The New Mexico Environment Department denied a permit for a concrete batch plant on the State Highway 220 corridor due to local opposition and potential endangerment of health and lives. The Environmental Improvement Board, in a complete disregard for the residents of the area, has reversed this decision.
Connecting with Nature on Earth Day
New Mexico Can Act to Prevent Ill-Advised Profit Scheme
![New Mexico Can Act to Prevent Ill-Advised Profit Scheme New Mexico Can Act to Prevent Ill-Advised Profit Scheme](https://i0.wp.com/www.riograndesierraclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Spent-fuel-casks-website-courtesy-DOE.jpg?resize=270%2C270&ssl=1)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is scheduled in early 2023 to grant Holtec International a license to ‘temporarily’ store high-level nuclear waste near Carlsbad. Federal law requires a permanent disposal site to be identified before any interim site is established, but no such site has been identified. We need state legislation to prevent this from happening.
Residents fight Alto concrete plant
Opposed by Texas, border nuke site still gets NRC permit
![Opposed by Texas, border nuke site still gets NRC permit Opposed by Texas, border nuke site still gets NRC permit](https://i0.wp.com/www.riograndesierraclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/holtec-international-lrg.gif?resize=270%2C270&ssl=1)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the WCS/ISP high-level “temporary” storage for used fuel rods from commercial nuclear reactors. These fuel cores remain extremely radioactive for a million years, despite objections from both Texas and New Mexico governors. This site is 5 miles from Eunice, NM, the largest nearby city.
NM dairy agrees to pollution-cleanup plan
![NM dairy agrees to pollution-cleanup plan NM dairy agrees to pollution-cleanup plan](https://i0.wp.com/www.riograndesierraclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DelOroDairy-GoogleEarth.jpg?resize=270%2C270&ssl=1)
After two years of negotiations, Del Oro Dairy in Anthony, NM, has agreed to several modifications to its original plan to capture polluted shallow groundwater from beneath its facility. This revised plan is the culmination of efforts between the New Mexico Environment Department’s Groundwater Quality Bureau, the New Mexico Citizens Dairy Coalition and Del Oro. It represents the hope that this plan spells the end for the shallow-water pollution plume that is already under residential neighborhoods and has been contributing to the larger pollution plume produced by the dozen or so dairies along Dairy Row on I-10 around Anthony.
Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6
![Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6 Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6](https://i0.wp.com/www.riograndesierraclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NEWMAN_AERIAL_courtesyEPE.jpg?resize=270%2C270&ssl=1)
On August 17, the Chaparral Coalition for Community Health and the Environment, the Sierra Club, and Earthworks (the Community Groups) reached an agreement with El Paso Electric (EPE) that will substantially reduce air pollution in El Paso and southern New Mexico. The agreement will temporarily block new fossil fuel power plant construction while pushing EPE toward a clean energy future.