Water, Environment and Utilities – Criminal Unit FAQs
How does the Attorney General’s Office generate criminal cases?
The Attorney General’s Office receives information regarding possible criminal
activity from a variety of sources including reports and inquiries from the public
and referrals from state agencies such as the New Mexico Environment Department,
County Code officers state-wide, the US Environmental Protection Agency, as well
as information provided by the public.
How does a citizen make a report of apparent illegal dumping, or other violations
of permits?
Reporting incidents to the Environment Department and Energy Minerals and Natural
Resource Department is the first step.
Telephone numbers for specific bureaus are listed below:
NMED, 24 Hour Emergency Spills Reporting Number 1-505-827-9329
Non Emergency Voice Mail – 24 hours 1-866-428-6535
National Response Center & Terrorist Hotline 1-800-424-8802
NM Department of Public Safety
Max Johnson, Emergency Preparedness 476-9620
NMED Bureaus
Ground Water Bureau 827-2918
Surface Water Quality Bureau 827-0187
(Spills in or within 50 ft of water course)
Solid Waste Bureau 827-0197
Hazardous Waste Bureau 428-2500
Radiation Protection Bureau 476-3081
Air Quality Bureau 827-1494
Air Quality Hot Line 1-800-224-7009
Royce Wyrick, Enforcement 955-8076
EPA Citizens Hot Line 1-800-887-6063
Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau 984-1786
NM Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources
Oil Conservation Division 476-3440
(Regulation of Oil & Gas Industry generated wastes)
Can I make an anonymous report of environmental violations, and to whom should
the report be made?
Of course, anonymous reports can be made but we strongly urge members of
the public to identify themselves so that inspectors, regulators and law enforcement
officers can make further inquiries once the report has been made. We need your
name, address, telephone number, as well as when the incident occurred, where it
occurred, who did it, and documentation of the event if available, such as photographs,
or the identification of witnesses.
Reports can be made to any of the numbers listed above, or you may contact the Water,
Environment & Utilities Division at 505 827-6010, and ask to speak to the Environmental
Crimes Investigator, Teresa Monahan.
What if there is an immediate threat to human life and safety?
Incidents such as these should be reported to local law enforcement agencies who
can respond to them appropriately, such as New Mexico State Police Hazardous Materials
Response teams in each of the state police districts or to Emergency Responders
locally. The emergency responders can be accessed through 911 calls or directly
through local law enforcement.