New Mexico

New Mexico to receive $18.9M in federal money for ‘forever chemical' detection • Source New Mexico

Published

6 months ago

May 24, 2024

New Mexico to receive .9M in federal money for ‘forever chemical' detection • Source New Mexico

Big check energy at the Roundhouse.

National and state environmental officials celebrated a $18.9 million federal grant for most of New Mexico’s water systems to use over the next two years to detect “forever chemicals,” in the state’s drinking water.

State officials say they hope to pull down a total of $47.2 million in the next five years in additional rounds of federal grants. The first two years will focus on detection and subsequent phases will address removal of Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS for short) in drinking water.

More than 496 systems serving 231,000 New Mexicans are eligible for the funding, state officials said.

A check of this size will help the state “fund its way” out of pollution, said New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney from the Roundhouse Rotunda.

“These forever chemicals will not be a forever legacy. We will address these chemicals and New Mexico will be the leader in the way we do that,” he said.

What are PFAS?

This class of synthetic chemicals are ubiquitous, present in the blood of most people in the U.S. They are toxic and extremely hard to break down. There are nearly 15,000 types of these chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA looks to limit toxic ‘forever chemicals.’ Here’s what New Mexicans should know

Their resistance to breaking down in sunlight, water, oil and fire over time makes them useful in fabrics, nonstick cookware, food packaging, in our carpets, clothes and firefighting foam. It also means they build up in our bodies, linked to cancer, heart and liver problems, developmental damage, vaccine resistance and other health issues.

Despite decades of rising concern about the dangers of these chemicals, the EPA only implemented drinking water limits for only the five most-common, releasing the final rule in April 2024.

These drinking water limits for the two most-studied and common chemicals – PFOA and PFOS – is 4 parts per trillion, the lowest limit the EPA believes to be technologically possible. The new rule requires water systems to be compliant by 2029.

The size of the problem will require billions of dollars in spending, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to implement the drinking water rules.

And that’s just the low estimate. The U.S. military estimated PFAS clean-up just on military bases and surrounding communities to be at least $31 billion.

New Mexico context

As the nation grapples with the reality of these contaminants’ omnipresence – in rainwater, in our bodies, in animals – New Mexico water systems are already struggling.

In 2021, the environment department found PFAS in at least 15 water systems in New Mexico, according to tests performed with federal assistance.

The most impacted communities are in Curry County and Otero County, according to that data. That’s also where PFAS plumes from firefighting foam infiltrated the groundwater for decades next to military bases. The state tested more than three dozen cities and water systems for 28 compounds. Only five compounds are subject to the proposed limits.

A Clovis dairy had to euthanize more than 3,600 cows after Cannon Air Force base contaminated water sources infiltrated wells on the dairy.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury described hearing about the moment, saying that the disaster made PFAS not just an economic issue, but a personal one for New Mexico.”

“It’s a big day for New Mexico. it’s a big day for families, it’s a big day for ranchers, and it’s a big day in our fight to really tackle the chemical contaminants that affect our communities,” Stansbury said.

Rebecca Roose, acting as the infrastructure czar in the governor’s office said addressing PFAS is part of a larger plan to address water scarcity in the arid state.

“When we talk about our water being polluted and contaminated and not safe, there’s few things we take more seriously than that,” Roose said. “Perhaps right up there with it is protecting the water so that it never becomes polluted, contaminated or unsafe, because there is not a drop of water to spare.”

The federal grant is funded from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which contained at least $9 billion earmarked for addressing PFAS contamination.

This is the first grant of its kind in the region, said Earthea Nance, who oversees EPA Region 6, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Nance said there are no set plans for enforcement for holding PFAS polluters accountable in Region 6, but said that could change with more information.

“I don’t want to say no, because we mean, tomorrow, we could start putting a plan together,” she said.

Nance said the EPA Region 6 office is relying on state officials to help determine how large the enforcement response will be.

“Because we’re giving this money to the state of (New) Mexico, some of that will fall on them in terms of assessing the situation so that we can then figure out how to identify enforcement issues,” Nance said.

EPA R6 Director Earthea Nance, right, sits with NMED Secretary James Kenney at Thursday, May 23, 2024 event in the rotunda. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

How does the program work?

