Protect New Mexico

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HB 114: NO FALSE STATEMENTS TO ENVIRONMENT DEPT.

An Act Relating To The Department Of Environment; Prohibiting False Statements To The Department; Providing Penalties.

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MOD HB 114
NO FALSE STATEMENTS TO ENVIRONMENT DEPT.

Legislative URL:
HB 114 on nmlegis.gov
Emergency Clause:
No
Germane:
N/A
Location:
HRPAC
Action:
HPREF [3] HRPAC/HEENC-HRPAC API.
Issue(s):

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

Related Documents

Downloads:
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Report
Summary

This bill would enact a new section of the Environmental Improvement Act providing that no person regulated by the Department of Environment; shall:
(1)     make a false written statement or representation to an employee of the department about a material fact that is relevant to the department’s determination of compliance with a statute or a rule;
(2)     make a false statement, representation, certification or omission of material fact in an application, record, report, plan or other document filed with or submitted to the department, or required by rule to be maintained by the person regulated by the department;
(3)     falsify, tamper with or render inaccurate any device, method or record to be relied upon by the department to monitor or track information; falsify to or conceal from the department a material fact; or make or use any document with the knowledge that the document contains material false statements or representations.

A “person regulated by the department” would include an applicant for or holder of a liquid
waste permit; a person who owns a liquid waste system and has failed to obtain the required permit; an owner or operator of a public water system; or an agent or other person acting on their behalf.

Anyone violating or causing another person to violate this section could be subject to a penalty of up $10,000 and any action the department deems necessary to remediate the consequences of the person’s violation.

A benefit of this bill might be improved water quality controls resulting from a reduction in false statements in applications, reports and other documents submitted to the Department of Environment relating to liquid waste and public water systems.