♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. I'M DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU OUR GUEST TODAY IS SENATOR JEFF STEINBORN, DEMOCRAT FROM DONA ANA COUNTY, WELCOME.

>>JEFF: THANK YOU.

LORENE, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE INVITED ON YOUR SHOW.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU DO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS AND I REALLY LIKE TO GET THE WORD OUT, PEOPLE REALLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH HAZARDOUS WASTE AND WITH THE REGENTS, WITH PSILOCYBIN AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.

YOU WERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM 2007 TO 2010, AND THEN YOU TOOK A LITTLE BREATHER AND YOU WERE BACK AS A REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN FROM 2013 TO 2016, SINCE 2017, YOU HAVE BEEN A SENATOR FOR THE GREAT STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL THREADS, I THINK I'M GOING TO START WITH HAZARDOUS WASTE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SCARY, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT PFAS, FOREVER CHEMICALS, ARE FOREVER.

YOU DON'T JUST PUT THEM IN TEFLON PANS, YOU DON'T PUT THEM IN THE COATING OF PLASTIC BAGS, INSIDE OF BEVERAGES THAT YOU DRINK FROM A CAN.

SO, YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL BILLS, I'D LIKE YOU TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE BILLS, AND I CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE THE FIRST ONE, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THE PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL?

>>JEFF: PFAS, ALSO KNOW AS PFAS.

>>LORENE: ALL RIGHT, WHAT IS HOUSE BILL 2012?

>>JEFF: YES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS FOREVER CHEMICAL.

THEY CALL IT FOREVER CHEMICAL BECAUSE THERE'S NO KNOWN WAY TO REALLY REMEDIATE IT ONCE IT'S KIND OF THERE OR TO MAKE THE CONTAMINATION GO AWAY.

IT'S CALLED PFAS FOR SHORT, WHICH IS AN ACRONYM FOR A VERY LONG WORD.

SO WE'RE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TRYING TO BAN THESE SUBSTANCES.

WE HAVE HAD HIGH LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION NEAR OUR MILITARY BASES WHERE THEY USE IT IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM, WE'RE ALSO FINDING IT IN THE PECOS RIVER AND IN THE OIL PATCH, WHERE THEY HAVE USED IT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T, BUT THEY ALSO ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH LOOPHOLES, REALLY KEEP ALL THAT MATERIAL SECRET, THOSE CHEMICAL SECRET THAT THEY'RE PUMPING INTO THE EARTH TO FRACK.

AND SO I HAVE A BILL TO DEAL WITH THAT, I'D REALLY LIKE TO PROBABLY START OFF TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY TIMELY.

>>LORENE: TELL US.

>>JEFF: YOU KNOW, LORENE, BY HAVING BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE STATES RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A LED JOINT HOUSE-SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE, AND I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR OF IT MULTIPLE TIMES, I'M THE VICE CHAIR, I'VE HAD A FIRSTHAND FIRST FRONT ROW SEAT LOOKING AT CONTAMINATION ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

WHAT YOU COME TO FIND OUT IS THAT NEW MEXICO HAS A LEGACY OF CONTAMINATION, WHETHER IT'S THE ABANDONED URANIUM MINE SITES OR THE PFAS CONTAMINATION FROM OUR FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, MILITARY SITES OR IN THE OIL PATCH OR THE CHROMIUM SPILL NEXT TO THE NATIONAL LAB.

NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A LEGACY OF CONTAMINATION WHERE WE HAVE A SOCIAL, MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAN UP, SO I'VE REALLY TRIED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THOSE SITES AND REALLY EXCITED, WE WERE ABLE TO GET $50 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME TO START TO CLEAN UP SOME ABANDONED URANIUM MINE SITES.

