STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
NMELC
New Mexico Environmental Law Center
New Mexico Environmental Law Center is a non profit, public interest environmental justice law firm that provides free and low-cost legal services to frontline communities battling environmental degradation and racism across the state of New Mexico. Founded in 1987, the NMELC works with clients — often individuals, neighborhood associations, environmental organizations, Tribes and Pueblos — seeking to protect the environment.
New Mexico Environmental Law Center is a non profit, public interest environmental justice law firm that provides free and low-cost legal services to frontline communities battling environmental degradation and racism across the state of New Mexico. Founded in 1987, the NMELC works with clients — often individuals, neighborhood associations, environmental organizations, Tribes and Pueblos — seeking to protect the environment.
NMELC’s work centers impacted communities:
New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) works alongside frontline clients and impacted communities as Movement Lawyers, working in partnership with clients to build collective power, recognize the harms inherent in the legal system, and advocate within that system while also disrupting and reimagining it.
NMELC
SERVICES
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s mission is to work with New Mexico’s communities to protect our air, land, and water in the fight for environmental justice.
The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) is committed to dismantling the racist structures that are at the heart of environmental injustice and all disparate treatment of communities of color.
NMELC stands with those seeking justice and will continue to utilize our platform to support our state and its people.
Services
- Stopping industry from dodging regulatory safeguards and holding polluters accountable.
- Holding government accountable to the regulations it is meant to uphold, working to ensure government transparency in public processes.
- Engaging and amplifying frontline community voices when industry and government impact their health and right to clean and safe land, water and air.
- Developing policy and legislation at the local, state and federal level to protect New Mexico’s frontline communities and environment.
- Providing educational opportunities through tabling, community presentations, public education content and an Environmental Justice Speaker Series.
NMELC
KEY ISSUES
Environmental degradation is an injustice that affects all of us: on public and private lands, urban and rural communities, and indigenous ancestral homes. The Law Center serves communities fighting to keep dangerous toxins and pollutants away from their land and to clean up areas already contaminated.
Air pollution is something that steals years of life away from those who live nearby. Those who live in low-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods of color die younger than their counterparts in richer, whiter neighborhoods. The Law Center represents residents in these communities in their battle to fend off polluting industry and preserve their right to clean air.
Nine out of 10 New Mexicans get their drinking water from groundwater — yet oil and gas drilling, mining, nuclear weapons productions, ill-considered development and lax industry practices threaten our state’s scarce resources.
Key Issues or Cases
- Fighting the proposed Project Jupiter (massive AI data & surveillance center campus) alongside residents of Santa Teresa and Sunland Park.
- Opposition to uranium mine permitting in the Grants Mineral District including actively resisting permitting for Roca Honda, La Jara Mesa and the Crownpoint Uranium Project.
- Opposition to groundwater abuse or misuse representing Valencia Water Watchers opposing a groundwater grab for water bottling and supporting Sandia Pueblo to oppose instream flow impacts from groundwater pumping.
- Ongoing engagement to advocate for and obtain adequate remediation for uranium mine and mill waste at the Homestake Barrick Gold mill site in Milan.
NMELC
NMELC in the News
IACHR HEARING
Indigenous leaders confront U.S. Government over Its uranium exploitation policies at historic IACHR hearing in D.C.
Read articleROCA HONDA MINE
Uranium company’s finalized NM plan includes treating, dumping water into nearby river
Read articleHOMESTAKE
Feds shoot down mining company’s ask to loosen cleanup standards at toxic uranium mine site
Read articleLA JARA MESA
Mining company announces milestone in push to dig new uranium mine in NM
Read articleMeet the organizations behind New Mexico Mining Watch
A strong coalition working together to protect New Mexico’s communities, land, water, and future.