HOUSE BILL 164

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana and Anthony Allison and D. Wonda Johnson and Jeff Steinborn

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT; DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO COORDINATE THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP AND RECLAIM FORMER URANIUM MINE AND MILL SITES; PROVIDING DUTIES; CREATING THE URANIUM MINING RECLAMATION REVOLVING FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] URANIUM MINING RECLAMATION--DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT--DUTIES.--

          A. The department of environment shall:         

                (1) coordinate the state's efforts to clean up and reclaim former uranium mine and mill sites and undertake uranium mine and mill site reclamation projects. The energy, minerals and natural resources department; the Indian affairs department; the office of natural resources trustee; the state land office; the department of game and fish; the cultural affairs department; the department of health; the workforce solutions department; the economic development department; and the department of transportation shall work in conjunction with the department of environment to support the department's duties as they relate to the purposes of the respective departments and agencies;

                (2) develop a strategic plan for the cleanup of uranium mine and mill sites throughout the state, including reclamation goals, time lines for the completion of cleanup activities at specific sites and anticipated funding requirements. The department of environment shall consult with the departments and agencies enumerated in Paragraph (1) of this subsection in the development of the strategic plan and include in the strategic plan the respective agencies' and departments' input;

                (3) establish an effective mechanism for consultation and coordination with the federal government; Indian nations, tribes and pueblos; communities impacted by uranium mining; and other states on uranium mine and mill reclamation activities;

                (4) work with the economic development department, workforce solutions department and industry to establish uranium mine and mill reclamation as a target economic development industry in New Mexico, including the creation, coordination and promotion of worker training and business development programs for reclamation activities;

                (5) develop, maintain and update on a regular basis a centralized repository of uranium mine and mill sites and reclamation activities. The repository shall include, at minimum, the location of uranium mine and mill sites, information about the ownership and legal jurisdiction of each site and each site's cleanup status; and

                (6) on an annual basis, report to the radioactive and hazardous materials committee on the department of environment's activities in the preceding year. The department of environment shall consult with the departments and agencies enumerated in Paragraph (1) of this subsection and include in the report the activities undertaken by the respective departments and agencies in the preceding year that are related to uranium mine and mill site reclamation.

          B. The secretary of environment shall create a uranium mine reclamation coordinator position and employ additional staff as needed for the department of environment to carry out the provisions of this section.

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] URANIUM MINING RECLAMATION REVOLVING FUND--CREATED.--

          A. The "uranium mining reclamation revolving fund" is created in the state treasury. The uranium mining reclamation revolving fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and money received by the department of environment from the federal government or other state agencies and other sources for conducting uranium mine and mill reclamation activities. Money recovered for the state by or on behalf of the department of environment from uranium mine or mill reclamation related litigation or settlements shall be deposited in the uranium mining reclamation revolving fund.

          B. Subject to legislative appropriation, expenditures may be made from the uranium mining reclamation revolving fund upon vouchers signed by the secretary of environment, or the secretary's designee, and warrants issued by the secretary of finance and administration for the department of environment to undertake projects to reclaim uranium mine and mill sites, including the acquisition of tools and equipment; expenses incurred by the department of environment in planning, supervising and completing uranium mine and mill reclamation projects; and expenses incurred in litigation involving uranium mine or mill sites; provided that money in the fund shall not be used for the operational expenses of the department of environment.

          C. Money in the uranium mining reclamation revolving fund shall not revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year.    

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of environment for expenditure in fiscal year 2023 for the department's first-year operating expenses in carrying out the duties of Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2023 shall revert to the general fund.

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