The NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau opens the comment period for Clean Water Act 401 Certification of the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the 2026 Multi-Sector General Permit, NPDES permit # NMR050000.

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 following draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit: 2026 Multi-Sector General Permit (NMR050000) for stormwater discharges from industrial activities to surface waters. 

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

EPA has included the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring requirements based on the memo from EPA headquarters addressing PFAS discharges in NPDES permits and through the Pretreatment and Monitoring Programs.

For more information on the draft permit, contact Susan A. Lucas Kamat at (505) 946-8924 or susan.lucaskamat@env.nm,gov .

SWQB will accept written comments until the end of the business day (5pm MST) on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

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 PO 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.

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 this notice or any of NMED’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, or if you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a NMED program or activity, you may contact: Kate Cardenas, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, NMED, 1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502, (505) 827-2855, nd.coordinator@state.nm.us. You may also visit our Non-discrimination website to learn how and where to file a comp