In Albuquerque, a Pollution Problem All Too Familiar to Communities of Color
From Tina Deines, Bitterroot Magazine: "Across the West, communities of color — four in five San Jose residents are Hispanic — suffer disproportionately from the output of polluting industries, and are more likely to live near Superfund sites and other places...
Proposed East Mountains Development Loses Water Fight
The Albuquerque Journal covered our victory in the Aquifer Science case. The judge's determination that climate change impacts on future water supplies should have been considered is an important point. Douglas Meikljohn, Executive Director of the Law Center, raised...
Board Member Harry Browne OpEd on the Gila River
Harry Browne, Grant County Commissioner and Law Center Board member, and Alicia Edwards, also a Grant County Commissioner, wrote an OpEd to the Santa Fe New Mexican that was published on January 30, 2019. "We applaud Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s commitment to end the...
Status Hearing on Agustin Plains Basin Water Battle
El Defensor Chieftain has a January 19 article on the upcoming February 13 status hearing (not a hearing on our Motion for Summary Judgment) in Seventh District Court in Reserve NM regarding the Augustin Plains Ranch appeal of of the State Engineer's denial of the...
Uranium: A Toxic Legacy at Red Water Pond Road
Ellen Berkovitch, independent journalist and documentary and podcast producer, has produced a documentary podcast for Northern California Public Media/NPR One on the long-term health and cultural effects of uranium mining and milling on the Red Water Pond Road...
Environment Suffered Under Ex-Governor
On January 8, 2019, the Albuquerque Journal published a Letter-to-the-Editor submitted by Doug Meiklejohn, Executive Director of the NM Environmental law Center. The Letter discussed some of the ways in which the administration of former-Governor Susana Martinez...
No More Fox Guarding the Henhouse
On December 30, 2018, the Santa Fe New Mexican published an opinion piece written by Mike Neas, a retired homebuilder living in Placitas. The letter appeared first in the Rio Rancho Observer on December 21st. Mr Neas commented on the appointment of Sarah Cottrell...
Environmental Racism with a Faint Green Glow
Eric Jantz, staff attorney at the Law Center, has an article in the Summer 2018 edition of the Natural Resources Journal, published by the University of New Mexico Law School. Coincidentally, the co-Editor in Chief of that issue is Nadine Padilla, the Law Center's...
EPA Withdraws Proposed Safety Rules for In-Situ Uranium Mining
EPA withdraws proposed regs for in-situ uranium mining EPA safety rules Kathy Helms, Special Correspondent Gallup Independent October 23, 2018 GRANTS — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday formally withdrew the proposed rulemaking for tailings from in-situ...
Augustin Plains Ranch Water Decision Correct
Attorney: Water decision correct By John Larson, Staff Writer El Defensor Chieftain Aug 27, 2018 The State Engineer made the right decision in denying Augustin Plains Ranch a permit to pump water from the San Agustin Plains to municipalities and businesses in the Rio...
State Engineer Rejects Third Augustin Plains Ranch Application
On August 1st, the State Engineer denied Augustin Plains Ranch's application to withdraw more than 17 billion gallons of groundwater annually from its property near Datil, NM. The State Engineer accepted two motions for summary judgement, one from our clients and one...
Mining Commission Issues Final Order Approving Mt Taylor Permit
MASE, Amigos Bravos to appeal Mount Taylor Mine decision By Kathy Helms, Special correspondent Gallup Independent August 3, 2018 SANTA FE — The Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment and Amigos Bravos said Thursday they will appeal a decision by the New Mexico...
Law Center Clients Weighing Appeal of Mt Taylor Permit
Mount Taylor Mine decision appeal possible By Kathy Helms, Special correspondent Gallup Independent July 18, 2018 SANTA FE — Will Amigos Bravos and the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment appeal a New Mexico Mining Commission decision supporting a return to...
Uranium Mining’s Past Colors Mt Taylor’s Future
Uranium mining’s past colors Mount Taylor Mine’s future By Kathy Helms Santa Fe New Mexican 28 May 2018 GALLUP — Christine Lowery of Paguate Village was 4 years old when uranium mining began at Anaconda Mineral Company’s Jackpile-Paguate Mine. She has seen the effects...
Mining Commission Upholds Mt Taylor Mining Permit
Panel upholds Mount Taylor Mine active status decision By Kathy Helms, Special correspondent Gallup Independent May 18, 2018 SANTA FE — Mount Taylor Mine will remain in active status, the New Mexico Mining Commission ruled this week. The Commission handed Amigos...