ARTESIA — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is reviewing a Stage 1 Abatement Plan to investigate and define the extent of groundwater contamination at Creekside Dairy in Artesia.
The site is located approximately seven miles northwest of Artesia at 7785 Roswell Highway.
Groundwater sampling conducted by Creekside Dairy in 2006 revealed concentrations of total dissolved solids, chloride and nitrate in excess of state groundwater standards listed in Section 20.6.2.3103 NMAC. Groundwater at the site ranges in depth from 27 to 110 feet.
Creekside Dairy submitted an abatement plan to the NMED on July 10, pursuant to state statute. The Stage 1 Abatement Plan is required and provides details of an investigation that will define site conditions and provide the data necessary to select an effective clean-up option.
The Plan also investigates the extent to which the contamination may have impacted drinking water sources, including private wells. Based on current data and information available to the NMED, groundwater contamination has not impacted any public drinking water systems. The site history and any previous groundwater investigations conducted by Creekside Dairy are also summarized in the plan.
The NMED will approve the Stage 1 Abatement Plan or send the Responsible Party a Notification of Deficiency within 60 days of the submission date. Once the Responsible Party completes the site characterization and NMED approves the Responsible Party’s Final Site Characterization Report, NMED will require a Stage 2 Abatement Plan that outlines and selects a strategy to clean up the groundwater contamination.
The abatement plan is available at www.env.nm.gov/gwqb/public-notice. For more information, contact Marc Bonem, Environmental Scientist, Ground Water Quality Bureau, at 505-827-2791 or marc.bonem@state.nm.us. The NMED is providing this notice of receipt of the Stage 1 Abatement Plan pursuant to 20.6.2.4108 (A) NMAC of the New Mexico Ground and Surface Water Protection Regulations (20.6.2 NMAC).