Western Environmental Law Center

In #NMPol #NMLeg, we just wrapped up a 60-day legislative session. It always amazes us the sheer magnitude of effort our community dedicates during legislative sessions toward making New Mexico a safer, healthier, better place. Our main focus this year was to pass SB 21, a bill to reinstate water protections in place for over 50 years until the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Clean Water Act. We're happy to report SB 21 passed with flying colors. Other things we worked on successfully include: ?? Community Benefit Fund (SB 48) to help with a #JustTransition ?? Modernizing wildlife management to conserve not JUST game species (SB 5) ?? Removing toxic oil and gas wastewater from the Strategic Water Supply ?? Appropriating $500K/year for 3 years to conserve and restore beavers ?? Defeating a false solution carbon capture and storage bill (HB 457) ??? Defeating the creation of "reclaimed water authorities" run by the oil and gas industry (HB 311) More details in the pics! Thanks to so many of you reading this for all your hard work this session. We got a lot done thanks to your dedication, knowledge, and acumen.

WELC mourns the loss of Dr. David Mattson, a brilliant scientist, a passionate grizzly bear advocate, and treasured friend. David served as an advisor and expert in all or nearly all our cases to restore grizzly bears in the West. His declarations were instrumental to our success restoring protections for grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2018, among many other victories for grizzly bear conservation in Montana and beyond. His expertise, dedication, and friendship will be sorely missed at WELC. ? Here are some thoughts David wrote about wildlife in 2018 as we awaited a decision in our Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear case: “We need revolution, not reform, when it comes to wildlife management. We are no longer (for the most part) a nation bent of genocide, whether homo- or eco-centric. We need federal policies that empower everyone in this country...when it comes to living with the wild animals on this Earth. They are sentient beings, like us. They deserve rights.” ? Read his obituary at the link below. Rest in peace, David. https://lnkd.in/gJNhwhxR

Green tech orrrrr greenwashing? ???? Join our team on Wednesday 3/19 for a webinar addressing the complexities of Carbon Capture and Sequestration technology (CCS), planned uses for it in Montana and New Mexico, and what the impacts of these projects could mean for communities. WELC attorneys Rose Rushing and Morgan O'Grady will lead the discussion with insights into the legal and political landscape surrounding CCS, a planned mega-project in Northwest New Mexico, and legislative changes in NM + MT. See you there! ??3/19, 1-2pm PT (2-3pm MT), Zoom? ?? Register at bit.ly/3-19Webinar P.S. All registrants will be entered to win a Western Environmental Law Center Klean Kanteen stainless steel pint cup!??

This lizard saves lives* and so can you. Call or email Governor Lujan Grisham and urge her to vote YES on SB 5 for New Mexico wildlife reform! Senate Bill 5 (SB5) is a critical piece of legislation that would help to modernize the way wildlife is protected in New Mexico for the long term. The good news? It has officially passed the Legislature! Now we just need Gov. Lujan Grisham to sign this bill into law, and the deadline to do so is Thursday, March 20 at 9:00 am. But we need your help to get it across the finish line. SB5 is awesome and would: ??Rename the Department of Game and Fish to the Department of Wildlife. ??Enable the Department to manage all native species in the state—not just game species ??Fund the conservation of species of greatest conservation needs. ??Ensure that a conservationist, a scientist, and a Tribal/Pueblo representative all have seats on the Wildlife Commission. Call Gov. Lujan Grisham's office at 505-476-2200 or email at https://lnkd.in/dneeKw2P and urge her to sign SB5 into law! Please do so before the morning of Thursday, March 20th. *For real! Gila monster venom helped develop medicine for managing Type 2 Diabetes. Also, they're a very shy species of lizard, so help protect shy lizards (and all the other amazing creatures that call NM home).

