The New Mexico Environment Department told a legislative committee on May 20 that it will publish aggregate PFAS blood and water testing results in mid‑June and will use newly enacted state law beginning June 20 to pursue polluters.

The data release and the department’s promise to apply House Bill 140 were presented as part of a wider update on PFAS contamination tied to military bases and legacy industrial sources that, according to the department, continues to threaten drinking water and agricultural uses in parts of eastern New Mexico and the Ogallala aquifer.

The aggregated dataset will include blood testing, PFAS water testing and private‑well testing, the department said. "In about mid June, we're going to release, an aggregate, aggregate level data... about our PFAS blood testing, PFAS water testing, and, private well water testing," the Secretary, New Mexico Environment Department, told the committee. The department said the release will report aggregate results only and will not include private addresses or individually identifiable health information.

Committee members heard that the department has used appropriations to fund connection of affected rural users to public water systems; the briefing cited $12 million to connect rural Curry County (Clovis area) residents to public water after contamination of private wells. The secretary said the department also has arranged for blood testing, household outreach and contractor teams to do site investigations.

Committee members and the department pressed the Department of Defense to accelerate cleanup off base at Cannon and Holloman. According to the secretary, the Department of Defense has not yet removed PFAS off‑base at Cannon and has not undertaken off‑base removal at Holloman. "I can tell you they don't have the appropriation, and they haven't cleaned up a drop of PFAS off base. A drop. Not a drop," the secretary said, describing the department's view of DOD actions. The secretary also said NMED has active litigation and multi‑district cases and expects enforcement authority to strengthen when HB140 becomes effective on June 20.

The committee discussed potential state actions and agreed in principle to draft a letter urging the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense to prioritize remediation rather than litigate state authority. Members asked that NMED coordinate on the letter and share a draft with the committee before sending it.

The department emphasized continuing monitoring and community engagement: staff said they are testing private wells, conducting blood testing, meeting with residents, and have funded a $12 million connection project for affected rural water users. The department also reported it is preparing aggregate public summaries and will continue working with county and tribal partners and with federal agencies on response and litigation.

The briefing closed with committee members and the department agreeing to pursue a joint push at the federal level for funding and clearer federal cooperation on off‑base remediation.

Less immediately, the committee also discussed longer‑term questions about PFAS treatment and destruction technologies and whether treated PFAS residues should be stored, destroyed or otherwise managed. The secretary said companies have begun presenting technologies for destruction and immobilization of PFAS and that some firms are exploring domestic manufacturing of treatment equipment.