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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO

PROTEST THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S

NEW ARSENIC STANDARD.

WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection

agency has changed the standard for the allowable level of

arsenic in drinking water from fifty parts per billion to ten

parts per billion; and

WHEREAS, the new standard has required New Mexicans to

spend approximately six hundred fifty thousand dollars

($650,000) to date, but it is estimated that one hundred

thirty-five million dollars ($135,000,000) is needed to

rebuild water treatment facilities and that approximately

twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) will be needed annually

in additional operating expenses; and

WHEREAS, seventy-seven million five hundred thousand

dollars ($77,500,000) has been submitted this year in capital

outlay requests for arsenic removal upgrades to water

treatment systems; and

WHEREAS, water bills to consumers in the affected areas

will increase between forty dollars ($40.00) and one hundred

dollars ($100) per month; and

WHEREAS, the environmental protection agency bases the

new standard on foreign studies that related high arsenic

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levels in the range of several hundred parts per billion to

adverse health effects; and

WHEREAS, the environmental protection agency cannot

produce data to demonstrate adverse health effects of the

current arsenic levels in New Mexico water; and

WHEREAS, on the contrary, a study in Utah demonstrates

that background levels of arsenic found in the American west

have no adverse health effects; and

WHEREAS, the source of arsenic in New Mexico water is

volcanic soils, and arsenic has always been present in the

water with no demonstrable adverse effects on public health;

and

WHEREAS, in 2002, the New Mexico legislature requested

the environmental protection agency to relax the arsenic

standard with no result;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congress and

the president be requested to rescind the decision by the

environmental protection agency to lower the arsenic standard;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation and to

the president.