New Mexico Environment Department, Surface Water Quality Bureau Seeks Water Quality Data and Comment on the Comprehensive Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) Used to Determine Impairment Status on the 2026-2028 State of New Mexico Clean Water Act (CWA) §303(d) / §305(b) Integrated Report

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) invites the public to comment on the draft Comprehensive Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM): Procedures for Assessing Water Quality Standards Attainment for the State of New Mexico CWA §303(d) / §305(b) Integrated Report: Comprehensive Assessment and Listing Methodology available at https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/calm/. This document explains how the SWQB evaluates surface water quality data and other information to determine whether surface water quality standards are being met as documented in the CWA §303(d) / §305(b) Integrated Report. Specifically, the federal CWA requires states to develop a list of waterbodies where water quality does not currently meet applicable surface water quality standards. Category 5 waters in the Integrated Report constitute this List of Impaired Waterbodies (also known as the “303(d) List”) in New Mexico. This list is used to establish priorities for water quality improvements, including development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), water quality planning documents that establish goals for impaired waters.

The SWQB is also soliciting chemical, physical, biological, and bacteriological data for all surface waters of the state that can be compared to water quality standards published in 20.6.4 NMAC. All data submitted must be accompanied by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols under which the data were collected and validated. All submissions will be reviewed by the SWQB QA/QC Officer to determine data eligibility for assessment. Additional details and data templates are available https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/data-submittals/

Data packages and comments on the draft Listing Methodology will be accepted from June 16, 2025, until the close of business (5:00 PM MDT) on July 16, 2025. Formal comments for inclusion in the public record must be submitted in writing via the NMED Public Comment Portal at: https://nmed.commentinput.com/comment/search or alternately emailed to meredith.zeigler@env.nm.gov; data packages should be emailed to meredith.zeigler@env.nm.gov and emily.miller@env.nm.gov. For additional questions regarding this public notice, if you need assistance with electronic data submittal, or if you have trouble accessing the above web addresses, please contact Meredith Zeigler at (505) 490-5866 or at the above email address.

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. NMED is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. If you have any questions about this notice or any of NMED’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

Kate Cardenas, Non-Discrimination Coordinator

New Mexico Environment Department

1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4050

P.O. Box 5469

Santa Fe, NM 87502

(505) 827-2855

nd.coordinator@env.nm.gov

https://www.env.nm.gov/general/environmental-justice-in-new-mexico/ 

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.