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

SPONSOR Lundstrom

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/07

HB 156

SHORT TITLE Northwest NM Environmental Planning

SB

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$75.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Department of Health

New Mexico Environment Department

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)

SUMMARY

House Bill 156 makes an Appropriation for Implementing and Administering a Program for En-

vironmental Planning in Northwest NM.

HB 156 appropriates $75,000 from the general fund in FY08 to implement and administer a

demonstration program in San Juan, McKinley and Cibola counties designed to help communi-

ties understand and reduce risks to toxics from all sources. The goal of the program is to encour-

age communities to build collaborative partnerships that are self-sustaining and develop under-

standing of sources of toxics, and reduce risks through action at the local level.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The program envisioned by HB 156 would seek to match state funds with federal grant funds.

House Bill 156 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

EMNRD and other state agencies encourage community involvement in environmental permit-

ting decisions. The program envisioned in this bill would assist agency efforts in providing in-

formation to communities about permitting actions that may impact them. This collaborative

partnership program could help agencies create long term partnerships and build trust with com-

munity and citizen groups, so that potentially divisive issues can be addressed in a positive man-

ner.

The three counties covered by this bill are currently the subject of significant new proposals for

energy and mining development. Along with an increase in oil and gas development, there are

proposals for a new large coal-fired power plant, numerous uranium exploration projects and

several coal mine expansions.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This program may increase community involvement in permitting decisions.

Department of Health and NM Environment Department

WEP/nt