The grant has the unwieldy name; Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Program (EC-SDC). Name aside, it will allow for New Mexico’s environment leaders to spend up to $18.9 million over the next two years.

The program’s first phase will oversee water sampling, creating a statewide database and outreach to water systems, according to environment department officials.

Public water systems with 10,000 or fewer connections, or communities where the median household income falls between $56,828 – $75,770 are eligible to opt in, using this form.

“The great thing about this grant is we will be hiring and controlling a lot of the contract work and actually implementing it, which does take a little bit of a relief off the water systems,” said Kelsey Rader, the deputy division director for Water Protection with the state.

Rader said further federal money, two years from now, would offer more than testing, but also water treatment.

“That’s what’s really special about this grant is that it covers everything from the testing, from the design to the actual remediation, in paying for the necessary upgrades,” she said.

When asked if the $18.9 million is close to addressing the scope of PFAS in New Mexican’s water systems, Rader said the department doesn’t have a date set on when they’ll be able to test every New Mexico system.

“It’s difficult to say when that’s going to happen,” she said.

More work to do

Kenney said the state is still working to address current contamination, noting the environment department recently sent a letter asking for the federal government to commit to clean up water surrounding the Cannon Air Force base, not just beneath it.

A contentious court fight continues on, as the New Mexico Environment Department is still attempting to require the U.S. Air Force to follow state testing and treatment protocols over contamination at Cannon Air Force base. The case has stretched on for years in federal district court and now is in the 10th Circuit Appeals Courts.

Battle between New Mexico and US Air Force to track toxic chemicals drags on

The state is currently in mediation with the U.S. Air Force over the litigation and has been for over a year, said Bruce Baizel, the compliance and enforcement director for the environment department. The parties just extended that mediation period through late June.

The $18.9 million for clean-up would go farther, if people’s contact with PFAS in everyday items were reduced, said Kenney.

“In our legislative session, I’d like to see a bill introduced that bans PFAS but for essential uses, like medical devices,” he said. “But if given the choice of having a toxic chemical in your house that then becomes a toxic chemical in your body, I would choose not to have it in my house, or my body.”

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New Mexico

Sophomore star shows he can dunk, leads Rebels to win — PHOTOS

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Sophomore star shows he can dunk, leads Rebels to win — PHOTOS

There’s only one thing UNLV forward Jalen Hill didn’t believe his teammate Dedan Thomas Jr. could accomplish on the basketball floor, and it’s going to cost him a steak dinner.

Thomas found himself ahead of the pack late in the first half and flashed a big smile as he started to measure his dribbles and steps toward the rim.

“I got the ball and thought I saw someone chasing me to block it, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I have to go dunk this,’” Thomas said.

The first slam of his collegiate career highlighted the Rebels’ 72-65 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

A preseason discussion between Hill and Thomas resulted in the promise of the meal should Thomas throw one down in a game this season. Hill may not be the only one on the hook.

“He never shows that he can dunk at practice,” Hill laughed. “It’s exciting, because for a guy that doesn’t really dunk to get his first one, a lot of people owe him stuff.”

While the above-the-rim moment was a departure from the norm, it was business as usual otherwise for the sophomore point guard, who was once again the catalyst for much of what UNLV (4-1) was able to accomplish in a game in which it struggled from the field for long stretches.

He finished with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Rebels held off the Aggies (3-2) in a physical affair that featured 50 fouls and a combined 33.3 percent shooting effort from the field.

Thomas got to the free-throw line 19 times and made 13 of the attempts.

“We knew they were a physical team, so I tried to use that aggression against them,” he said. “Just drawing fouls and trying to get to the line as much as possible.”

UNLV led by as many as nine points midway through the second half only to allow the Aggies to hang around. Julian Rishwain hit a pair of 3-pointers to help keep them at bay for a while, but they eventually grabbed a brief lead that proved to be short-lived.

New Mexico State used a late 6-0 run to take a 63-62 lead with 4:08 remaining, but UNLV got the ball inside to Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry for a dunk to recapture the lead for good.

Thomas got to the rim and was fouled in a one-point game with 2:22 remaining and made both free throws. The Aggies wouldn’t score again, as UNLV tightened up defensively down the stretch, forcing New Mexico State to miss its final six shots and eight of their last nine.

