0001|                           SENATE BILL 1026
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0002|     43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                          CARLOS R. CISNEROS
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|                                   
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0009|     
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0010|                                AN ACT
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0011|     RELATING TO WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS; REGULATING THE TRANSPORT
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0012|     OF SEPTAGE AND SLUDGE.
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0013|     
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0014|     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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0015|          Section 1.  Section 74-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967,
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0016|     Chapter 190, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:
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0017|          "74-6-4.  DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMISSION.--The
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0018|     commission:
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0019|               A.  may accept and supervise the administration of
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0020|     loans and grants from the federal government and from other
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0021|     sources, public or private, which loans and grants shall not be
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0022|     expended for other than the purposes for which provided;
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0023|               B.  shall adopt a comprehensive water quality
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0024|     management program and develop a continuing planning process;
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0025|               C.  shall adopt water quality standards for surface
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0001|     and ground waters of the state subject to the Water Quality
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0002|     Act.  The standards shall include narrative standards and as
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0003|     appropriate, the designated uses of the waters and the water
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0004|     quality criteria necessary to protect such uses.  The standards
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0005|     shall at a minimum protect the public health or welfare,
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0006|     enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the
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0007|     Water Quality Act.  In making standards, the commission shall
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0008|     give weight it deems appropriate to all facts and
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0009|     circumstances, including the use and value of the water for
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0010|     water supplies, propagation of fish and wildlife, recreational
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0011|     purposes and agricultural, industrial and other purposes;
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0012|               D.  shall adopt, promulgate and publish regulations
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0013|     to prevent or abate water pollution in the state or in any
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0014|     specific geographic area, aquifer or watershed of the state or
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0015|     in any part thereof, or for any class of waters, and to govern
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0016|     the <u>transport and</u> disposal of septage and sludge and the use
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0017|     of sludge for various beneficial purposes.  The regulations
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0018|     governing the <u>transport and</u> disposal of septage and sludge
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0019|     may include the use of tracking and permitting systems or other
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0020|     reasonable means necessary to assure that septage and sludge
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0021|     are designated for disposal in, and arrive at, disposal
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0022|     facilities, other than facilities on the premises where the
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0023|     septage and sludge is generated, for which a permit or other
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0024|     authorization has been issued pursuant to the federal act or
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0025|     the Water Quality Act.  Regulations shall not specify the
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0001|     method to be used to prevent or abate water pollution but may
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0002|     specify a standard of performance for new sources that reflects
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0003|     the greatest reduction in the concentration of water
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0004|     contaminants that the commission determines to be achievable
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0005|     through application of the best available demonstrated control
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0006|     technology, processes, operating methods or other alternatives,
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0007|     including where practicable a standard permitting no discharge
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0008|     of pollutants.  In making regulations, the commission shall
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0009|     give weight it deems appropriate to all relevant facts and
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0010|     circumstances, including:
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0011|                    (1)  character and degree of injury to or
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0012|     interference with health, welfare, environment and property;
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0013|                    (2)  the public interest, including the social
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0014|     and economic value of the sources of water contaminants;
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0015|                    (3)  technical practicability and economic
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0016|     reasonableness of reducing or eliminating water contaminants
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0017|     from the sources involved and previous experience with
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0018|     equipment and methods available to control the water
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0019|     contaminants involved;
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0020|                    (4)  successive uses, including but not limited
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0021|     to domestic, commercial, industrial, pastoral, agricultural,
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0022|     wildlife and recreational uses;
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0023|                    (5)  feasibility of a user or a subsequent user
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0024|     treating the water before a subsequent use;
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0025|                    (6)  property rights and accustomed uses; and
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0001|                    (7)  federal water quality requirements;
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0002|               E.  shall assign responsibility for administering
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0003|     its regulations to constituent agencies so as to assure
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0004|     adequate coverage and prevent duplication of effort.  To this
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0005|     end, the commission may make such classification of waters and
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0006|     sources of water contaminants as will facilitate the assignment
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0007|     of administrative responsibilities to constituent agencies. 
