February 11, 2025- Southwest Research and Information Center v. Secretary of New Mexico Environment Department, No. A-1-CA-40030

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in Odyssey.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Opinion Number:

Filing Date: February 11, 2025

No. A-1-CA-40030

SOUTHWEST RESEARCH AND
INFORMATION CENTER, CYNTHIA
WEEHLER, and CONCERNED
CITIZENS FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY,

Appellants,
V.

SECRETARY OF NEW MEXICO
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT,

Appellee,

and

UNITED STATES 0/b/o UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY; and SALADO
ISOLATION MINING CONTRACTORS, LLC,
as current co-permittee in substitution of
Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC,

Intervenors-Appellees,

IN THE MATTER OF NEW MEXICO
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT HEARING
DETERMINATION REQUEST CLASS 3
“EXCAVATION OF A NEW SHAFT AND
ASSOCIATED CONNECTING DRIFTS”
PERMIT MODIFICATION TO THE WIPP
HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY PERMIT.

Court of Appeals of New Mexico
Filed 2/11/2025 9:52 AM

Ramon J. Maestas
Chief Clerk

APPEAL FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF	1
ENVIRONMENT	2
JAMES C. KENNEY, Secretary of Environment	3
Lindsay A. Lovejoy, Jr.	4
Santa Fe, NM	5
Joni Arends	6
Santa Fe, NM	7
for Appellants	8
Christal Weatherly, Special Assistant Attorney General	9
Assistant General Counsel	10
Albuquerque, NM	11
for Appellee	12
Hance Scarborough, LLP	13
Michael L. Woodward	14
Austin, TX	15
Gallagher & Kennedy	16
Dalva L. Moellenberg	17
Santa Fe, NM	18
for Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC	19
United States Department of Justice	20
Environment and Natural Resources Division	21
Environment Defense Section	22
Fred J. Federici, Acting United States Attorney	23
Alexander M.M. Uballez	24
Heather Gange	25
Sarah Izfar	26
Washington, D.C.	27

—

Cassandra C. Curie, Assistant United States Attorney
Albuquerque, NM

for Intervenors-Appellees

OPINION	1
YOHALEM, Judge.	2
{1} 	Southwest Research and Information Center, Cynthia Weehler, Concerned	3
Citizens 	for 	Nuclear 	Safety 	(CCNS), 	and 	Deborah 	Reade 	(collectively, 	SW	4
Research) appeal the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) final order	5
granting the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) and Salado Isolation	6
Mining Contractors, LLC’s (Salado) (collectively, Permittees0F
1 ) request for a	7
modification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s (WIPP) operating permit to allow	8
modifications to the ventilation system at the WIPP facility. The PMR sought	9
approval of the excavation and construction of a fifth vertical ventilation shaft and	10
associated horizontal tunnels (drifts), a major, Class 3, change to the WIPP facility	11
and its operations from the original plan. See 40 C.F.R. § 270.42(d)(2)(iii) (2017)1F
2
12
(defining Class 3 modifications as changes that “substantially alter the facility or its	13
operation”). A PMR for a Class 3 modification is granted under the applicable	14
federal and state hazardous waste regulations governing WIPP only upon a showing	15
of need for modification of the facility or its operation, supported by credible	16
1 At the time the Permit Modification Request (PMR) was submitted, the
Permittees were DOE and Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC (NWP). Salado, the
current co-permittee with DOE, was subsequently substituted for NWP.
2 Regulation 20.4.1.900 NMAC incorporates 40 C.F.R. pt. 270 by reference.
We cite to the federal regulations directly in this opinion and do not include in the
citation the New Mexico regulation incorporating the federal regulations.

