementing stricter air quality controls than federal law.