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0008|     The commission shall also hear and decide disputes between
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0009|     constituent agencies as to jurisdiction concerning any matters
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0010|     within the purpose of the Water Quality Act.  In assigning
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0011|     responsibilities to constituent agencies, the commission shall
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0012|     give priority to the primary interests of the constituent
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0013|     agencies.  The department of environment shall provide
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0014|     technical services, including certification of permits pursuant
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0015|     to the federal act;
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0016|               F.  may enter into or authorize constituent agencies
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0017|     to enter into agreements with the federal government or other
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0018|     state governments for purposes consistent with the Water
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0019|     Quality Act and receive and allocate to constituent agencies
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0020|     funds made available to the commission;
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0021|               G.  may grant an individual variance from any
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0022|     regulation of the commission whenever it is found that
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0023|     compliance with the regulation will impose an unreasonable
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0024|     burden upon any lawful business, occupation or activity.  The
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0025|     commission may only grant a variance conditioned upon a person
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0001|     effecting a particular abatement of water pollution within a
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0002|     reasonable period of time.  Any variance shall be granted for
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0003|     the period of time specified by the commission.  The commission
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0004|     shall adopt regulations specifying the procedure under which
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0005|     variances may be sought, which regulations shall provide for
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0006|     the holding of a public hearing before any variance may be
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0007|     granted;
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0008|               H.  may adopt regulations to require the filing with
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0009|     it or a constituent agency of proposed plans and specifications
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0010|     for the construction and operation of new sewer systems,
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0011|     treatment works or sewerage systems or extensions,
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0012|     modifications of or additions to new or existing sewer systems,
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0013|     treatment works or sewerage systems.  Filing with and approval
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0014|     by the federal housing administration of plans for an extension
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0015|     to an existing or construction of a new sewerage system
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0016|     intended to serve a subdivision solely residential in nature
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0017|     shall be deemed compliance with all provisions of this
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0018|     subsection;
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0019|               I.  may adopt regulations requiring notice to it or
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0020|     a constituent agency of intent to introduce or allow the
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0021|     introduction of water contaminants into waters of the state;
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0022|               J.  may adopt regulations establishing pretreatment
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0023|     standards that prohibit or control the introduction into
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0024|     publicly owned sewerage systems of water contaminants that are
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0025|     not susceptible to treatment by the treatment works or that
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0001|     would interfere with the operation of the treatment works; 
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0002|               K.  shall not require a permit respecting the use of
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0003|     water in irrigated agriculture, except in the case of the
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0004|     employment of a specific practice in connection with such
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0005|     irrigation that documentation or actual case history has shown
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0006|     to be hazardous to public health or the environment; and
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0007|               L.  shall coordinate application procedures and
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0008|     funding cycles for loans and grants from the federal government
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0009|     and from other sources, public or private, with the local
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0010|     government division of the department of finance and
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0011|     administration pursuant to the New Mexico Community Assistance
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0012|     Act."
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0013|                                    
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0014|   
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0015|                      FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
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0016|                        FIRST SESSION, 1997
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0017|   
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0018|   
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0019|                                                   March 4, 1997
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0020|   
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0021|   Mr. President:
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0022|   
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0023|       Your CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred
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0024|   
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0025|                          SENATE BILL 1026
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0001|   
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0002|   has had it under consideration and reports same with
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0003|   recommendation that it DO PASS.
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0004|   
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0005|                                Respectfully submitted,
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0006|   
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0007|   
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0008|   
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0009|                                
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0010|   __________________________________
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0011|                                Michael S. Sanchez, Chairman 
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0012|   
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0013|   
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0014|   
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0015|   Adopted_______________________   Not
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0016|   Adopted_______________________
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0017|             (Chief Clerk)                          (Chief Clerk)
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0018|   
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0019|   
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0020|   
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0021|                     Date ________________________
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0022|   
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0023|   
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0024|   The roll call vote was <u> 9 </u> For <u> 0 </u> Against
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0025|           Yes:    9
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0001|           No:     None
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0002|                Excused:     Griego
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0003|           Absent: None
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0004|   
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0005|   
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0006|   S1026C01
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0007|                        FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
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0008|                           FIRST SESSION
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0009|   
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0010|   
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0011|                                                   March 5, 1997
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0012|   
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0013|   
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0014|   SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT number _______ to SENATE BILL 1026
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0015|   
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0016|   Amendment sponsored by Senator Carlos R. Cisneros 
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0017|   
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0018|   
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0019|       1.  On page 6, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following
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0020|   new section:
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0021|   
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0022|       "Section 2.  Section 74-6-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973,
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0023|   Chapter 326, Section 4, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 100,
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0024|   Section 3 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 291, Section 5) is
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0025|   amended to read:
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0001|   
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0002|       "74-6-5.  PERMITS--CERTIFICATION--APPEALS TO COMMISSION.--
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0003|   
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0004|           A.  By regulation the commission may require persons to
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0005|   obtain from a constituent agency designated by the commission a
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0006|   permit for the discharge of any water contaminant or for the
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0007|   <u>transport</u>, disposal or re-use of septage or sludge.
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0008|   
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0009|           B.  The commission shall adopt regulations establishing
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0010|   procedures for certifying federal water quality permits.
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0011|   
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0012|           C.  Prior to the issuance of a permit, the constituent
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0013|   agency may require the submission of plans, specifications and
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0014|   other relevant information that it deems necessary.
