52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO ASSESS THE RISK OF LEAD CONTAMINATION TO NEW MEXICANS AND TESTIFY TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT IS CONCERNED WITH WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES.

WHEREAS, recent national and world attention has been directed at Flint, Michigan, and the state supply of potable water; and

WHEREAS, the potable and household water supplied to Flint was eroding the iron water mains, turning water brown; and

WHEREAS, because certain water supply lines to homes in Flint are made of lead, corrosive water caused leaching into the water supply, in addition to the iron; and

WHEREAS, public officials became aware of lead contamination of water being supplied to and consumed by residents of Flint, including children, and failed to take prompt action in response to that information; and

WHEREAS, lead poisoning is irreversible, causing serious neurological injury, and there is no safe level for lead in a person's bloodstream; and

WHEREAS, leaching of lead into drinking water through delivery pipelines is not a Flint, Michigan, problem alone nor a problem strictly associated with public drinking water systems;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of environment be requested to assess the risk to New Mexicans of lead contamination in drinking water and testify by December 2016 to the appropriate New-Mexico-legislative-council-appointed interim committee that reviews water and natural resources issues; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of environment and to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.