BUT MORE SO YOU REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT THESE BATTLES ON THE FRONT END AND KEEP CONTAMINATE FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE IN NEW MEXICO AND THAT'S WHY, AFTER REALLY LOOKING HARD AT IT AND HAVING A LOT OF HEARINGS, WE FOUGHT THE EFFORT TO BRING HIGH LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, AND WE PASSED LEGISLATION BANNING THE STORAGE OF THAT WASTE HERE TO KEEP THE CONTAMINATION FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL, THIS SESSION, WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH PFAS AND SOME CONTAMINATION FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY USES ABOUT 60 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER A YEAR IN FRACKING AND OIL AND GAS DRILLING AND UNDER NEW MEXICO LAW, THEY LITERALLY DON'T HAVE TO TELL US WHAT CHEMICALS, INCLUDING PFAS, THAT THEY'RE USING TO DRILL INTO THE EARTH.

AND SO, AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, PROTECT OUR WATER, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW IN TERMS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, WE HAVE A BILL, MYSELF AND REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA ROMERO, HOUSE BILL 222, TO REQUIRE THAT ALL CHEMICALS USED IN FRACKING AND DOWNHOLE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS BE DISCLOSED TO THE STATE PRIOR TO THEM GETTING A PERMIT.

SO I THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT AND OF COURSE, THE INDUSTRY IS FIGHTING US AND THE BILL RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WAITING ON A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT OF THE HOUSE ENERGY COMMITTEE THAT MAY CHANGE BY THE TIME THIS AIRS ON SATURDAY, BUT THIS IS A SUPER IMPORTANT BILL THAT I THINK IF PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THEIR RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT CHEMICALS, NOT JUST THIS INDUSTRY, BUT ANY INDUSTRY IS PUTTING INTO OUR EARTH AS A PRICE OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT WE NEED TO PASS THIS BILL AND MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT WE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

IT'S IN OUR FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS, THAT'S HOUSE BILL 222.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER BILLS, HOUSE BILL 291, AMENDING THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ACT.

THAT SHOULD BE IN THERE.

>>JEFF: YES, IT'S THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ACT, BUT IT'S REALLY A KIND OF A RECYCLING CIRCULAR ECONOMY BILL.

I'VE BEEN A RECYCLING ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT GETS BACK TO JUST SAVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, PRESERVING OUR PLANET, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WITH PLASTIC POLLUTION.

SO HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE A FUND THAT CITY GOVERNMENTS USE FOR THE RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT FUND IS VERY OUTDATED AS FAR AS THE LANGUAGE AND THE RESTRICTIONS ON IT, BECAUSE IT WAS INITIALLY CREATED IN STATE LAW TO JUST DEAL WITH TIRES AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.

WELL, NOW, AS WE'VE REMEDIATED THOSE SITES, WE STILL HAVE THEM, BUT IT IS THE PRIMARY FUND FOR CITIES TO GET BALERS AND OTHER RECYCLING EQUIPMENT, AND ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT RECYCLING AND HOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THIS IS REALLY A MODERNIZATION OF THAT FUND TO GET RID OF SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE USED OR 75% USED ON TIRES ONLY, SO THAT THEY CAN USE IT FOR MORE PURPOSES.

WE ALSO CREATE A RECYCLING AND EDUCATION COORDINATOR IN THE STATE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST NOW, AND WE CREATE A NEW POSITION CALLED A CIRCULAR ECONOMY COORDINATOR TO ACTUALLY TRY TO FIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT USES OF THOSE RECYCLED MATERIALS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEVERAGING THAT AND GETTING COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER.

SO IT'S KIND OF A COOL BILL.

>>LORENE: I THINK PEOPLE, EVER SINCE THE GRADUATE, WHERE HE WAS TOLD PLASTICS WERE THE FUTURE, NOW THERE'S SO MUCH MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION, THEY'VE EVEN FOUND IT IN HUMAN PLACENTAS, THEY FOUND IT IN THE BRAIN, THEY FOUND IT, A POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S AND PLASTICS IN THE BRAIN.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND THEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PRODUCED WASTE, IT HAS TO BE KEPT SEPARATE, YOU CAN'T PUT IT BACK IN WHERE THERE'S A SOURCE OF FRESH WATER BECAUSE IT WILL BE CONTAMINATED.

