45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REQUEST AN INTERIM COMMITTEE TO ANALYZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LA SEMILLA LIQUID WASTE TRAINING FACILITY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATIONS TO DESIGNERS, INSTALLERS, CONTRACTORS, BUSINESSES, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING ON-SITE LIQUID WASTE SYSTEMS, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND WATER REUSE.

WHEREAS, there are approximately one hundred eighty thousand on-site liquid waste systems in New Mexico, discharging about sixty-eight million gallons of sewage effluent per day; and

WHEREAS, discharges from on-site liquid waste systems are the second largest source of ground water contamination in the state; and

WHEREAS, on-site liquid waste systems are responsible for approximately sixty-one percent of the water supply well contamination in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, most areas of population growth in the state are poorly suited for the installation of on-site liquid waste systems; and

WHEREAS, discharges from on-site liquid waste systems contain organisms that transmit disease and infection; and

WHEREAS, the proposed La Semilla education, demonstration and training facility will be centrally located and will serve the needs of the entire state and potentially the region; and

WHEREAS, the proposed La Semilla facility will educate businesses in responding to new liquid waste and wastewater regulations, will train businesses and the general public on wastewater reuse and will demonstrate to the public and businesses cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies; and

WHEREAS, the proposed La Semilla facility will be used to provide hands-on demonstrations of current, new and emerging technologies, as well as continuing practical updated training, and will provide a venue for the public to see new technologies and methods of energy, resource and water and wastewater management; and

WHEREAS, the La Semilla facility has been conceptually supported by the university of New Mexico, the New Mexico institute of mining and technology and New Mexico state university as a facility where these schools may conduct research and demonstrate new and advanced technologies in on-site liquid waste treatment, wastewater treatment, wastewater reuse and energy and resource management; and

WHEREAS, on-site liquid waste systems can be an economical and environmentally sound waste treatment option for rural areas and small communities as long as they are properly designed, installed and maintained; and

WHEREAS, the success of on-site liquid waste systems depends on well-trained and educated designers and installers; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no facility in New Mexico to educate and train on-site liquid waste system designers and installers; and

WHEREAS, the commissioner of public lands has executed a one hundred year lease with the federal department of energy for use of the state lands known as La Semilla, located adjacent to Mesa del Sol, for use as a buffer to uses on the adjoining Kirtland air force base lands; and

WHEREAS, the department of energy lease payments provide the required compensation for use of the state land; and

WHEREAS, the lease with the department of energy provides for additional uses that are consistent with the La Semilla master plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to have the appropriate interim committee study the proposed creation of La Semilla liquid waste training facility and environmental education center and make recommendations to the first session of the forty-sixth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the department of environment, the state land office, the university of New Mexico, the New Mexico institute of mining and technology and New Mexico state university.