New Mexico
NMED reaches record-high million settlement in gas flaring case – NM Political Report
A state agency reached a settlement agreement with an oil and gas company as New Mexico continues to crack down on air pollution from that sector. The New Mexico Environment Department announced the $24.5 million settlement with Ameredev II, LLC on Monday. This is the largest settlement that NMED has ever reached for violations of […]
A state agency reached a settlement agreement with an oil and gas company as New Mexico continues to crack down on air pollution from that sector.
The New Mexico Environment Department announced the $24.5 million settlement with Ameredev II, LLC on Monday. This is the largest settlement that NMED has ever reached for violations of regulations governing oil and gas and the majority of that money will go to the state’s general fund.
The state alleges that Ameredev flared off natural gas at five facilities between October 2018 and April 2020 because it did not have the ability to transport that gas to downstream processing facilities.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham praised the settlement as holding bad actors accountable for emissions. The governor, who has tried to present herself as a leader in addressing climate change, vowed to address emission from the oil and gas industry in 2019 after taking office.
“This settlement makes one thing crystal clear – companies that pollute our air will pay for circumventing New Mexico’s rules,” Lujan Grisham said in a press release. “Today’s settlement is about penalizing the bad actors in an effort to protect communities from breathing harmful pollution.”
A company spokesman said that Ameredev is taking the issue seriously and has not had any excess flaring-related emissions over the last four years. This is in part because of Ameredev’s significant and ongoing investments in advanced technologies and operational enhancements, he said.
“We are pleased to resolve this legacy issue, and look forward to continuing to responsibly work with the State of New Mexico and regional stakeholders to support the state’s economic development as well as American energy security,” Ameredev said in the statement emailed to NM Political Report.
While the settlement is the largest that NMED has reached for oil and gas emissions violations, it is much less than the company could have paid had it not agreed to the settlement and taken actions to address the pollution. NMED’s Environmental Protection Division fined Ameredev $40.3 million through an administrative compliance order in June.
“Let this serve as a wake-up call to the oil and gas industry – the Environment Department is using remote sensing technology, on-the-ground inspections, and responding to citizen complaints,” Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said in a press release. “The only option to avoid enforcement is to comply with state rules and permits.”
NMED’s inspection of Ameredev facilities in 2019 came after Lea County residents who were concerned about the flaring contacted the state agency.
During a year and a half of operations, Ameredev allegedly flared off more than 3.2 million thousand cubic feet of natural gas. That gas released emissions equivalent to heating 16,640 homes for an entire year. In addition, the flaring also resulted in more than 7.6 million pounds of excess hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds being released into the atmosphere.
“This settlement holds the company accountable for failing to follow the terms of their permit and improperly releasing a substantial amount of natural gas into the environment,” General Counsel Zachary Ogaz said in a press release. “We will continue to strictly enforce NMED permits and New Mexico air regulations and show companies that cutting corners and violating the law won’t save you any money in the long run.”
Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react with sunlight to form ozone, or smog, which can lead to unhealthy air quality. Areas of New Mexico where oil and gas production is common tend to have higher levels of ozone and some of them are facing what is known as noncompliance. Noncompliance occurs when ozone levels exceed federal air quality standards. This can lead to sanctions from the federal government, including loss of funding for transportation projects.
Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide can also cause health problems, including respiratory issues.
NMED states that the pollutants can also lead to impaired cognition and convulsions among those exposed and also contributing to climate change.
Prior to NMED issuing the administrative compliance order, Ameredev hired a third-party contractor to review how the company was complying with state requirements. The company also provided those results to NMED’s Air Quality Bureau.
According to NMED, Ameredev is now in compliance with the state rules and regulations.
As part of the settlement agreement, the company will hire a third-party contractor to perform an independent audit of its operations at all of the facilities it operates or owns in the state. It will also submit monthly reports that include calculations of actual emissions rates from facilities in New Mexico.
It will also propose a mitigation project that NMED may approve that will lead to weekly optical gas imaging inspections at facilities or the implementation of leak and repair monitoring technology.
Finally, Ameredev agreed to remove equipment from the Azalea Central Tank Battery.
The settlement comes amid a crackdown on pollution that has led to various agreements, including settlements with Apache Corporation, Matador Production Company and Mewborne Oil Company. The settlements stem from alleged emissions that occurred prior to the ozone precursor rule that went into effect in 2022.
Should Ameredev fail to fulfill its obligations under the settlement agreement, the company could face fines of $2,000 per day.
“I am grateful to our dedicated and hard-working compliance and enforcement staff who worked diligently to bring this case to fruition,” NMED Compliance and Enforcement Section Chief Cindy Hollenberg said in a press release. “The Air Quality Bureau is committed to deterring noncompliance such as this and leveling the playing field for those companies that prioritize protecting the environment.”
Hikers heading into the Sandia Mountains are being reminded to never underestimate Albuquerque’s trail system after a man was found dead earlier this week along the popular La Luz Trail.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hikers heading into the Sandia Mountains are being reminded to never underestimate Albuquerque’s trail system after a man was found dead earlier this week along the popular La Luz Trail.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man as Samuel Gurule. Authorities say there are no signs of foul play and no obvious trauma, though the investigation into his death is ongoing.
