The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board has adopted a plan and air quality regulations to reduce pollution in the state’s national parks and wilderness areas. This move is part of the Clean Air Act’s Regional Haze Program, which aims to improve visibility by reducing haze caused by pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
Environment Secretary James Kenney said, “People from all over the world visit New Mexico to experience the unique natural and cultural landscapes at our national parks and wilderness areas.” He emphasized that this decision results from years of cooperation aimed at protecting these sites’ recreational, cultural, and natural value.
The program targets nine popular areas in New Mexico, including Bandelier Wilderness Area, Bosque del Apache Wilderness Area, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Gila Wilderness Area, Pecos Wilderness Area, Salt Creek Wilderness Area, San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area, Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area, and White Mountain Wilderness Area. Measures include new emission controls on active units and ensuring retired units remain inactive. These efforts are expected to cut 18,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions and 5,300 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions annually.
This initiative follows seven years of collaboration led by the New Mexico Environment Department with various stakeholders. The department also recently confirmed that Las Vegas drinking water remains safe despite concerns about post-fire runoff from the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire affecting water supplies (https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/officials-say-las-vegas-drinking-water-is-still-safe/).
The full plan and supporting information can be accessed on the NMED Air Quality Bureau’s Regional Haze Planning Website.
