NMELC in the News
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center is frequently in the news, both locally and nationally. If you see references that we've missed, please forward them on to us at: nmelc@nmelc.org. Thank you.
Supreme Court: Governor Not Above Law
“We think it bodes ill to the governor’s promise to run an open government,“ said Bruce Frederick, attorney for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. “They withheld important papers from us until the last minute, and they tried to stop publication of these rules under the table without notice to anybody.“ KRQE
NM Court Orders Publication of Environmental Rules
Bruce Frederick, an attorney with the environmental law center, argued that the basic process by which administrative law is adopted and published in New Mexico was at stake. He said the governor has other means for undoing regulations… “That process will be public. There will be notice. If they change those regulations, it has to be based on substantial evidence,“ Frederick said. “It can’t be done without notice, with no evidence, with basically a backroom process.“ Bloomberg.com
New Mexico Governor Loses Bid to Overturn Greenhouse Gas Cap
“This is a tremendous and deserved victory for the administration of justice in New Mexico,“ said Bruce Frederick, staff attorney of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, the nonprofit law firm that brought the two lawsuits against the governor for its clients, New Energy Economy and Amigos Bravos. “The ruling ensures that our regulations will continue to be developed in a public and open process, and be protected from revision through secret, backroom deals.“ Environment News Service
NM Supreme Court Overturns Martinez’ Exec Order; Demands Publication of Greenhouse Gas Cap Rules
NMELC Executive Director Douglas Meiklejohn tells SFR that the court’s decision has a broader impact. “It says that everyone has to follow the law,“ Meiklejohn says. “The law indicates clearly that when rules are filed with the state records administrator, they have to be published in a timely manner, and it’s clear that everybody has to follow that.“ Santa Fe Reporter
State High Court Gives Gov. Martinez First Legal Setback
KSFR’s Marion Cox was there. She spoke with Bruce Frederick of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center about the ruling. Listen to full coverage at KSFR.
Martínez ya recibió sus primeras demandas
“La demanda es solo para pedirle a la corte que cumpla lo que estipula la ley y para ordenarle a la administradora de registros que publique la decisión y ordene a la nueva gobernadora y a su gente que pare de intervenir en el proceso”, dijo [Bruce Frederick]. El Semenario
“The demand is just to ask the court to fulfill what is stipulated by law and order the records manager to publish the decision and order the new governor and his people to stop intervening in the process,“ said [Bruce Frederick]. El Semenario
Read full story in English or Spanish.
Sierra Club Sues NM Governor Over Building Codes
“The lawsuit is similar to two filed earlier this month by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center over greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater rules governing discharges by dairies.“ Bloomberg
Guv Sued Over Eco Rules Martinez: Halts Dairy and Greenhouse Gas Regulations
[Bruce] Frederick thinks Martinez’ handling of the issues bodes ill. “It shows a lack of curiosity into what an environmental regulation does.” As long as it’s labeled an “environmental regulation,” this administration will be against it, he says. “I don’t see their interest in protecting public health and the environment.” Alibi
New Mexico Governor Violating Constitution for Polluters
“Laws are published and codified because the public must be able to access and review these laws,“ said Bruce Frederick, the NMELC attorney who filed the writ. “This is a fundamental right in our democratic society and essential to transparent and representative government.“ TruthOut.org
Call In and Discuss Environmental Impacts of New Mexico’s New Administration
Executive Director, Douglas Meiklejohn, will be on KUNM tomorrow morning at 8 am talking to Arcie Chapa about environmental issues, threats and rollbacks under the new Administration. Find out more
Call in your comments and questions at 277-KUNM in Albuquerque or Toll-free: (888) 277-5866
Martinez Administration Responds to Environmentalists’ Lawsuit
“The New Mexico Environmental Law Center said that this is illegal and sued for a writ of mandamus in the state Supreme Court, which would compel Martinez to publish the regulations. NMELC contends that laws passed by the Environmental Improvement Boards must be published in “a timely manner” in accordance with state law and that Martinez halting the publication would violate this.“ The New Mexico Independent
Lawsuit Targets NM Gov’s Actions on New Rules
“Bruce Frederick, a staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, argues in the lawsuit that the emissions rules were adopted by the state Environmental Improvement Board and should not be considered as pending because they haven’t been published in the register. The lawsuit accuses Martinez, Martin and State Records Administrator Sandra Jaramillo of ‘several unconstitutional and otherwise unlawful actions.‘ ‘We are trying to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that the new governor and her staff follow it,‘ Frederick said in a statement.“ The Santa Fe New Mexican
NM Supreme Court Gets Question on Martinez Order
“It took more than two years of testimony and deliberation to arrive at it, and it took Gov. Susana Martinez about two minutes to decide to undo it. The issue is a new environmental rule that was adopted at the end of December… The rule was on its way to being published in the state register as required by law when Martinez’ lawyer had the state environment department pull it out of the queue and quash it. The environmental group that had pushed for the rule cried foul. Now, they’ve gone to the state supreme court to have it reinstated. Bruce Frederick of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center tells us more.“ KSFR
Lawsuit Targets Gov. Martinez’s Actions on New Greenhouse Emission Rules
“Bruce Frederick, a staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, argues in the lawsuit that the emissions rules were adopted by the state Environmental Improvement Board and should not be considered as pending because they haven’t been published in the register. The lawsuit accuses Martinez, Martin and State Records Administrator Sandra Jaramillo of ‘several unconstitutional and otherwise unlawful actions.‘“ Las Cruces Sun-News
Gov’s Office Responds to NMELC Lawsuit on ‘Cap & Tax’ Rule
“The use of [the phrases] ‘special interest’ and ‘cap and tax’ show clearly that the Governor has not read the rule, and, moreover, that she is interested in playing political games, not complying with the law,“ Frederick writes in a follow-up email to SFR. “If the ‘postpone has no effect,‘ as the Governor says, why do it?“ Santa Fe Reporter