While details remain limited, officials say the tragedy is serving as an important reminder for hikers to prepare carefully before heading into the mountains.
“Respect the mountains, respect the outdoors,” said Steve LaRese with the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council. “We want to see everybody outside. Everyone deserves to be outside.”
With hiking season in full swing, trails throughout the Sandias are drawing more visitors. While the Sandia Crest remains closed, lower‑elevation routes like La Luz are open — and can appear deceptively manageable.
“It looks very obtainable and very two‑dimensional,” LaRese said. “But when you get in there, it’s a lot of rolling terrain.”
Between steep terrain, heat, elevation, and winding paths, conditions can change quickly — and it’s easy to get turned around.
“Little things turn into big things,” LaRese explained. “It’s very easy to get off the main trail and end up in a steep area or somewhere you don’t want to be.”
Search and Rescue officials say that’s why preparation is critical, even on shorter hikes.
The New Mexico Search and Rescue Council encourages hikers to over‑prepare, even if they don’t expect trouble. Recommended items include:
- A light source, even for daytime hikes
- A whistle, which can help rescuers locate you
- Plenty of water and protection from the sun
If something does go wrong, officials stress that hikers should not hesitate to call for help.
“Search and Rescue in New Mexico is free,” LaRese said. “You won’t be charged for calling 911 or for a rescue team coming out to get you off the mountain.”
As temperatures continue to rise across New Mexico, hikers are urged to listen to their bodies and avoid pushing past their limits.
“Check your heart rate. Be realistic about your physical abilities,” LaRese said. “There’s nothing wrong with hiking two miles up and saying, ‘That’s a good day,’ and heading back. The mountain will always be there.”
One final reminder for hikers planning a summit route: never assume the Sandia Tram will be operating for a ride back down.
Weather conditions or maintenance closures can leave hikers stranded — sometimes facing a long descent after dark.
Officials say preparation, awareness, and knowing when to turn around can make the difference between a great hike and a dangerous situation.
New Mexico
Meta threatens to pull Facebook and Instagram from New Mexico over child safety trial requirements
The Lanier Law Firm lead attorney Mark Lanier joins Varney & Co. to discuss the social media addiction trial verdict against Meta and Google, comparing it to tobacco litigation.
Tech giant Meta is threatening to cut off access to its social media platforms in New Mexico as a response to the state’s legal effort to compel changes to child safety protocols on the platform.
Meta and the state of New Mexico are expected to proceed to the second stage of their trial next week after a jury recently issued a $375 million award to the state after finding that the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and protections for children against sexual predators.
The next phase of the trial will concern what actions the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp must take to address those issues.
Among the remedies New Mexico is seeking is to impose a requirement that Meta meet a 99% accuracy threshold in verifying that children on its platform are at least 13 years old. Meta has pushed back on that requirement, arguing in a court filing that it’s unfeasible and would require it to “comply with impossible obligations.”
META VOWS APPEAL OF ‘LANDMARK’ SOCIAL MEDIA VERDICTS, WARNS OF FREE SPEECH EROSION
Meta is warning that it may be forced to pull its apps from New Mexico if the state prevails in requiring the social media giant to implement certain safeguards. (Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Meta’s legal team said in a filing that New Mexico’s “requests for relief are so broad and so burdensome, that if implemented it might force Meta to withdraw its apps entirely from the State of New Mexico as an alternative way of complying with the injunction.”
“It does not make economic or engineering sense for Meta to build separate apps just for New Mexico residents,” Meta’s lawyers added. “Nor could Meta guarantee the perfection the State demands, making it impractical for Meta to operate in New Mexico.”
EXPERT WARNS OF MASSIVE RECKONING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES: ‘GIANT CASE OF KARMA’
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| META | META PLATFORMS INC. | 611.91 | -57.21 | -8.55% |
The company has argued that it’s being unfairly singled out in comparison to other social media platforms that are popular with young people. It also previously signaled it will appeal the $375 million civil judgment against it.
New Mexico pushed back on Meta’s assertion that it would be impractical to comply with the safeguards it’s seeking for social media apps.
META ORDERED TO PAY $375M AFTER JURY FINDS PLATFORM ENABLED CHILD PREDATORS IN LANDMARK NEW MEXICO CASE
Meta is the parent company of apps including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
“Meta is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Meta’s refusal to follow the laws that protect our kids tells you everything you need to know about this company and the character of its leaders.”
“We know Meta has the ability to make these changes. For years the company has rewritten its own rules, redesigned its products, and even bent to the demands of dictators to preserve market access. This is not about technological capability. Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of engagement, advertising revenue, and profit,” Torrez added.
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New Mexico is also seeking that Meta implement safer recommendation algorithms that don’t prioritize engagement over child well-being, restrictions on end-to-end encryption for minors, prominent warning labels about the platform’s risks, permanent bans for adults engaging in or facilitating the exploitation of children, and an independent oversight regime through a court-appointed child safety monitor.
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