Media Contact:
Alan Septoff, 202-271-2355, aseptoff@earthworks.org;
Justin Wasser, 814-242-3156, jwasser@earthworks.org
Santa Fe — Yesterday the New Mexico Environment Department issued the first violations for air pollution from oil and gas production in the Permian since Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham took office. NMED issued formal notices of violation to Matador and Mewbourne for violating the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act and the federal Clean Air Act.
In response Earthworks’ Energy Program Director Bruce Baizel said:
“Earthworks applauds Governor Lujan Grisham, Secretary Kenney and state regulators for protecting New Mexicans’ health and the climate by holding oil and gas polluters accountable. Under the previous administration, this rarely occurred.
It’s no surprise to us that Matador and Mewbourne were sanctioned. NMED’s action are consistent with what we’ve recorded at their sites and complaints we have filed as a result.
These violations, the first issued under this administration in New Mexico’s Permian, should serve as a warning to oil and gas operators. Governor Grisham’s administration has made clear that stronger safeguards, more strongly enforced, will be the norm going forward and not the exception as with the past administration.”