New MexicoNew Mexico would require permit rules for treated oilfield water
New Mexico’s Water Quality Control Commission would set rules allowing permits for treated oilfield water uses outside oil and gas operations by December 31, 2026.
What it does
New Mexico’s water commission would set permit rules for reusing or releasing treated oilfield water by December 31, 2026. Land spreading and certain construction and road uses would require sites more than 100 feet from surface water and more than 100 feet above groundwater.
Argument forPermits for industrial reuse could give businesses another water source for concrete production, energy projects, and other work.
Argument againstPermitting releases of treated oilfield water into surface water or groundwater could expose those waters to contaminants left after treatment.
More detail
The Water Quality Control Commission would adopt rules allowing permits for specified uses of treated water from oil and gas operations. The rules would cover specified uses outside oil and gas operations, including industrial and commercial work, irrigation of industrial crops, and releases into surface water or groundwater. Land spreading, road construction or maintenance, other construction, and roadway ice or dust control would require sites more than 100 feet from surface water and more than 100 feet above groundwater. The listed uses would depend on permits under the commission’s rules. The commission would have to adopt the permit rules no later than December 31, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24action postponed indefinitelyLatest
- Jan 30Sent to House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee & House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 30withdrawn printed germane prefileMajor
- Jan 28not printed House Rules and Order of Business CommitteeIntroduced
Environment & Energy