UNLV led 37-34 at halftime despite a miserable shooting performance from the field.

After a three-point play by Thomas in the opening minute, the Rebels missed their next eight shots and 13 of their next 15 as they went more than seven minutes without a basket from the floor.

They were able to stay in the game largely because of their defense and ability to get to the free-throw line. UNLV held the Aggies to 31.3 percent shooting in the first half and got into the bonus with more than 14 minutes remaining, going 20-for-23 from the line before the break.

“It just shows we’re really gutsy,” Hill said. “We didn’t shoot well, but we got to the free-throw line and got rebounds when we needed them.”

Eight New Mexico State players had two fouls in the first 20 minutes.

The Rebels did get hot toward the end of a first half that saw Thomas record 15 points and three assists while UNLV shot just 29.2 percent from the field.

None were more memorable than the ones scored by Thomas on the breakaway with 3:06 remaining in the first half.

Coach Kevin Kruger had more faith than Hill.

“I didn’t know if he was going to dunk or not, but I do know he can,” Kruger laughed. “I have seen it before.”

After the Thomas dunk brought the entire bench to its feet in celebration, he threw a lob to Cherry on a break that he finished with a highlight-reel jam and a foul. The three-point play completed a 7-0 run that put the Rebels up 37-30.

“A dunk isn’t always worth only two points,” Kruger said. “Sometimes it gets your team going, and I thought it did for us.”

Cherry finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Hill had 16 points and nine boards.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

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New Mexico

NM State Parks offering free day use on Black Friday

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

NM State Parks offering free day use on Black Friday

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — If you are looking for a day trip or to get outdoors over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, New Mexico State Parks is offering free day-use access to all 35 state parks on Friday, Nov. 29. It is a great way to explore New Mexico’s “diverse landscape — from scenic […]

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New Mexico

What channel is MTSU football vs New Mexico State on today? Time, TV schedule for Week 13

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

What channel is MTSU football vs New Mexico State on today? Time, TV schedule for Week 13

Middle Tennessee State football will honor its seniors when the Blue Raiders play host to New Mexico State Saturday (1:30 p.m., ESPN+) at Floyd Stadium.

The Blue Raiders (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA) were eliminated from bowl contention with a 37-17 loss to Liberty two weeks ago. MTSU had an open date last week.

New Mexico State (2-8, 1-5) has lost three in a row and eight of nine, including a 38-3 loss to Texas A&M last week. A 33-30 CUSA win over Louisiana Tech is the only victory in that stretch.

Below is information on how to watch the game, betting odds and other information:

Watch MTSU football games live on Fubo

What channel is MTSU football vs. New Mexico State on today?

TV: ESPN+

Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

MTSU vs. New Mexico State will broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network in Week 11 of the 2024 college football season. Jake Rose (play by play), Jeremy Kellem (color commentator) and Justin Beasley (sideline) will call the game from the booth at Floyd Stadium. Streaming options for the game include Fubo,, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

MTSU vs. New Mexico State football time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Start time: 1:30 p.m., CT

The MTSU vs. New Mexico State game starts at noon at Floyd Stadium.

Purchase MTSU football tickets on StubHub

MTSU football vs. New Mexico State prediction, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Nov. 21

MTSU 24, New Mexico State 17: In a matchup involving two of the league’s lowest-scoring offenses and bottom two defenses, something has to give. MTSU will win its third home game of the season to finish 3-3 at Floyd Stadium.

ODDS: MTSU by 3.5

O/U: 51.5

MTSU football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31: MTSU 32, Tennessee Tech 25

Sept. 7: Ole Miss 52, MTSU 3

Sept. 14: Western Kentucky 49, MTSU 21

Sept. 21: Duke 45, MTSU 17

Sept. 28: Memphis 24, MTSU 7

Oct. 10: Louisiana Tech 48, MTSU 21

Oct. 15: MTSU 14, Kennesaw State 5

Oct. 23: Jacksonville State 42, MTSU 20

Nov. 2: MTSU 20, UTEP 13

Nov. 9: Liberty 37, MTSU 17

Nov. 23: vs. New Mexico State, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+

Nov. 30: at Florida International, 1 p.m., ESPN platforms

Dec. 6: Conference USA championship game, CBS Sports Network

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Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.

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