NMED Hearing Officer

The Hearing Officer serves the NMED Cabinet Secretary by conducting permitting, adjudicatory and other hearings for the Secretary in a variety of programs, including air quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, liquid waste, ground water and construction programs.  The Hearing Officer also occasionally serves the Secretary in his role as Chair of the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) by conducting hearings for the Commission.

The Hearing Officer shall conduct fair and impartial proceedings to assure that facts are fully elicited and to avoid delay. He has authority to take all measures necessary for the maintenance of order and the efficient adjudication of issues.

The Hearing Officer responsibilities include:

• Conduct hearings in accordance with appropriate procedure and practice;
• Rule on motions, procedural requests, and offers of proof;
• Administer oaths and affirmations, examining witnesses and ruling on the admissibility of evidence;
• Require parties to attend conferences for argument on motions or discussion of simplification of the issues; and
• Prepare recommended decisions for final action by the Cabinet Secretary.