Editing New Mexico (section)

===Environmental issues===

In January 2016, New Mexico sued the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] over negligence after the [[2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill]]. The spill had caused heavy metals such as cadmium and lead and toxins such as arsenic to flow into the [[Animas River]], polluting water basins of several states.<ref>Levin, Sam. [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/14/epa-new-mexico-colorado-toxic-river-waste-environment "New Mexico to sue EPA after massive mining spill filled rivers with toxic waste"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002930/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/14/epa-new-mexico-colorado-toxic-river-waste-environment |date=February 20, 2019 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', London, January 14, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2019.</ref> The state has since implemented or considered stricter regulations and harsher penalties for spills associated with resource extraction.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hedden|first=Adrian|title=New Mexico eyeing stricter regulations, more fines on oil and gas spills|url=https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2020/10/27/new-mexico-eyeing-stricter-regulations-more-fines-oil-and-gas-spills/5996065002/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Carlsbad Current-Argus|language=en-US|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811180842/https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2020/10/27/new-mexico-eyeing-stricter-regulations-more-fines-oil-and-gas-spills/5996065002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

New Mexico is a major producer of [[greenhouse gas]]es.<ref name="Msn-2021">{{Cite web|title=Report: Oil and gas leads New Mexico in greenhouse gas emissions, renewable sector growing|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/report-oil-and-gas-leads-new-mexico-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-renewable-sector-growing/ar-BB1aEQE6|access-date=2021-08-11|website=www.msn.com|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811180841/https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/report-oil-and-gas-leads-new-mexico-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-renewable-sector-growing/ar-BB1aEQE6|url-status=live}}</ref> A study by Colorado State University showed that the state's oil and gas industry generated 60 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2018, over four times greater than previously estimated.<ref name="Msn-2021" /> The fossil fuels sector accounted for over half the state's overall emissions, which totaled 113.6&nbsp;million metric tons, about 1.8% of the country's total and more than twice the national average per capita.<ref name="Msn-2021" /><ref name="Hedden-2020b">{{Cite web|last=Hedden|first=Adrian|title=Oil and gas industry, New Mexico works to curb greenhouse gas emissions, fight climate change|url=https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2020/09/29/oil-and-gas-industry-new-mexico-works-curb-greenhouse-gas-emissions/3523972001/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Carlsbad Current-Argus|language=en-US|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811180844/https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2020/09/29/oil-and-gas-industry-new-mexico-works-curb-greenhouse-gas-emissions/3523972001/|url-status=live}}</ref> The New Mexico government has responded with efforts to regulate industrial emissions, promote renewable energy, and incentivize the use of electric vehicles.<ref name="Hedden-2020b" /><ref name="abqjournal.com">{{Cite news |title=New Mexico targets vehicle emissions |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2415469/new-mexico-targets-vehicle-emissions.html?amp=1 |access-date=2021-08-11 |date=August 2021 |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811180842/https://www.abqjournal.com/2415469/new-mexico-targets-vehicle-emissions.html?amp=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>