NOTICE OF PROPOSED PERMIT CERTIFICATION

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) hereby gives notice pursuant to 20.6.2.2001 NMAC of a public comment opportunity in the state’s Clean Water Act §401 Certification of the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) New Mexico Statewide General Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), NPDES permit number NMR04B000, for the following urbanized and designated areas: Albuquerque / Middle Rio Grande urbanized area, Farmington urbanized area, Las Cruces urbanized area, Los Alamos County designated area, Los Lunas urbanized area, Santa Fe urbanized area, and El Paso urbanized area.

When EPA Region 6 drafts a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for a discharge into one of New Mexico’s surface waters, NMED has an opportunity to assure that the discharge will not negatively affect the receiving waterbodies. This is documented through the 401 Certification and is required in accordance with state regulations at 20.6.2.2001 NMAC. NMED can make the draft permit more stringent if based on state law or can make comments to EPA for consideration in the final permit. NMED also has the authority to deny certification if the permitting circumstances will not guarantee that the discharge will meet water quality standards.

The draft permit, draft fact sheet/statement of basis, and other associated information can be found at the EPA public notice website and the NMED public notice website.

EPA has scheduled a (Virtual) Public Meeting and Public Hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Public meeting and public hearing times and registration links are listed below:

• Public Meeting: 5:00pm-6:30pm MT, Thursday, April 23, 2026

Registration

• Public Hearing: 6:30pm-8:00pm MT, Thursday, April 23, 2026

Registration

Please note: EPA may close the hearing 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker has commented if there are no additional speakers present.

NMED SWQB will accept written comments until the end of the business day (5pm MDT) on Monday, May 4, 2026.

Individuals who submit public comments will be added to the NMED email listserv.

Persons who need language services (e.g., assistance for an interpreter) or persons with disabilities who need services to participate in this public process should contact:

   Susan A. Lucas Kamat

   P.O. Box 5469

   Santa Fe, NM 87502

   telephone (505) 946-8924

   email susan.lucaskamat@env.nm.gov

TDD or TTY users please access the number via the New Mexico Relay Network, 1-800-659-1779 (voice); TTY users: 1-800-659-8331.1.

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The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex in the administration of its programs or activities, as required by applicable laws and regulations. If you have any questions about any of the NMED’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

    Kate Cardenas, NMED’s Non-Discrimination Coordinator

    1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050

    P.O. Box 5469

    Santa Fe, NM 87502

    telephone (505) 827-2855

    email nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a NMED program or activity, you may contact the Non-Discrimination Coordinator identified above or visit our website to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.