Toxic waste in drinking water, radioactive dust near homes, and polluting industries placed in low-income neighborhoods – these are not distant issues, but daily realities for many New Mexicans. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center provides critically-needed free and low-cost legal representation and services to those who often have the least political power but face the greatest environmental harm. Founded in 1987 to protect the Land of Enchantment’s air, land, and water, the organization sharpened its mission in 2020 to focus more directly on the rights of people most affected by pollution and government neglect. Through legal representation and advocacy, the Law Center takes on industries and public agencies that threaten health and safety. Recent work includes supporting residents in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa facing repeated violations of safe drinking water standards, and opposing the fast-tracking of uranium mining near Navajo communities. From courtrooms to public hearings, NMELC ensures that no community is left unprotected in the fight for a healthy environment.
NMELC, clients and other Indigenous leaders at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) hearing in Washington, D.C., February 2024. Photo Source: NMELC
With a staff of 10, a seven-member board, and support from volunteer interns, NMELC brings legal expertise to communities across the state. The Law Center has helped secure radioactive waste cleanups, challenged unsafe landfill sitings, strengthened water protections, and taken action against industrial air pollution in residential areas. It works closely with grassroots groups like the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, a coalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to protect sacred sites and groundwater from ongoing uranium mining threats. In Sunland Park, it works alongside residents to hold a local utility accountable for unsafe water and a failure to notify the public of serious risks. Keeping communities informed and involved, NMELC publishes the Green Fire Report, a quarterly newsletter with updates on active legal cases, upcoming public hearings, opportunities to comment on proposed regulations, and ways to take action on environmental issues. NMELC’s consistent legal pressure and community support have made it a trusted defender of public health and environmental accountability.
NMELC testifying at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington DC Feb. 2024