I LIKE THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE EDUCATING EVERYBODY ABOUT IT.

>>JEFF: RIGHT.

WELL, BACK TO THAT HOUSE BILL 222, THE PRODUCED WATER.

SO NOW THERE'S A BIG EFFORT TO USE THOSE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF HIGHLY CONTAMINATED WASTEWATER FROM THE OIL FIELD AND USE IT IN OTHER AREAS.

SO, A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT, I THINK THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS GET FULL DISCLOSURE SO WE KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS IN THIS MATERIAL, THIS WASTEWATER, SO WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES FROM IT.

>>LORENE: AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT'S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, THAT THEY WILL BE GIVING AWAY TRADE SECRETS IF THEY TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE COWS THAT GRAZED ON FIELDS THAT WERE IRRIGATED WITH THAT WATER AND THEN IT GETS INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL.

>>JEFF: OUR BILL DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO TELL US SOMETHING THAT'S A TRADE SECRET, WE SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO USE IT IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, YOU HAVE TO TELL US.

SO IT'S THEIR CHOICE IF THEY WANT TO USE, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO USE HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, IT'S VOLUNTARY FOR THEM ON WHAT PRODUCT THEY USE, BUT WE DO SAY IF YOU USE IT IN THE STATE, THEN YOU HAVE TO TELL US.

SO THAT'S THE WAY WE HANDLE IT AND REALLY, WE DON'T NEED PRODUCT NAMES EVEN NECESSARILY, BUT WE DO NEED THE INGREDIENTS.

>>LORENE: THE CHEMICALS.

>>JEFF: THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE IN THOSE PRODUCTS.

>>LORENE: YEAH, I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN THE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH CLEANUP AND THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED RECA, THE RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

AND IT TURNED OUT AND IT'S A WAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE EXPOSED TO FROM THE ORIGINAL URANIUM MINING TO THE LITTLE TRAINS THAT TOOK IT TO THE WASTE DUMPS AND EVERYTHING, THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE COMPENSATED.

>>JEFF: YES, OF COURSE, THE TRINITY BLAST, THAT PEOPLE LIVED NOT VERY FAR AWAY AND THEY HAD NO IDEA.

>>LORENE: THE GOVERNMENT SAID THERE'S NOBODY THERE AND WHAT, THERE WERE 150,000 PEOPLE.

>>JEFF: YES, WE LIKE TO SAY HERE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND THEY'RE IMPACTED.

ABSOLUTELY, AND WE'RE OF COURSE, FEDERALLY TRYING TO EXPAND THIS LAW, CALLED THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

>>LORENE: RECA.

>>JEFF: YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE TRINITY DOWNWINDERS AND THEY'RE THERE TO FIGHT FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE NEW MEXICANS IMPACTED BY THAT TEST OF THAT FAMOUS OPPENHEIMER BOMB AND TRINITY SITE.

WHEN WE PASSED THAT LAW FEDERALLY, WE COVERED CITIZENS IN OTHER STATES WHO WERE EXPOSED TO NUCLEAR TESTING.

IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE, BUT NEW MEXICO WAS EXCLUDED FOR THAT COMPENSATION.

WE'RE FIGHTING FOR IT, KUDOS TO THE DOWNWINDERS AND TINA CORDOVA.

>>LORENE: TINA CORDA.

>>JEFF: MARY WHITE AND PAUL PINTO AND ALL THE REST.

>>LORENE: AND IN TINA CORDOVA'S CASES FOUR GENERATIONS OF HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

THAT'S TOO BIG A PRICE.

>>JEFF: SO WE THANK, YOU KNOW, SENATOR LUHAN, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY LEDGER-FERNANDEZ AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION WHO ARE FIGHTING TO EXTEND THAT LAW IN CONGRESS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

SO, ONCE PEOPLE START LOOKING INTO THIS, THEY REALIZE THAT IT'S A DEEPLY DISTURBING AREA AND WE WANT TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS, WHAT CAN A CITIZEN, ARE THERE ISSUES COMING UP NOW IN THIS LEGISLATURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACT ON?

