Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Hernandez/Johnson/Duncan/Lente/
Abe
yta
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/12/2025
SHORT TITLE
Cleanup of Contaminated Sites
BILL
NUMBER House Bill 333
ANALYST Davidson
APPROPRIATION*
(dollars in thousands)
FY25 FY26
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
$50,000 Nonrecurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Relates to an appropriation in the General Appropriation Act
Duplicates Senate Bill 260
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Bill 333
House Bill 333 (HB333) appropriates $50 million from the general fund to the New Mexico
Environment Department (NMED) for the purpose of assessing and cleaning up abandoned or
neglected contaminated sites, including abandoned uranium mining sites.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $50 million contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the general
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY28 shall revert to the
general fund.
House Bill 333 – Page 2
Analysis from NMED estimates the agency will use 97 percent of the fund for assessing and
cleaning up contaminated sites and the remaining 3 percent to hire personnel to facilitate this
work. NMED analysis pointed to one site with contaminated soil and groundwater which has
estimated cleanup costs around $5 million. The agency also plans to begin cleanup of an
abandoned uranium mine with the funds from House Bill 333 and estimates this work to cost
between $4 million and $8 million.
Overall, NMED estimates each individual mine remediation will run between $4 million and $12
million depending on site features, whether groundwater contamination is present, and method of
remediation.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
NMED analysis notes the state has over 350 contaminated sites, each with varying degrees of
potential impact to human and environmental health. The agency estimates that approximately
$300 million total will be necessary to address all the contaminated sites.
Additionally, agency analysis indicates that contaminated sites and abandoned uranium mines
are present on the land of sovereign nations. NMED notes that, “The proper mechanisms to
allow expenditure of funding and implementation of the work through cooperative agreements
will need to be developed.”
NMED analysis notes the timeline for expenditure of the $50 million appropriation, between
FY26 through FY28, may be too compressed. The agency states that the actualization of funds
can take up to 60 days and certain cleanup projects can last several years.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
House Bill 333 relates to a $50 million nonrecurring appropriation in the executive budget
recommendation to support work on neglected and contaminated sites covered by HB2.
House Bill 333 also duplicates Senate Bill 260.
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