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Contact Information:
(505) 827-2855 MAIN // 1-800-219-6157 (toll free)
Environmental Emergencies:
505-827-9329 (24 hrs)

New Mexico
Environment Department

Regulatory Resources

NMED operates under a variety of state statutes, rules and federal regulations (listed below). 

Laws and statutes are enforcement legal standards passed by New Mexico Legislature and sign by the governor, or passed by the United States Congress and signed by the President of the United States.

Rules are adopted by state agencies or governing boards which prescribe additional legal standards.

NMED also operates under policies and guidance documents. These are not enforceable, but lay the foundation for how our programs carry out their responsibilities.

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State Statutes (Acts):

Statutes begin as a bill (piece of legislation) in a legislative body, such as the New Mexico Legislature.  If approved, the legislation becomes law, setting a legal standard that must be followed by individuals and entities within the state’s jurisdiction. Laws become statutes when entered into the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) “red book” publications. Usually statutes are general – covering large issues but not specific details. Learn more…[pdf]

The state statutes relating to the department’s responsibilities are found in the following NMSA Chapters:

NMSA Chapter 3 – Municipalities

NMSA Chapter 9 – Executive Departments

NMSA Chapter 25 – Food

NMSA Chapter 50 – Employment Law

NMSA Chapter 61 – Professional & Occupational Licenses

NMSA Chapter 74 – Environmental Improvement

* Access to the above statues: – A direct link is not available at this time. Access statutes by:

1) Going to the New Mexico Compilation Commission website (public access),
2) Pull down the “Statutes, Rules, and Const.” menu on the in the upper left,
3) Select “NMSA (Unannotated). Use “+ More” to access higher number chapters.

See full list of statutes related to NMED below.

State Rules:

Rules are a special category of law written by state agencies to support, clarify, or implement specific laws enacted by the legislature called statutes. They are subordinate to statutes and must work within the framework established by statute. They originate with federal and state agencies rather than a legislative body. These rules help place the law into effect; in certain instances, laws sometime provide a framework for a standard, with rules filling in the necessary details.  Learn more…

The New Mexico Legislature passed a law allowing the NMED, the Environmental Improvement Board, and/or the Water Quality Control Commission the ability to create detailed standards of environmental protection.  Rules proposed by NMED are reviewed by the department’s secretary, the EIB, or the WQCC.

Rules are compiled in New Mexico Administrative Code and actions contrary to them are illegal.  The majority of the rules relating to the department’s responsibilities are found in the following Sections:

Title 20 (Environmental Protection)

Title 7.6 and 7.18 (Health)

Title 11.5 (Labor and Workers’ Compensation)

See full list of rules below…

Federal Regulations:

Federal Regulations consist of statutes (acts) and rules that prescribe a legal standard. NMED operates to support the following federal statutes:

Environmental:

Health & Safety:


More information at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA.gov

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) OSHA.gov

New Mexico Statutes (by Chapter)

NMSA Chapter 3 – Municipalities

  • Sanitary Projects Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 3-29-1 to-21

NMSA Chapter 9 – Executive Departments

  • Department of Environment Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 7A-1 to-15

NMSA Chapter 25 – Food

  • New Mexico Food Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 25-2-1 to-20
  • Food Service Sanitation Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 25-1-1 to-15

NMSA Chapter 50 – Employment Law

  • Occupational Health & Safety Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 50-9-1 to-25

  • NMSA Chapter 61 – Professional & Occupational Licenses

  • Utility Operators Certification Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 61-33-1 to-10

NMSA Chapter 74 – Environmental Improvement

  • Air Quality Control Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-2-1 to-17
  • Environmental Improvement Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-1- 1 to-17
  • Ground Water Protection Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-6B-1 to-14
  • Hazardous Waste Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-4-1 to-14
  • Radiation Protection Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-3-1 to-16
  • Recycling and Illegal Dumping Act NMSA, 1978, §§ 74-13-1 to-20
  • Solid Waste Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-9-1 to-43
  • Wastewater Facility Construction Loans Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-6A-1 to-15
  • Water Quality Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 74-6-1 to-17

* Access to the above statues: – A direct link is not available at this time. Access statutes by:

  1. Going to the New Mexico Compilation Commission website (public access)
  2. Pull down the “Statutes, Rules, and Const.” menu on the in the upper left
  3. Select “NMSA (Unannotated). Use “+ More” to access higher number chapters

New Mexico Rules (by TOPIC)

  • Liquid Waste (Septic Tanks)(See Waste Water)
  • Superfund (Federal)

Other Resources

Federal Executive Branch Resources

Federal Legislative Branch Resources

Regulatory
NEWS & Updates

Copper Rule – Regulatory Development

Draft (proposed) Regulations

WQCC Hearing Info

Public Participation

Rules relating to our hearings

Calendar

Public Notices

(also check with specific bureaus for more notices and events)

Boards & Commissions

REGULATORY

Environmental Improvement Board (EIB)

Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC)

Occupational Health & Safety Review Commission

NON-REGULATORY (advisory)

Radiation Technical Advisory Council

Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Advisory Council

Storage Tank Committee (PSTB)

Wastewater Technical advisory Committee

 

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