>>JEFF: YES, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE THIS HOUSE BILL 222, THIS IS A REALLY FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE.

THIS IS ABOUT THE CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE OF WHAT GETS PUT DOWNHOLE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW ANY INDUSTRY TO INJECT 60 BILLION GALLONS OF TOP-SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL, CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS INTO OUR EARTH, POTENTIALLY POLLUTING OUR WATER WITH FOREVER CHEMICALS, THEN WE ARE REALLY ASKING TO BE A CONTAMINATED WASTELAND HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

LONG AFTER ANY INDUSTRY IS GONE, WE WILL BE LEFT WITH THAT CONTAMINATION.

SO WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

WE NEED TO PUT UP A BIG COLLECTIVE SIGN THAT SAYS WE DO NOT CONSENT TO BEING ANYONE'S DUMPING GROUND, WE LIKE GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE WELCOME JOBS, INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE OIL INDUSTRY, BUT NEVER AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL OF OUR WATER AND OUR LAND AND OUR HEALTH.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE STILL DEALING WITH HEALTH, CANCER AND STUFF FROM, YOU KNOW, URANIUM MINING THAT OCCURRED GENERATIONS AGO.

AND SO THAT'S ABOUT PROTECTING ALL OF OUR RIGHTS AND KIND OF A STANDARD OF WHAT WE'RE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT HERE IN THE STATE OF MEXICO.

THAT'S HOUSE BILL 222, THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE FOR THE FIRST TIME GOT $50 MILLION FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO START TO CLEAN UP ABANDONED URANIUM MINE SITES.

WE REALLY YOU KNOW, SINCE I GOT ELECTED, WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE THOUSAND PLUS ABANDONED URANIUM MINE SITES AND HOW THERE WAS NO ONE REALLY TAKING ACTION, WE CONTINUALLY POINT OUR FINGERS AND SAY, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE PASSED MEMORIALS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

IT WAS, OF COURSE, CREATED FOR THE NUCLEAR STOCKPILE, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND IN MANY CASES, THERE'S NO KNOWN RESPONSIBLE PARTY BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT DID THIS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LONG SINCE GONE.

THERE WAS NO BOND, IT WAS LONG BEFORE THE DAYS OF BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR REMEDIATION.

SO OUR STATE IS FINALLY TAKING ACTION.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE PASSED A BILL THAT I WAS THE SPONSOR OF WITH REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE SARINANA, CREATING URANIUM MINE REMEDIATION COORDINATOR AND CREATING A STATE DASHBOARD.

NOW WE'RE APPROPRIATING MONEY, BUT REALLY WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEE AND I'VE KIND OF ENCOURAGED OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LOOK INTO THIS.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CONSIDER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR LEAVING US THIS CONTAMINATION.

IT'S TIME THAT WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND THEN WE GO ON THE OFFENSE AGAINST CONTAMINATION IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: YES.

WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH SENATOR JEFF STEINBORN, DEMOCRAT FROM DONA ANA COUNTY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE WOULD ACTUALLY GO BACK TO THE PERSON WHO DEPOSITED THE WASTE, WHO HAD THE PILES AND, TAILINGS, BUT THEY'RE OUT OF BUSINESS, THE FEDS, ARE THEY EAGERLY STEPPING UP TO TAKE CARE OF THIS?

>>JEFF: NO, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PROGRAM IN PLACE.

UNDER THE WANING DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM AND THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT DID START UP A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, WHICH IS PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT THEY ARE POLITICAL APPOINTEES.

THEY GOT A DIALOG GOING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING AT LEAST A WORKING GROUP, BUT THE BIG ISSUE IS MONEY.