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0015|   
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0016|           D.  The commission shall by regulation set the dates
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0017|   upon which applications for permits shall be filed and designate
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0018|   the time periods within which the constituent agency shall, after
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0019|   the filing of an administratively complete application for a
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0020|   permit, either grant the permit, grant the permit subject to
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0021|   conditions or deny the permit.
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0022|   
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0023|   
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0024|           E.  The constituent agency shall deny any application
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0025|   for a permit or deny the certification of a federal water quality
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0001|   permit if:
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0002|   
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0003|                (1)  the effluent would not meet applicable state
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0004|   or federal effluent regulations, standards of performance or
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0005|   limitations;
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0006|   
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0007|                (2)  any provision of the Water Quality Act would
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0008|   be violated;
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0009|   
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0010|                (3)  the discharge would cause or contribute to
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0011|   water contaminant levels in excess of any state or federal
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0012|   standard.  Determination of the discharges' effect on ground
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0013|   water shall be measured at any place of withdrawal of water for
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0014|   present or reasonably foreseeable future use.  Determination of
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0015|   the discharges' effect on surface waters shall be measured at the
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0016|   point of discharge; or
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0017|   
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0018|                (4)  the applicant has, within the ten years
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0019|   immediately preceding the date of submission of the permit
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0020|   application:
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0021|   
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0022|                    (a)  knowingly misrepresented a material fact
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0023|   in an application for a permit;
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0024|   
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0025|                    (b)  refused or failed to disclose any
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0001|   information required under the Water Quality Act;
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0002|   
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0003|                    (c)  been convicted of a felony or other crime
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0004|   involving moral turpitude;
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0005|   
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0006|                    (d)  been convicted of a felony in any court
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0007|   for any crime defined by state or federal law as being a
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0008|   restraint of trade, price-fixing, bribery or fraud;
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0009|   
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0010|   
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0011|                    (e)  exhibited a history of willful disregard
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0012|   for environmental laws of any state or the United States; or
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0013|   
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0014|                    (f)  had an environmental permit revoked or 
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0015|   permanently suspended for cause under any environmental laws of
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0016|   any state or the United States.
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0017|   
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0018|           F.  The commission shall by regulation develop
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0019|   procedures that <s>[will]</s> ensure that the public, affected
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0020|   governmental agencies and any other state whose water may be
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0021|   affected shall receive notice of each application for issuance or
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0022|   modification of a permit.  No ruling shall be made on any
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0023|   application for a permit without opportunity for a public hearing
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0024|   at which all interested persons shall be given a reasonable
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0025|   chance to submit data, views or arguments orally or in writing
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0001|   and to examine witnesses testifying at the hearing.
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0002|   
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0003|           G.  The commission may adopt regulations for the
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0004|   operation and maintenance of the permitted facility, including
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0005|   requirements, as may be necessary or desirable, that relate to
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0006|   continuity of operation, personnel training and financial
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0007|   responsibility, including financial responsibility for corrective
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0008|   action.
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0009|   
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0010|           H.  Permits shall be issued for fixed terms not to
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0011|   exceed five years, except that for new discharges, the term of
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0012|   the permit shall commence on the date the discharge begins, but
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0013|   in no event shall the term of the permit exceed seven years from
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0014|   the date the permit was issued.
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0015|   
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0016|           I.  By regulation, the commission may impose reasonable
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0017|   conditions upon permits requiring permittees to:
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0018|   
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0019|                (1)  install, use and maintain effluent monitoring 
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0020|   devices;
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0021|   
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0022|   
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0023|   
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0024|                (2)  sample effluents and receiving waters for any
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0025|   known or suspected water contaminants in accordance with methods
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0001|   and at locations and intervals as may be prescribed by the
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0002|   commission;
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0003|   
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0004|                (3)  establish and maintain records of the nature
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0005|   and amounts of effluents and the performance of effluent control
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0006|   devices;
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0007|   
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0008|                (4)  provide any other information relating to the
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0009|   discharge or direct or indirect release of water contaminants;
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0010|   and
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0011|   
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0012|                (5)  notify a constituent agency of the
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0013|   introduction of new water contaminants from a new source and of a
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0014|   substantial change in volume or character of water contaminants
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0015|   being introduced from sources in existence at the time of the
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0016|   issuance of the permit.
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0017|   
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0018|           J.  The commission shall provide by regulation a
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0019|   schedule of fees for permits, not exceeding the estimated cost of
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0020|   investigation and issuance, modification and renewal of permits. 
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0021|   Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the
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0022|   water quality management fund. 
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0023|   
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0024|           K.  The issuance of a permit does not relieve any person
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0025|   from the responsibility of complying with the provisions of the
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0001|   Water Quality Act, any applicable regulations or water quality
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0002|   standards of the commission or any applicable federal laws,
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0003|   regulations or standards.
