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New Mexico, industry clash on cost of proposed air pollution restrictions

As the State of New Mexico concluded the first of likely two weeks of hearings on newly-proposed restrictions on oil and gas emissions creating ground-level ozone pollution, the New Mexico Environment Department argued the cost of compliance with the proposed rules would be far less than industry leaders suggested.

The hearings were held before the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) which will consider NMED’s proposal and hear testimony from stakeholders ahead of a later vote on the rules.

In a letter this week to lawmakers Cabinet Secretary James Kenney with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) estimated compliance with the new rules as proposed by NMED would cost up to $338 million in state and local government revenue. 

More:New Mexico begins hearings on oil and gas emissions rules amid dissension from GOP