Bill > HB91

This bill makes several key changes: 1. It allows the Natural Resources Trustee to join civil actions for the release of air contaminants, hazardous waste, or water contaminants under the Air Quality Control Act, Hazardous Waste Act, and Water Quality Act, respectively. 2. It establishes legislative findings that the people have a right to a clean and healthy environment, that natural resources are held in trust for the public, and that the release of injurious substances threatens natural resources. 3. It defines key terms like "injurious substance" and "natural resources" for the purposes of the Natural Resources Trustee Act. 4. It clarifies and expands the powers and duties of the Natural Resources Trustee, including adopting rules for assessing fines for damages to natural resources from petroleum-based substances. 5. It specifies how damages for injury to natural resources can be recovered, including for past releases with continuing impacts. 6. It establishes a 5-year statute of limitations for bringing claims under the Natural Resources Trustee Act. 7. It modifies the Natural Resources Trustee Fund to restrict how monies in the fund can be used, including requiring funds recovered for a specific area to be spent on restoration in that same area.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=91&year=23