National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS), operator of Sandia National Laboratory under contract with Department of Energy (collectively referred to as “the Petitioners”) petitioned the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WCSS) for a rulemaking to amend Water Quality Standards. The petitioners conducted a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) and propose to amend 20.6.4.97 NMAC to establish Tijeras Arroyo, Rio Grande to Four Hills Bridge (AU NM-9000.A_070) as ephemeral. Designated uses would be amended to reflect the change from intermittent to ephemeral and would thereby remove Primary Human Contact and Marginal Warmwater Aquatic Life and add Secondary Human Contact and Limited Aquatic Life. The WQCC granted a request for a hearing on this matter that was originally scheduled for October 14, 2025 and subsequently rescheduled for December 9, 2025. Please see the links below for participation details and supporting information.
| Tijeras Arroyo UAA and Public Involvement Plan | February 8, 2025 |
| WQCC Docketed Matters Webpage | June 4, 2025 |
| NMED Events Calendar | August 12, 2025; October 7, 2025 |
| Public Comment Portal | August 12, 2025; October 7, 2025 |
| Petition to Amend 20.6.4 NMAC | June 4, 2025 |
| Scheduling and Pre-hearing Order I | |
| Public Notice (English) – Hearing Rescheduled | August 12, 2025 |
| Public Notice (Spanish) – Hearing Rescheduled | August 12, 2025 |
| SWQB Public Involvement Plan | October 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice (English) – December Hearing | October 7, 2025 |
| Public Notice (Spanish) – December Hearing | October 7, 2025 |
| Scheduling and Pre-hearing Order II |
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