By Danielle Prokop, Source New Mexico
New Mexico environment officials issued a more than $9 million fine last week to the U.S. Army for more than two dozen violations permits, including pollution events and record-keeping issues between 2020 and 2024 at White Sands Missile Range.
White Sands Missile Range is a 3,200 square mile area covering portions of Doña Ana, Otero, Sierra, Socorro and Lincoln counties.
On Friday, the New Mexico Environment Department issued a 54-page order including a $9.7 million civil penalty to the U.S. Army. The order alleges pollution from a gasoline dispensing facility on base and says the U.S. Army failed to report violations on time; exceeded limits for fuel dispensal; overran time limits for engines at least 30 times; and failed to follow rules on mandatory maintenance for emergency and standby engines. The most significant portion of the penalties stemmed from the emissions and the record-keeping violations.
In the order, the New Mexico Environment Department alleged repeated failures to keep required records and said U.S. Army officials did not answer NMED’s questions, provide data or explanations for the permit violations in multiple violations over the past four years.
“It’s been several years of us issuing violations to the Army on these engines and getting crickets for a response,” =NMED Director of Compliance and Enforcement Bruce Baizel told Source.
NMED ordered the U.S. Army to “cease and desist” running engines over the time limits and violating pollution standards. The state also ordered the U.S. Army submit a training plan to prevent further air pollution within the next 90 days, and an entire facility-wide inventory of all of the engines used on site.
“It’s not like these are rocket engines,” Baizel said. “They are pretty standard diesel engines. So there’s a way they can work within their operation.”
White Sands Missile Range did not return emailed requests for comment.
The U.S. Army has 30 days to submit a formal answer and request a hearing to appeal the order.
Baizel said the military has already requested an extension to prepare a response, which NMED would most likely grant.
“Reading between the lines, I think they are focused on their mission and operations, and that’s fine, they need to do that, but it can be done in a way that doesn’t violate the Clean Air Act and human health standards,” Baizel said. “I think we’ll be able to work this out.”