SENATE MEMORIAL 16

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NATURAL HERITAGE NEW MEXICO DIVISION OF THE MUSEUM OF SOUTHWESTERN BIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES, TO STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A WEB-BASED INFORMATION PORTAL THAT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA.

 

     WHEREAS, numerous New Mexico agencies have environmental data compiled in separate databases that do not interface with each other; and

     WHEREAS, an environmental database would provide a centralized, map-based, searchable website to house New Mexico's environmental data; and

     WHEREAS, a centralized environmental database would improve the state's environmental data infrastructure by creating, operating and maintaining a database that would be free, user-friendly, searchable and accessible to the public and state agencies; and

     WHEREAS, an environmental database would house the state's environmental data for the purpose of governmental transparency, interagency cooperation and information sharing; and

     WHEREAS, an environmental database would provide widespread access to the best scientific data to address the state's natural resource and environmental management needs; and

     WHEREAS, information is needed to identify existing environmental databases, the desired architecture and the cost for a common system; and

     WHEREAS, the natural heritage New Mexico division of the museum of southwestern biology at the university of New Mexico has the expertise to study the development, operation and maintenance of a web-based information portal of state environmental data; and

     WHEREAS, the bureau of geology and mineral resources at the New Mexico institute of mining and technology and the New Mexico resource geographic information system program and clearinghouse at the earth data analysis center at the university of New Mexico would bring valuable knowledge to the creation of a statewide environmental database; and

     WHEREAS, input from the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the department of environment, the state land office, the department of health, the department of game and fish, the public regulation commission, the historic preservation division of the cultural affairs department and the department of information technology would contribute to the study of the viability of a state environmental database;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the division leader of the natural heritage New Mexico division of the museum of southwestern biology at the university of New Mexico be requested to study the development, operation and maintenance of a web-based information portal that would allow public access to state environmental data; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bureau of geology and mineral resources at the New Mexico institute of mining and technology and the New Mexico resource geographic information system program and clearinghouse at the earth data analysis center at the university of New Mexico be requested to participate in the study of the viability of a statewide environmental database; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that representatives of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the department of environment, the state land office, the department of health, the department of game and fish, the public regulation commission, the historic preservation division of the cultural affairs department and the department of information technology be requested to participate in the study of the viability of a statewide environmental database; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the division leader of the natural heritage New Mexico division of the museum of southwestern biology at the university of New Mexico be requested to report its findings and conclusions to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2021; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the division leader of the natural heritage New Mexico division of the museum of southwestern biology at the university of New Mexico, the director of the bureau of geology and mineral resources at the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, the director of the New Mexico resource geographic information system program and clearinghouse at the earth data analysis center at the university of New Mexico, the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the secretary of environment, the commissioner of public lands, the secretary of health, the director of the department of game and fish, the chair of the public regulation commission, the director of the historic preservation division of the cultural affairs department and the secretary of information technology.

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