I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THAT'S WHERE NOW OF COURSE, WE SEE THE CHAOS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON AND CIVIL SERVANTS BEING FIRED LEFT AND RIGHT.

SO THE REALITY IS WE NEED A NEW EFFORT FIGHTING FOR THIS MONEY AND THERE IS NO PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES JUST PURELY DEFENSE ERA WASTE, WHICH THIS REALLY IS.

CONGRESS CREATED A PROGRAM FOR DEALING WITH HARD ROCK MINING IN MULTIPLE STATES AND I THINK THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH LIKE $50, $60 MILLION, BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR ISSUE.

DEALING WITH DEFENSE ERA WASTE, IT'S NOT JUST IN NEW MEXICO, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF IT HERE.

SO I THINK WE NEED A SINGULAR EFFORT FOCUSED ON THIS AND HONESTLY, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT VOLUNTARILY SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND WE'RE NOT ASKING LOUD ENOUGH.

SO WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR STRATEGY AND THE REALITY IS IT'S TIME FOR ASKING IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO DEMAND LEGAL ACTION, REALLY CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AND HOPEFULLY GET WASHINGTON'S ATTENTION AND GET SOME BIG CHECKS WRITTEN.

>>LORENE: YES, THAT WOULD BE NICE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECT TO THIS.

SO MANY OF THESE ABANDONED URANIUM TAILINGS PILES ARE IN NAVAJO LAND AND NOBODY PUT SIGNS UP, I THINK NOW THEY'RE HAVING SIGNS, NUCLEAR DANGER SIGNS.

>>JEFF: YEAH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, HOW DO YOU WARN SOMEONE 10,000 YEARS FROM NOW.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PUTTING HIEROGLYPHICS AND INTERESTING SYMBOLS TO TRY TO LIKE GIVE THEM A HINT.

BUT YEAH, IT'S FASCINATING.

YOU'RE RIGHT, MANY OF THEM ARE ON INDIGENOUS LANDS AND WHEN I WAS TOURING ONE OF THE SITES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AN ADVOCATE, A LOCAL MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT TO ME, THEY GO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN MOVE TO A NEW HOME, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, OUR HOME IS ROOTED TO THE LAND.

THIS IS OUR HOMELAND, AND THIS WILL BE OUR HOMELAND GENERATIONS FROM NOW.

THAT'S KIND OF A PROFOUND POINT, IT'S LIKE WE CONTAMINATED A HOMELAND WHERE ORCHARDS ONCE GREW AND THEY HAD FERTILE SOIL AND KIDS COULD PLAY, AND NOW THEY'RE LEFT WITH SOME URANIUM TAILINGS PILE WITH A FENCE AND, YOU KNOW, A HAZARDOUS, RADIOACTIVE SIGN THERE OF HAZARDOUS RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS.

AND NOBODY'S COMING TO CLEAN THOSE LANDS UP.

SO WE HAVE A HUGE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AND SCREAM IT FROM THE TOP OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS.

>>LORENE: WELL, GETTING THIS WORD OUT WILL HELP PEOPLE SCREEN IT BECAUSE, IT HAS TO BE FIXED, WE CAN'T WALK AWAY.

AND IT'S LIKE THE PFAS, THE FOREVER CHEMICALS, RADIOACTIVE TAILINGS PILES ARE FOREVER UNTIL YOU, I MEAN, THEY WANTED TO PUT THEM IN GLASS, THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF SOLUTIONS.

PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE.

>>JEFF: LIKE THE GLOWING LIME GREEN GLASSES THAT THEY MADE IN THE 60S AND 70S WERE ACTUALLY BAD FOR US, HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE?

>>LORENE: AND WHAT'S A HALF-LIFE AND URANIUM, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO OUTLAST ALL OF US.

>>JEFF: WE GOT TO STOP IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR STATE'S STRATEGY, STOPPING CONTAMINATION BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

>>LORENE: GOOD.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING ISSUES I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT, THE REGENTS.

