Santa Fe New Mexican (Sept. 15, 2021) – The New Mexico Environment Department is returning to an original, tougher provision for a proposed air pollution rule that calls for the fossil fuel industry to inspect the lowest-emitting wells yearly.

The agency had agreed with the industry’s request to allow once-in-a-lifetime inspection of wells that emit less than 2 tons of pollutants per year, spurring an outcry from environmentalists who argued such infrequent checks would overlook wells increasing their toxic emissions over time.

The code is now reverting to a tougher version calling for crews to inspect these wells yearly with equipment that gauges the pollution.

An industry group that had pressed for a more relaxed inspection rule on marginal wells expressed its displeasure in an email.
“Smaller operators continue to be disproportionately targeted by this ever-increasing, regulatory-intensive methane rule,” wrote Jim Winchester, executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. The group is disappointed both with the lack of notice of this and many other changes going on behind closed doors in the 11th hour leading up to this hearing, as well as the position reversal itself.”

NMED Creates 11th Hour Rule Change; IPANM Responds