Assist neighbors in a North Valley neighborhood of Albuquerque protest an air quality permit for the expansion of the American Cement transfer station located in the middle of their community. The new permit allows the transfer station to drastically increase emissions and change its hours of operation from 11 hours a day/6 days a week, to “operating continuously” 24 hours a day. Our clients are concerned that the up-tick of activity will degrade the already polluted air over their neighborhood.

03/10/2010 - The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board unanimously approved the settlement between our clients and American Cement obtaining major environmental protection.

02/26/2010 - The NMELC filed a settlement for our clients with the Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board today. Our clients obtained major environmental protection that were lacking in the permit that the Air Quality Division issued last fall. The settlement will go before the Board on a motion for approval and dismissal of the appeal on March 10, 2010. Read more.

02/05/2010 - The hearing in front of the board has been postponed pending an attempt to arrive at a mediated settlement of the case.

01/11/2010 - Public hearing in front of the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board is scheduled for February 22nd.

Residents of Mesquite, NM, are tired of the air pollution that blows from the Helena Chemical Company’s fertilizer mixing plant into their yards, homes and businesses.  For years, they have worked together as the Mesquite Community Action Committee to advocate for better air quality.

At different times during the past decade, we have represented the Committee.

• In 2005, we helped the community win a victory when we helped them persuade the NM Environment Department that the company requires an air quality permit.
• In 2010, we helped the community persuade the Environmental Improvement Board that it should deny Helena’s appeal of that permit requirement.
• Now we are working to represent the Committee in appellate court, where the company is appealing its need to have an air quality permit.

We will continue to represent the community in its efforts to clean up the air in Mesquite.

07/15/2011 - Because the group was not an official party to the proceeding, the Supreme Court did not require the appellate court to grant us party status.

07/06/2011 - Court of Appeals denies MCAC intervention in appeal.

06/13/2011 - Filed motion for leave to intervene in appeal.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and Los Alamos National Security LLC (LANS) assert that the State issued permit violates federal law.

02/23/2011 - CCNS files Motion to Intervene in permit appeal.

The Law Center represents Taos Pueblo in efforts to prevent or limit expansion of the Taos municipal airport, which would impair religious practices by Pueblo members, threaten the iconic architecture of the Pueblo, and increase development pressure on their living culture - the basis for its designation as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2003, the FAA conducted a noise analysis that offered the conclusion that a Cessna overflight is no louder than a thunderclap.  Our clients assert that comparing a twin-engine aircraft to an act of nature illustrates the administration’s lack of cultural sensitivity.

We are in continuing negotiations with the FAA to prevent the expansion of the airport, or to mitigate its impacts on the Pueblo.

August 2009 - Negotiations with the FAA are continuing.