The state Environment Department is accepting public comment on a revised proposal to expand protection of state waters.
The draft proposal was published June 18 and would designate all waters within wilderness areas on federal land as Outstanding Natural Resource Waters. If approved by the state Water Quality Control Board, the designation would limit activities that compromise the waters’ quality.
Unlike previous proposals, the revised draft no longer designates inventoried roadless areas. Cattle grazing is exempt from the rules, as are activities upstream and downstream of nominated waters. State-owned and privately-owned lands would not be affected, state Water Division Director Marcy Leavitt said.
Comments can be submitted by e-mail to onrw.comments@state.nm.us or by mail to the New Mexico Environment Department, Attn: Marcy Leavitt, 1190 S. St. Francie Drive N2210, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469. Copies of the draft proposal and more information on the designation is available in hard copy by writing to the same address, or online at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB/onrw/index.html.