Bill > HB32

This bill aims to protect children's health from the effects of oil and gas operations. The key provisions are: 1. It defines a "children's health protection zone" as an area extending 5,280 feet from the property line of a school, and requires operators with wells or facilities in these zones to take additional measures, such as implementing leak detection systems, conducting water quality testing, and restricting certain operational activities. 2. It prohibits new permits for oil and gas operations in children's health protection zones after July 1, 2024, and requires existing operations in these zones to cease by January 1, 2028, with some exceptions for well plugging or if the cessation would result in severe economic harm. 3. It requires operators to create and submit protection zone inventories and maps, and to develop and implement leak detection and response plans for operations in children's health protection zones. 4. It imposes stricter penalties, up to $30,000 per day, for violations by operators in children's health protection zones. 5. It requires the immediate suspension of operations if certain emissions or compliance issues are detected in a children's health protection zone. The overall goal is to reduce the potential health and environmental impacts of oil and gas activities near schools and other children's facilities.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=32&year=24