Air Enforcement: New Mexico Environment Department Notice of Violation Addressing Clovis Food Manufacturer
June 25, 2026
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The New Mexico Environment Department (“NMED”) issued a May 6th Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Southwest Cheese Company, LLC (“SCC”) for alleged violations of the New Mexico air rules. See EPCEB Air Case No. SWC-19971-2201.
SCC has been described as a Clovis, New Mexico food manufacturer.
The NOV states that on multiple dates between June and Augusts 2022, compliance report specialists from NMED began a records review for the Facility. The review is stated to have included the following:
- March 2022 Annual Compliance Certification Report.
- September 2021 and March 2022 Semi-Annual Reports.
- Excess Emission reports.
- Daily pressure logs.
- Engine hour operating records.
- Fuel gas sampling records.
- Biogas analyses.
- Boiler fuel records.
The alleged violations identified include:
- Exceedance of H2S Emission Limits.
- Failure to Report Excess Emissions.
- Failure to Monitor Biogas Upset Events.
- Failure to Demonstrate Compliance with Natural Gas Fuel Sulfur Limits.
- Failure to Demonstrate Compliance with Biogas Fuel Sulfur Limits.
- Exceedance of Biogas H2S Limit of 1,200 ppm.
- Failure to Conduct Opacity Observations.
- Failure to Continuously Monitor Flare Pilot.
- Failure to Record Daily Pressure Drop.
- Failure to Sample Flue Gas.
- Exceeded the Permitted Combined Boiler Hourly Fuel Consumption Limit of 103,980 scf/hr on 70 Occasions.
- Failure to Calibrate Fuel Flow Meters.
- Failure to Operate No More than Two Boilers Simultaneously.
The NOV requests that SCC provide various information regarding:
- A description of the cause of the violation;
- Documentation of the steps taken to correct the violation to date; and
- Documentation of steps taken to prevent the recurrence of the violation.
Additional information is required specific to the allegations.
A copy of the NOV can be found here.
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