44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY FOR THE STATE TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE REGIONAL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES HAVE NOT BEEN DEVELOPED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WHEREAS, as New Mexico's population grows and undeveloped land becomes more scarce and expensive, the disposal of solid waste continues to be a fiscal as well as a practical problem for local and tribal governments, especially in rural areas; and

WHEREAS, while regional solid waste disposal facilities have helped to alleviate some of the issues involved with solid waste disposal, they have also led to other issues with local and tribal governments concerning the cost, siting, operation and closing of solid waste disposal facilities; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico has large amounts of land under the jurisdiction of the federal bureau of land management, the United States forest service and the state land office that may be available for siting solid waste disposal facilities; and

WHEREAS, coordinating activities related to solid waste facilities and interacting with agencies of the state and federal government may be better handled at the state, rather than the local level; and

WHEREAS, a study should be conducted that examines the feasibility for the state to develop and operate regional solid waste disposal facilities in areas of the state where solid waste disposal facilities have not been developed by local and tribal governments, with the local and tribal governments retaining the responsibility for the transportation of solid waste and the payment of tipping fees;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to assign such a study to the interim water and natural resources committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico legislative council, the department of environment, the New Mexico office of Indian affairs, the state land office, the federal bureau of land management, the United States forest service, the New Mexico association of counties and the New Mexico municipal league.