SO WE'VE SEEN CURRENT EVENTS WHERE, REGENTS OF MANY STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEHAVED IN A MANNER THAT IS, PERHAPS, PROTECTIVE OF A DISGRACED PRESIDENT OR EXECUTIVE BEINGS AND, WELL, YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO, AND YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT THERE BE A BOARD, A NOMINATING BOARD WHO COULD VET POSSIBLE REGENTS AND GIVE THE LIST TO THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST DONORS TO THE UNIVERSITY OR A STUDENT OF A LAWMAKER.

YOU WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THE BEST FOR YOU, TELL ME ABOUT REGENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY.

>>JEFF: YEAH, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT FOREVER WE HAVE TREATED UNIVERSITY, REGENTS ARE THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES.

THEY'RE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO RUN, THEY ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR EACH UNIVERSITY, IT'S SECTION TWELVE OF THE NEW MEXICO CONSTITUTION.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT REGENTS TO RUN OUR UNIVERSITIES, THEY HIRE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS, THEY SET TUITION, THEY FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THEY ARE REALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE LEADERS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND FOREVER OUR GOVERNORS HAVE TREATED THESE REGENTS REALLY AS POLITICAL PATRONAGE JOBS.

>>LORENE: PLUMB.

>>JEFF: PLUMB, PLUMB ASSIGNMENT.

AND IT'S ALMOST JUST LIKE ACCEPTED, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A BIG DONOR THAT'S A PRESTIGIOUS PLACE TO LAND AND YOU GET A GOOD SEAT AT THE BASKETBALL GAME.

IT'S REALLY AN OFFENSE TO OUR STATE THAT WE WOULD TREAT HIGHER EDUCATION, THE PATHWAY TO OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE TO THE LIVES OF NEW MEXICO KIDS, WITH SUCH CARELESSNESS.

BY CHOOSING ANYONE OTHER THAN THE VERY BEST DYNAMIC LEADER WE CAN FIND TO RUN THAT SCHOOL IN THAT DYNAMIC, CHANGING ENVIRONMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHANGING TIMES AND CHANGING ECONOMIC INDUSTRIES.

>>LORENE: ECONOMIC INDUSTRIES, BUT EDUCATION ITSELF IS CHANGING AND YOU CAN'T BE 1950S, NO OFFENSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GOT THERE.

>>JEFF: BUT YOU NEED THE MOST DYNAMIC THOUGHT LEADERS YOU CAN FIND.

>>LORENE: AND VISIONARY.

>>JEFF: VISIONARIES IN CHARTING THAT COURSE AND MAKING OUR SCHOOLS RELEVANT.

SO I HAVE A PROPOSAL I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS TO CHANGE THAT SYSTEM TO WHERE WE CREATE NOMINATING COMMISSIONS FOR EACH SCHOOL THAT WOULD BE BIPARTISAN.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION, BECAUSE THIS THIS SELECTION PROCESS IS ROOTED IN THE CONSTITUTION, SO I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION SEVEN.

IT'S WAITING ON A HEARING IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NOW, PASSED THE RULES COMMITTEE ALREADY UNANIMOUSLY, WHICH WAS GREAT.

SO BASICALLY WE CREATE A NOMINATING COMMISSION FOR EACH SCHOOL, THE VOTERS WOULD GET A VOTE ON THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND IF WE DO IT, WE WOULD CREATE ONE FOR EACH SCHOOL THAT WOULD THEN INTERVIEW AND RECOMMEND THE BEST REGENTS TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO HURRY UP, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

OTHER THINGS YOU'VE DONE THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU DID WITH HOLTEC AND WITH THE NUCLEAR WASTE, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO POSITIVE THINGS.

THE MEDICAL PSILOCYBIN ACT THANK YOU.

PSILOCYBIN IS ONE OF THOSE MIND MANIFESTED, THAT'S WHAT PSYCHEDELIC MEANS.

