NMSA 9-7A-16. Uranium mining reclamation; department of environment;

9-7A-16. Uranium mining reclamation; department of environment; duties. A. The department of environment shall: (1) coordinate efforts across the state to clean up and reclaim former uranium mine and mill sites. The energy, minerals and natural resources department; the Indian affairs department; the office of natural resources trustee; the state land office; the department of game and fish [department of wildlife]; the cultural affairs department; the department of health; the workforce solutions department; the economic development department; and the department of transportation shall work in conjunction with the department of environment to support the department's duties as they relate to the purposes of the respective departments and agencies; (2) develop a strategic plan for the cleanup of uranium mine and mill sites throughout the state, including reclamation goals, time lines for the completion of cleanup activities at specific sites and anticipated funding requirements. The department of environment shall consult with the departments and agencies enumerated in Paragraph (1) of this subsection in the development of the strategic plan and include in the strategic plan the respective agencies' and departments' input; (3) establish an effective mechanism for consultation and coordination with the federal government; Indian nations, tribes and pueblos; communities impacted by uranium mining; and other states on uranium mine and mill reclamation activities; (4) work with the economic development department, workforce solutions department and industry to establish uranium mine and mill reclamation as a target economic development industry in New Mexico, including the creation, coordination and promotion of worker training and business development programs for reclamation activities; (5) develop, maintain and update on a regular basis a centralized repository of uranium mine and mill sites and reclamation activities. The repository shall include, at minimum, the location of uranium mine and mill sites, information about the ownership and legal jurisdiction of each site and each site's cleanup status and shall use any information currently maintained or possessed by the energy, minerals and natural resources department relating to uranium mine and mill sites; and (6) on an annual basis, report to the radioactive and hazardous materials committee on the department of environment's activities in the preceding year. The department of environment shall consult with the departments and agencies enumerated in Paragraph (1) of this subsection and include in the report the activities undertaken by the respective departments and agencies in the preceding year that are related to uranium mine and mill site reclamation. B. The secretary of environment shall create a uranium mine reclamation coordinator position and employ additional staff as needed for the department of environment to carry out the provisions of this section. History: Laws 2022, ch. 26, § 1.