NWRA State Update: New Mexico Members Track House Bill 108
In New Mexico, House Bill 108 sponsored by Rep. Christine Chandler (D-43) was on the agenda on March 18 in the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee but was moved to the next committee meeting. Sen. Benny Shendo (D-22), chair of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, indicated that he does not anticipate the committee meeting again during this legislative session. As a result, it is assumed that this bill is dead this legislative session. This bill passed the House by a vote of 34 to 32 with one amendment on Tuesday, March 9.
House Bill 108 relates to establishing a fee schedule for facilities conducting permitted solid waste management activities or seeking a permit for the management of solid waste, creating the Solid Waste Permit Fund.
This bill would have removed the current cap of $10,000 for a permit fee that was established in 1993. Joan M. Snider, New Mexico Environmental Department Solid Waste Bureau chief, estimated that the permitting process should cost $80,000 per permit to review the application, which takes an estimate of two years to process. In the state of New Mexico, there are currently 27 permitted landfills in the state.