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0004|   
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0005|           L.  A permit may be terminated or modified by the
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0006|   constituent agency that issued the permit prior to its date of
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0007|   expiration for any of the following causes:
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0008|   
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0009|                (1)  violation of any condition of the permit;
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0010|   
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0011|                (2)  obtaining the permit by misrepresentation or
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0012|   failure to disclose fully all relevant facts;
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0013|   
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0014|   
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0015|                (3)  violation of any provisions of the Water
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0016|   Quality Act or any applicable regulations, standard of
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0017|   performance or water quality standards;
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0018|   
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0019|                (4)  violation of any applicable state or federal
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0020|   effluent regulations or limitations; or
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0021|   
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0022|                (5)  change in any condition that requires either a
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0023|   temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the permitted
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0024|   discharge.
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0025|   
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0001|           M.  If the constituent agency denies, terminates or
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0002|   modifies a permit or grants a permit subject to condition, the
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0003|   constituent agency shall notify the applicant or permittee by
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0004|   certified mail of the action taken and the reasons.  
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0005|   
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0006|           N.  A person who participated in a permitting action
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0007|   before a constituent agency or a person affected by a
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0008|   certification of a federal permit and who is adversely affected
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0009|   by such permitting action or certification may file a petition
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0010|   for hearing before the commission.  The petition shall be made in
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0011|   writing to the commission within thirty days from the date notice
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0012|   is given of the constituent agency's action.  Unless a timely
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0013|   request for hearing is made, the decision of the constituent
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0014|   agency shall be final.
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0015|   
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0016|           O.  If a timely petition for hearing is made, the
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0017|   commission shall hold a hearing within ninety days after receipt
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0018|   of the petition.  The commission shall notify the petitioner and
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0019|   the applicant or permittee if other than the petitioner by
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0020|   certified mail of the date, time and place of the hearing.  If
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0021|   the commission deems the action that is the subject of the
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0022|   petition to be affected with substantial public interest, it
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0023|   shall ensure that the public receives notice of the date, time
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0024|   and place of the hearing and <s>[shall be]</s> <u>is</u> given a reasonable
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0025|   chance to submit data, views or arguments orally or in writing
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0001|   and to examine witnesses testifying at the hearing.  A person
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0002|   submitting data, views or arguments orally or in writing shall be
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0003|   subject to examination at the hearing.  In the hearing, the
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0004|   burden of proof shall be upon the petitioner.  The commission may
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0005|   designate a hearing officer to take evidence in the hearing. 
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0006|   Based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, the commission
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0007|   shall sustain, modify or reverse the action of the constituent
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0008|   agency.
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0009|   
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0010|           P.  If the petitioner requests, the hearing shall be
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0011|   recorded at the cost of the petitioner.  Unless the petitioner
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0012|   requests that the hearing be recorded, the decision of the
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0013|   commission shall be final."".
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0014|   
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0015|   
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0016|   
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0017|   
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0018|   
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0019|   
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0020|                                       __________________________
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0021|                                       Carlos R. Cisneros
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0022|   
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0023|   
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0024|   
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0025|   Adopted ___________________   Not Adopted _______________________
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0001|            (Chief Clerk)                    (Chief Clerk)
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0002|   
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0003|   
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0004|                    Date _________________
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0005|                          State of New Mexico
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0006|                      House of Representatives
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0007|   
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0008|                      FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
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0009|                        FIRST SESSION, 1997
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0010|   
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0011|   
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0012|                                                  March 12, 1997
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0013|   
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0014|   
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0015|   Mr. Speaker:
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0016|   
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0017|       Your ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, to
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0018|   whom has been referred
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0019|   
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0020|                 SENATE BILL 1026, as amended
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0021|                               
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0022|   has had it under consideration and reports same with
    |
0023|   recommendation that it DO PASS.
    |
0024|   
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0025|                            Respectfully submitted,
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0001|   
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0002|   
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0003|   
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0004|                            <u>                                 
</u>    |
<u></u>0005| <u>                           </u>                        James Roger Madalena, Chairman
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0006|   
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0007|   
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0008|   Adopted <u>                    </u>   Not Adopted <u>                     
</u>    |
<u></u>0009| <u>  </u>
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0010|           (Chief Clerk)               
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0011|        (Chief Clerk)
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0012|   
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0013|                        Date <u>            </u>
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0014|   
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0015|   The roll call vote was<u> 8 </u> For<u> 0 </u> Against
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0016|   Yes:         8
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0017|                Excused:     Getty, Roberts, Salazar, Stewart 
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0018|           Absent: None
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0019|   
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0020|   
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0021|   G:\BILLTEXT\BILLW_97\S1026
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