New Mexico carbon storage rule hearing raises concerns over underground waste disposal oversight

WildEarth Guardians is warning that New Mexico is expanding underground waste disposal through new carbon storage rules while failing to properly police existing oil and gas waste. The group argues the state lacks the resources and enforcement capacity to manage current waste streams, let alone new carbon injection projects. The hearing marks a key moment for carbon capture and storage policy in a major oil and gas producing state. Critics say the rules could allow industry to use carbon storage as a cover for continued fossil fuel extraction without adequate monitoring or community protections. Supporters see it as a step toward decarbonization. The outcome in New Mexico could set a precedent for how other states balance carbon storage development with existing environmental oversight obligations. The debate highlights the tension between climate goals and the practical challenges of regulating underground injection.