January 2008 - PUBLIC EDITION
January
2008 - PUBLIC EDITION
| PLEASE NOTE: Some newsletter content is only available to members in good standing of NMSHMM. |
| Our Mission |
| To provide environmental professionals in the Southwest a forum for professional development, education, and networking opportunities; and to offer our community environmental, health, and safety expertise |
NMSHMM Elections Are Here
Richie Spangler, CHMM
Sandia National Laboratories
NMSHMM's held its annual holiday social on Thursday, December 13th. The gathering began at 5:00 PM and lasted through 8:00 PM at the Billiard Palace located at 2288 Wyoming Blvd NE in Albuquerque. There was some spirited competition on our own private pool table throughout the night. In addition, we made good use of our own big screen television by having the football game playing. NMSHMM purchased munchies and beverages throughout the night for everyone to enjoy. Over a dozen members enjoyed socializing in our private room away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the crowd. Thanks to all who attended for adding to the evening, and I hope that even more of you can attend the fun for the next holiday social.
Thank you to all who have thrown their proverbial "hat in to the ring" for the board of directors' elections coming up. The more candidates the merrier, so please send us an e-mail soon if you would like to add your name to the ballot.
I want to apologize to everyone for some bad information last month. I was wrong about the ACHMM Leadership workshop registration being open. Apparently, the site was a test site for those of us working on the committee to look at prior to it being released to the general membership. I will let you know once it has been released in its final form.
Also, detailed information on the upcoming annual dinner to be held on March 21 will be forthcoming. Please save the date now though, so we can have another great turnout for the event.
With the beginning of 2008, NMSHMM is entering the last quarter of its fiscal year. The new fiscal year begins in March, and that is also when the newly elected board members will take over their offices. Please keep your eyes open for the election ballots via e-mail this year rather than as a paper ballot. In order to make it easier to vote, the elections are being held electronically this year.
Speaking of voting, it looks like it is going to be an interesting start to 2008 on the political front with the presidential primaries starting off the year in full swing. I hope everyone takes the time to go out and vote for their candidate of choice, including the NMSHMM candidate. Please stay tuned for the dates and times for the NMSHMM-You Tube-CNN-FOX-Zogby-Reuters-ABC News debate/poll/survey on our excellent suite of candidates . . . no negative campaigning required.
Committee News
Government Affairs and Local News Stories
Compiled by Barry Birch, CHMM, and Eric Johnson, AICP, CHMM
Areva, a French nuclear power corporation, is considering construction of a nuclear enrichment facility in the United States. Five states are being considered as sites, including locations near Carlsbad and Hobbs. (Associated Press, 11-19-07)
In December, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Solid Waste Bureau held a public hearing in Sunland Park on the renewal of the Solid Waste Permit for the Camino Real Landfill operated by Waste Connections, Inc. NMED Secretary Ron Curry, has until April 13, 2007 to make a decision regarding the permit. (NMED Press Release, 11-29-07)
The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board ordered another hearing regarding a proposal by Con Agra Trade Group, Inc., to build an ethanol plant near Clovis. There was concern that Clovis residents were misled about the proposed plant's location. (Associated Press, 12-4-07)
Governor Bill Richardson announced that Jon Goldstein would replace Cindy Padilla as NMED Deputy Secretary. Jon Goldstein has been the NMED Water and Waste Management Division Director. Cindy Padilla will become Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Aging and Long Term Services. (Associated Press, 12-4-07)
Legislators have expressed concerned that a proposed oil and gas drilling regulation will negatively impact the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Secretary Joanna Prukop said the cost of drilling an oil or gas well would increase under the regulation, but not by the $200,000 that the industry is claiming. "At the very least, you have to require a comprehensive economic analysis," said State Representative Donald Bratton, of Hobbs. During the last fiscal year (July 2006 through June 2007), oil and gas operations provided $1.4 billion in state tax revenue. (Albuquerque Journal, 12-6-07)
The Santa Fe County Commission held a public meeting at Santa Fe High School in early December regarding proposed oil and gas drilling in southern Santa Fe County. About 800 people attended the hearing. The Galisteo Community Association and Drilling Santa Fe are two organizations actively opposing the proposed drilling. The Santa Fe County Commission is rewriting their oil and gas ordinance in response to a Houston company's plans to conduct oil and gas exploration in the Galisteo Basin. (Associated Press, 12-6-07; Santa Fe New Mexican, 12-6-07)
The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission requested more than $27 million in past and future costs to remediate soil and water contamination caused the Asarco smelter in El Paso. The commission filed the request as part of Asarco's bankruptcy case under review in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. (El Paso Times, 12-7-07)
NMED's Pollution Prevention Program provides few waste assessments to local businesses. The assessments can identify energy and water conservation options while reducing waste disposal costs. (NMED Press Release, 12-7-07)
NMED Secretary Ron Curry rejected a proposal for the Northeast New Mexico Regional Landfill, in Wagon Mound, to accept special wastes, including asbestos, petroleum, and sewage treatment plant sludge. However, Secretary Curry approved a 10-year renewal permit for the landfill to accept municipal solid waste and an 82-acre expansion area for waste delivered by train. (Albuquerque Journal, 12-19-07)
The New Mexico Court of Appeals upheld an NMED decision that allows Sandia National Laboratories to cover waste at their mixed waste landfill. With a 3-foot deep earthen cap under a barrier rocks to prevent animals from burrowing into the waste. Citizen Action, a group opposing the NMED decision, believes the waste should be excavated. NMED scientists have not identied any groundwater contamination at the landfill. (NMED Press Release, 12-19-07; Santa Fe New Mexican, 12-19-07)
In the current federal budget, the Department Energy will not select sites for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) - Advance Fuel Cycle Initiative. Two New Mexico sites were under consideration: one site between Roswell and Tatum and another site between Carlsbad and Hobbs. (Albuquerque Journal, 12-20-07).
Society luncheon meetings are held at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Blvd. NE, at 11:30 on the third Wednesday of the month (except Mar. and Dec.)
| January 2008 |
Note: NMSHMM board elections are scheduled for January. Ballots will be sent by e-mail.
January 15, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.
January 16, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque. Tom Skibitski, Chief NMED/DOE-Oversight Bureau will present "New Mexico Environmental Monitoring of DOE Sites."
| February 2008 |
February 7, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. George Hidy, of Envair/Aerochem, will present "Electricity Production and Climate Alternation."
February 19, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.
February 20, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque. Chuck Akeley, Manager, NMED/Solid Waste Bureau/Enforcement Section will present "Management of Solid Waste in New Mexico."
| March 2008 |
March 6, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque.
March 18, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.
March 21, 6:00 pm, NMSHMM Annual Meeting and Dinner. Location and speaker to be announced.
| April 2008 |
April 3, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. Speaker to be announced.
April 15, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.
April 16, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque. Speaker to be announced.
Did we miss something? To get your event added to the calendar please contact Eric Johnson at .
| Society business meetings are held at CDM's offices, 6000 Uptown NE, Suite 200, at 6:00 on the third Tuesday of the month (except Mar. and Dec.) |
Monthly Meeting Location
Our regular monthly meetings are held at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill (6601 Uptown Boulevard Northeast; click here for a map). Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month (unless replaced by a special event as announced via this newsletter) from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm. If you have any ideas for speakers or field trips, please contact a NMSHMM board member.
For the latest job openings, please click here. (MEMBERS ONLY)
Please send contributions for future newsletters to Eric Johnson at . Thanks!