DRUGS THAT ARE A WAY OF ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMING THE USER AND YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT IN A CONTROLLED MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE SET AND SETTING IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED THAT IT CAN BE A REALLY USEFUL TOOL TO GET RID OF PTSD, CIGARETTE SMOKING, ALCOHOLISM, DEPRESSION, I MEAN IT IS REALLY A POWERFUL HEALING TOOL.

>>JEFF: IT CAN BE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE FDA HAS RULED PSILOCYBIN AS A BREAKTHROUGH THERAPY FOR TREATING MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY SUFFER FROM SERIOUS DEPRESSION AND HAVE SOMETIMES DRUG RESISTANT DEPRESSION, SO THE FDA RULED IT A BREAKTHROUGH THERAPY.

SO IT IS A VERY, VERY POWERFUL PLANT MEDICINE BASED UPON THAT RESEARCH, WE WANT TO PROVIDE THIS HELP TO NEW MEXICANS AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WITH OTHER LEADING LEGISLATORS, PAST LEGISLATORS LIKE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE ARMSTRONG AND OTHERS AND PROVIDERS IN THE SPACE WHO WORK WITH CLIENTS, WORK WITH HOSPICE PATIENTS TO COME UP WITH A VERY THOUGHTFUL BILL.

IT'S BY BIPARTISAN, GOT DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN SPONSORS IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TO CREATE A MEDICAL PROGRAM THAT WILL START WITH FOUR QUALIFYING CONDITIONS, PTSD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND THEN END OF LIFE ANXIETY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE A MEDICALLY EFFICACIOUS USE OF IT AND IT WOULD ONLY BE ADMINISTERED IN A MEDICAL SETTING DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SO THIS IS SENATE BILL 219.

ALSO, VERYHEARTENED, PASSED ITS FIRST COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY.

AMAZING, WAITING ON A HEARING AS WELL ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT COMMITTEE SCHEDULED SOON.

WE CAN START TO PROVIDE THIS RELIEF TO NEW MEXICANS, BUT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BILL AND THE POTENTIAL IT HAS TO HELP THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS.

OUTDOOR RECREATION, HOW IS THE RIO GRANDE TRAIL DOING?

>>JEFF: THE GOOD OLD RIO GRANDE TRAIL.

IT IS PLUGGING ALONG AND I'M REALLY, I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO PREMATURE, BUT I FEEL AS IF OUR ENERGY NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE COMMISSION, HAS NEW LIFE.

WE HAVE A NEW SECRETARY, WE'VE GOT SOME NEW LEADERSHIP THERE WHO ARE FINALLY REALLY GIVING THIS THING THE PROPER PUSH THAT IT DESERVES.

THEY'VE GOT A NEW WEBSITE THAT THEY'VE REINVIGORATED AND APPOINTED NEW COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET THREE TIMES A YEAR.

AND WE HAVE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ALMOST 90 MILES OF RIO GRANDE TRAIL WAITING TO BE DESIGNATED.

IT HAS TO BE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSION AND THEN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I GOT FUNDING FOR THE OUTDOOR DIVISION, OUR GREAT NEW OUTDOOR DIVISION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

WE GOT FUNDING FOR THEM TO DO THE PLANNING.

>>LORENE: YES, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE, AND THAT RIO GRANDE TRAIL WHEN IT'S DONE WILL BE A DESTINATION.

>>JEFF: IT'LL BE BIG, WE WILL BE SO PROUD OF IT.

IT WILL BE A HUGE THING FOR OUR STATE, BUT WE DO NEED TO PUT IN THE WORK TO DESIGNATE IT AND FUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE CAMPSITES AND TRAILHEADS AND SIGNAGE AND STUFF.

BUT, THE WORK IS ACCELERATING, SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

>>LORENE: AND WE HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE IT IS NOT A DAY TRIP.

>>JEFF: IT COULD BE IT.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU COULD DO CHUNKS OF IT.

>>JEFF: YEAH, YOU COULD.

