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Monday, March 3, 2008

State Still Plans to Fine RR

By Rosalie Rayburn
Journal Staff Writer
    The state Environment Department is pushing ahead with enforcement action against the city of Rio Rancho that could result in heavy fines for permit violations related to water used at Chamisa Hills Golf and Country Club.
    Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry said he was "highly disappointed and surprised" by the city's decision to sue instead of complying with the department's request to produce a cleanup plan for Chamisa Hills.
    "We thought we were going in a positive direction," Curry said13 in a phone interview last week.
    He said his department is drafting a compliance order, which will carry "substantial" fines. Department staff have previously said the fines could amount to $30,000 per day.
    The city and the department are accusing each other of flip-flopping over the cleanup issue.
    As the city sees it, Environment Department officials first laid the blame for waterfowl deaths at Chamisa Hills Golf and Country Club on the club owners, saying the club needed a special water permit.
    Then, the department changed tack, deciding that the city should be responsible and submit a plan by Feb. 27 showing how it would correct water-related problems at the golf course.
    As Environment Department officials see it, the city misled them, indicating it was willing to do initial cleanup work at Chamisa Hills but balking when it came to taking action.
    The department maintains the city is responsible because Rio Rancho holds the water discharge permit.