??SB 21 IS HEADING TO THE FULL HOUSE FOR A FLOOR VOTE! Today, the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee voted 5-4 to pass SB 21, a bill to provide critical protections for New Mexico waters. “New Mexico’s waters are becoming increasingly difficult to protect due to global warming and unstable federal legal protections. This legislation will give the state authority to protect the quality of all our fragile surface waters and wetlands for the benefit of agriculture, outdoor recreation, drinking water, and wildlife habitat.” – Zoe Barker, conservation director of Conservation Voters New Mexico. Enormous thanks to #NMPol #CleanWater champions Sen. Peter Wirth, Rep. Kristina Ortez, and Sen. Bobby Gonzales for sponsoring SB21 to restore clean water protections and to House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee supporters?Rep. Abeyta, Rep. Dixon, Rep. Garcia, Rep. Gurrola and Rep. Small for voting YES this morning on SB 21! Read more at our statement: bit.ly/SB21HeadstoHouse

Hi folks! Due to the volume of applications received, we are having to close the application period for our Executive Assistant position early, so get your materials in ASAP as review will start this week ?? https://lnkd.in/dEzwdu5D

The tide is rising for better safeguards protecting Washington water, wildlife, and communities ???? ? Yesterday, in response to a challenge from community and conservation groups represented by our WELC team + Public Justice + the Center for Food Safety, the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board has ordered the Department of Ecology to rewrite pollution discharge permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to better protect water resources and public health.? ? For context: a unanimous 2021 Washington Court of Appeals decision required the Department of Ecology to rewrite these permits because they violated state and federal law. Despite that court order detailing ways to bring these permits into compliance with the law, the department carried forward permit provisions that failed to control the discharge of excess nutrients, bacteria, and other pollutants from these factory farms. Ecology is now, once again, ordered to fix these deficiencies. ? "The people of the Lower Yakima Valley have been suffering for decades, with 60% of their water wells within a mile of a main cluster of Yakima County CAFO dairies. It is long past time for Ecology to stand up to the state’s factory farming industry and take responsibility for protecting the people from this rampant pollution.” (Margie Van Cleve, Sierra Club) Learn more at our statement: bit.ly/WAEcology Sierra Club Food and Water Watch Waterkeeper Alliance Public Justice Center for Food Safety Puget Soundkeeper FRIENDS OF TOPPENISH CREEK

After a whirlwind weekend, we're reflecting on the many moments that made PIELC 2025 and this year's reception a special one?? ?At this insane time, the chance to gather for the 39th year as public interest environmental lawyers, advocates, law students, and supporters of the never-ending work to protect ecosystems and communities is not one we take for granted. Thank you so much to everyone who made our reception possible – S/O Mountain Rose Herbs for the wonderful raffle prize?? – who cheered on our work for youth climate justice in Montana, and who continues to stand with us in the fight for not just better legal and policy outcomes, but better stories that build up communities and transform horizons across the western U.S. (and beyond).? ? Onward, with pack strength???

We're ex-streamly happy to share that New Mexico's Clean Water Bill SB21 just passed the the House Agriculture, Acequias, and Water Resources Committee in a 5-2 vote!!! ?? It will next go to the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee. If passed out of that (5th!) committee, it’ll then get a floor vote. Thank you to bill sponsors Chair Ortez, Sen. Wirth, and Sen. Gonzales as well as House Ag supporters Vice Chair Cates, and Reps. Cadena, Herrera, and Matthews for voting in favor of this fundamental protection for New Mexicans and the Land of Enchantment?? Read more at our statement: bit.ly/NMWaterWin

"Valuing water and valuing life are one and the same." Rev. Clara Sims, assistant executive director of New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light. THE CURRENT IS STRONG WITH SB 21! This critical bill for clean water protections in New Mexico has officially passed through the Senate and is on its way to the House. SB 21 ensures federal clean water protections that had existed in New Mexico for decades are continued at the state level. In addition, it provides authority for the state to take over permitting from the federal government for the waters that are still federally protected, streamlining the process and bringing oversight into the hands of New Mexicans. Huge thank you to SB 21 sponsors Rep. Ortez, Sen. Wirth, and Sen. Gonzales, and to every policymaker (and advocate from across the state!!) making it possible for this vital legislation to proceed. Read our full statement: bit.ly/SB21PassesSenate