Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Martinez		DATE TYPED	02/04/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Land Grant Waste Removal				SB	155
					ANALYST		Koplik

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$600.0		See Narrative	Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Environment Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 155 appropriates $600,000 from the General Fund to the Environment Department for the purpose of removing illegally disposed of solid waste, liquid waste, and hazardous waste from common lands of community land grants.

Significant Issues

The proposed appropriation would be used to employ contractual services to remove waste illegally disposed on community land grants. Illegal waste disposal is a chronic problem throughout the state, and land grant parcels are no exception. Local or private entities continue to bear the burden of clean up on community land grants. Examples of dumping include abandoned drums of unknown contents, used oil, domestic/municipal refuse, and septage. Clean up of these, sometimes long neglected, sites would benefit the citizenry by promoting protection of human health and the environment.

The Environment Department explains that the definition and identification of “common lands of community land grants organized under state law,” and by extension eligibility criteria for waste removal, would be required before any clean up activities could proceed. The department would likely set up a fund for these activities. Existing mechanisms within the department, such as that under the Hazardous Waste Bureau’s Spill Response Program, would need to be utilized to provide contractor oversight and contract administration.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $600 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

Contractor oversight by technical staff and contract administration would be required to ensure the selected contractor(s) are adequate, and to ensure the services are procured in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The cost of such work would likely not exceed 10 per cent of the appropriation.

RLG/dm