by Claudia L. Silva
Santa Fe New Mexican
May 7, 2022
Residents of neighborhoods in southwestern Santa Fe who have fought a proposed asphalt plant consolidation, arguing its effects would amount to environmental racism, also allege they faced discrimination during a public hearing before the New Mexico Environment Department.
Maslyn Locke, a staff attorney for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, said the department failed to provide meaningful access to Spanish-speaking residents during a hearing on the project in March 2021, a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act.
A spokesperson for the Environment Department declined to comment on the complaint but said the department has entered into an informal resolution process with the federal office.
The issue centers on a plan by Associated Asphalt and Materials to merge its two asphalt plants, moving one on Oliver Drive next to another on Paseo de River….
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