FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2018
Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216
Albuquerque, NM – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to rescind vital improvements to the agency’s chemical accident safety regulations. These rules would provide important accident prevention measures to protect first responders, workers and nearby residents at nearly 100 facilities in New Mexico, including natural gas processing plants, refineries, rail terminals, dairies, and chemical warehousing and transport facilities. Attorney General Balderas has already challenged a prior attempt by EPA to delay the rule for two years, in a lawsuit that remains pending in the federal Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit.
“The lives and well-being of New Mexico’s first responders, workers, and families must come before the short term profits of massive, out-of-state corporations,” said Attorney General Balderas. “I will continue to fight for modern federal safety regulations that will bring true prosperity to our state over the long run.”
Attorney General Balderas vowed to continue working with other states to resist the Trump Administration’s attempt to undermine these important safety measures.
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