By SCOTT SONNER / Associated Press Federal wildlife officials declared a rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species Friday, citing future energy development, sand mining and climate change as the biggest threats to its survival in one of the world’s most lucrative oil and natural gas basins. “We have determined […]
Environment & Climate
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, New Mexico, Syndicated
New Mexico forges rule for treatment and reuse of oil-industry fracking water amid protests
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press Environmental officials in New Mexico took initial steps Monday toward regulating the treatment and reuse of oil industry fracking water as the state grapples with scarce water supplies and fossil fuel producers confront shrinking opportunities for wastewater disposal. A state water quality commission opened a weeklong series of hearings as the nation’s […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, New Mexico, State News, Syndicated
Wildfire potential ‘above normal’ through much of NM’s central mountains this summer
BY PATRICK LOHMANN / Source NM Forecasters with the National Interagency Fire Center are expecting wildfire risk to be above normal for much of the state this summer, citing ongoing drought and a potential transition this summer from El Niño to La Niña conditions. Significant wildfires are burning in Mexico and Canada. Several small fires have started and burned so far […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, Jobs, Workers & Economy, State News, Syndicated
‘How Do You Approve an Underground Toxic Waste Dump Without Telling Nobody?’
By Jerry Redfern / Capital & Main In late 2022, an oil and gas production company petitioned the state of New Mexico to turn a water well into a waste disposal well in the northwest corner of the state. It sits on a plot of state land surrounded by tribal and federal property, and less than […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Environment & Climate
Low-income homeowners to get help with heating and cooling upgrades
Albuquerque has received a grant that city officials say will help improve the health and finances of low-income homeowners. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department awarded the city $1.7 million to expand its retrofitting efforts in improving work energy efficiency. Through the Community Energy Efficiency project, income-qualified homeowners will receive free energy […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Environment & Climate, Syndicated
How Albuquerque’s climate progress stacks up against other cities
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Hannah Grover / NM Political Report A new report ranks Albuquerque second among mid-sized cities for actions taken to address climate change. The 2024 […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, Jobs, Workers & Economy, Syndicated, Uncategorized
NM to meet with Pueblos in May on Rio Grande governance
BY DANIELLE PROKOP / Source NM The Rio Grande Compact Commission meeting on Friday had a small portion dedicated to describing future meetings with six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos to get tribal perspective on governing the state’s largest river. The three-member commission met for its annual meeting Friday, hearing from legal advisors and New Mexico State […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, Housing & Homelessness, National, Syndicated
When red-hot isn’t enough: New government heat risk tool sets magenta as most dangerous level
BY SETH BORENSTEIN / Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Forget about red hot. A new color-coded heat warning system relies on magenta to alert Americans to the most dangerous conditions they may see this summer. The National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday — Earth Day — presented a […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, Jobs, Workers & Economy, State News
Nuclear Watch New Mexico calls for comprehensive plutonium cleanup at LANL
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Hannah Grover / New Mexico Political Report A group of anti-nuclear activists used data from Los Alamos National Laboratory to map places where plutonium contamination has been […]
Posted inEnvironment & Climate, State News
Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Hannah Grover / NM Political Report Four of the nine New Mexico counties evaluated in the annual State of the Air report received failing marks […]