Environmentalists who sued the state of New Mexico and accused it of failing to meet constitutional obligations for protecting against oiland gas pollution won a judge’s verdict to move ahead with their landmark lawsuit.
Led by the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, the environmental groups and Native Americans who live near oil wells filed suit in 2023, seeking compliance with a “pollution control clause” in the New Mexico Constitution.
Judge Matthew Wilson denied a motion this week by the state to dismiss the case, saying there needs to be more scrutiny of New Mexico’s responsibilities under the constitution and that granting the state’s request would short-circuit that examination reported the Associated Press.
Click here for Associated Press