THERE'S WHAT THEY CALL THROUGH HIKERS, WHICH ARE TOTALLY CRAZY THAT WANT TO DO THE WHOLE 500 MILE STRETCH.

THEY CALL THOSE THROUGH HIKERS.

GIVE YOURSELF ABOUT A MONTH AND GIVE IT A SHOT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

BUT THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WHAT THEY CALL SEGMENT HIKERS, WHERE MAYBE THEY WANT TO GO FROM JUST LAS CRUCES TO HATCH, RIGHT OR FROM HATCH TO SOCORRO AND SEE THE BOSQUE DEL APACHE OR CAN YOU IMAGINE THROUGH THE RIO GRANDE GORGE AND TAOS AND SEE BIGHORN SHEEP AND GO THROUGH THE NORTHERN HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, THE CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, WATER, RECREATION, IT'S JUST INFINITE OPPORTUNITY AND POSSIBILITIES FOR NEW MEXICO AND A RURAL FRONTIER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THESE COMMUNITIES.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>JEFF: HOW COOL IS THAT, LORENE, LET'S DO IT.

>>LORENE: ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE HATCH, YOU KNOW, A SIDE INDUSTRY OF CHILE.

>>JEFF: WHAT COULD BE BETTER.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, EXACTLY.

>>JEFF: RIGHT.

WE GO TO SPARKY'S AND THEN GO ON THE TRAIL.

>>LORENE: WELL, I AM SO GRATEFUL.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS JEFF STEINBORN, DEMOCRAT FROM DONA ANA COUNTY.

BUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON HAZARDOUS WASTE IS SO IMPORTANT AND THEN THE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH THE PSILOCYBIN BILL AND THE OUTDOOR RECREATION.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND IT WORKS ON SO MANY LEVELS, ENVIRONMENTALLY, BUSINESS WISE, TOURISM, PUBLIC HEALTH OF COURSE.

>>JEFF: WE HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE NMLEGIS.GOV.

ANY OF THE BILLS THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO THE COMMITTEE.

AS YOU CAN SEE YOU CAN GO TO FIND THAT BILL, YOU CAN SEE WHAT COMMITTEE IT'S AT, YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND URGE THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT IT, BUT GET INVOLVED.

WE ARE STILL A REALLY HUMBLE, ACCESSIBLE PLACE AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THESE ISSUES.

THIS IS YOUR NEW MEXICO, THESE ARE YOUR POLICY ISSUES, YOU HAVE A STAKE IN THIS AND REACH OUT AND LET YOUR LEGISLATORS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, GET INVOLVED.

>>LORENE: THAT SITE IS SO EASY, NMLEGIS.GOV AND YOU CAN PUT IN HAZARDOUS WASTE OR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEN THEY PRESENT YOU WITH ALL THESE BILLS.

>>JEFF: YOU CAN PUT IN A KEYWORD AND IT'LL SHOW YOU ALL THE BILLS FOR THAT OR YOU CAN GO TO MY PAGE, YOU CAN LOOK AT LEGISLATORS AND GO TO MY PAGE AND GO TO ALL THE BILLS I HAVE THIS SESSION.

YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP, YOU CAN READ THEM AND THEN IT WILL SHOW YOU AT THE TOP OF THAT BILL PAGE WHAT COMMITTEE IT'S AT AND THEN THEY'LL SHOW YOU THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE BELOW AND YOU CAN SEND THEM ALL LITTLE EMAILS.

COULDN'T BE EASIER TO GET INVOLVED, DO IT.

>>LORENE: WHAT I WANT OUT AUDIENCE TO KNOW IS THAT THIS IS A STATE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE, AND YOU'VE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

OUR GUEST, SENATOR JEFF STEINBORN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO REPORT FOR SANTA FE.

>>JEFF: THE HIGHEST OF HONORS, THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: WELL, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND IT'S THE HIGHEST OF HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE OUR AUDIENCE WITH US TODAY.

THIS IS REPORT FROM SANTA FE, WE LOVE TO SEE YOU BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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