Water Quality Control Commission Unanimously Approves Mine’s Proposed Regulatory Amendments to Surface Water Standards
On October 8, 2019, following a public hearing, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) unanimously approved Peabody Natural Resources Company’s (Peabody) proposed amendments to the WQCC’s regulations governing standards for interstate and intrastate surface waters codified at N.M. Code R….
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Trumping the National Monument Designations of Past Presidents
When a President of the United States sets aside important federal lands for conservation, the accompanying fanfare typically invokes the notion of forever. But, in light of President Trump’s Executive Order 13792, maybe these national treasures should be asking our government the…
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Executive Order on Review of Designations under the Antiquities Act
President Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) on April 26, 2017, directing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a review of all Presidential designations or expansions of designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act.1 The review mandated by the EO…
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The Demise of Deference? Chevron’s and Auer’s Uncertain Future
Introduction: President Trump’s recent executive orders and ongoing commitment to regulatory reform are finding complimentary provisions in the form of a number of bills being considered in Congress. One of those bills, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017,1 includes a provision that…
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EPA Publishes Final Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule
On November 28, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published the final RCRA Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule (“HWGI Rule”). See 81 FR 85732, November 28, 2016. The HWGI Rule is one of the most significant and comprehensive hazardous waste rulemakings that…
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Mining and Public Land Law Update
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New Mexico Mining Commission Narrowly Expands Minimal Impact Permitting Opportunities for Certain Mining Operations
On April 20, 2016, the New Mexico Mining Commission (“NMMC”) conducted a hearing to consider a rule change to the New Mexico Mining Act Reclamation Program (“MARP”) regulations. The New Mexico Mining Association (“NMMA”) proposed the rule change to expand eligibility for…
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New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission Adopts New Produced Water Regulations
On March 12, 2015, the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission formally approved a revision to the Commission’s produced water regulations. The revised Rule repeals and replaces existing Rule 34, which regulates the disposition of produced water, and enacts a new rule regulating…
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French Court Allows Auction of Sacred Hopi Artifacts to Proceed
A controversial auction of sacred Hopi artifacts went forward on April 12, 2013, after a Paris municipal court judge ruled that a Paris auction house could hold an action of tribal masks considered sacred by the Hopi and other tribes located in…
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