2
technical, and nontechnical evidence at an adversarial hearing where interested	1
organizations and members of the public are invited to present evidence, and to	2
cross-examine the Permittees’ witnesses. 20.4.1.901(F) NMAC. Following an	3
adjudicatory hearing, the hearing officer found that the PMR was needed, in relevant	4
part, to (1) allow authorized operations to be carried out efficiently after a 2014-	5
radiological event limited WIPP’s ventilation capabilities, and (2) protect WIPP	6
workers and the environment during the ongoing authorized operation of WIPP.	7
NMED granted the PMR, adopting the hearing officer’s findings, conclusions, and	8
recommendations. SW Research appeals, challenging NMED’s finding that the fifth	9
ventilation shaft is needed to complete already authorized operations at WIPP. SW	10
Research argues that the cost of constructing a fifth ventilation shaft can be justified	11
only 	under 	the 	assumption 	that 	WIPP 	will 	be 	expanded 	far 	beyond 	its	12
congressionally approved size, period of operation, and type of waste. In addition to	13
challenging the evidence of current need for the PMR, SW Research objects to the	14
hearing officer’s exclusion of evidence concerning upcoming requests for WIPP	15
expansion, and the hearing officer’s conclusion that there was sufficient public	16
notice throughout the PMR process. Finding no error, we affirm.	17
BACKGROUND	18
{2} 	Hazardous materials, which are defined to include the mixed transuranic	19
waste deposited at WIPP, are regulated by NMED pursuant to a federal grant of	20

3
authority by 42 U.S.C. § 6926(b) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act	1
(RCRA), allowing the State to implement a hazardous waste program “equivalent	2
to” the federal RCRA requirements. New Mexico implemented the permission	3
granted by the RCRA by enacting the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act (HWA),	4
NMSA 1978, §§ 74-4-1 to -14 (1977, as amended through 2021). The HWA	5
authorized NMED to regulate WIPP, including issuing permits regarding the	6
operation of WIPP and the storage of hazardous waste at the WIPP site. See § 74-4-5.	7
{3} 	Although NMED has authority to issue permits and permit modifications	8
concerning both the physical facility and the operation of WIPP, WIPP’s waste	9
disposal capacity was established by the federal government in the Waste Isolation	10
Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Act of 1992 (LWA), Pub. L. No. 102-579, 106 Stat.	11
4777 (1992), as amended by Pub. L. No. 104-201, 110 Stat. 2422 (1996). The LWA	12
authorizes 6.2 million cubic feet of transuranic waste to be stored at WIPP. Pub. L.	13
No. 104-201, § 7(a)(3). The storage capacity of WIPP is not subject to expansion by	14
NMED without Congressional authorization.	15
{4} 	Permits to operate the WIPP facility are generally issued or renewed by	16
NMED every ten years. See 40 C.F.R. § 270.50(a). During that ten-year period, “a	17
permit may be modified at the request of the permittee for just cause as demonstrated	18
by 	the 	permittee.” 	Section 	74-4-4.2(G)(2). 	NMED 	regulations 	divide 	permit	19
modification requests into three classes. A Class 3 PMR, defined as any proposed	20

4
modification that “substantially alter[s] the facility or its operation,” 40 C.F.R.	1
§ 270.42(d)(2)(iii), requires the permittee to “[d]escribe[] the exact change[s] to be	2
made to the permit condition” and “[e]xplain[] why the modification is needed.” 40	3
C.F.R. § 270.42(c)(1)(i), (iii). A Class 3 PMR also requires that the permittee and	4
NMED comply with public notice requirements at each stage of the PMR process,	5
and provide an opportunity for a public hearing. See § 74-4-4.2(H). “A public	6
hearing is an adversarial proceeding held before a hearing officer.” Sw. Rsch. & Info.	7
Ctr. v. N.M. Env’t Dep’t, 2014-NMCA-098, ¶ 16, 336 P.3d 404 (citing 20.4.1.901(F)	8
NMAC). The scope of a public hearing on a PMR is limited to the permit provision	9
being modified. See 20.4.1.901(B)(7) NMAC. The hearing officer’s report must	10
contain findings of fact, conclusions of law, recommendations, and a proposed final	11
order. See 20.1.5.500(C)(1) NMAC. The Secretary of NMED then issues a final	12
written order, which either adopts, modifies, or sets aside the hearing officer’s	13
findings, conclusions, and recommendations. See 20.1.5.500(D)(1) NMAC. The	14
Secretary’s order can be appealed to this Court. See § 74-4-14(A).	15
{5} 	In this case, the Secretary of NMED adopted the hearing officer’s findings,	16
conclusions, and recommendation to approve the PMR. SW Research appealed to	17
this Court. We review the facts relevant to each issue in our discussion of that issue.	18

5
DISCUSSION	1
I. 	Motion to Dismiss as Moot	2
{6} 	Before discussing the merits of this appeal, we address Permittees’ motion to	3
dismiss the appeal as moot. Permittees argue that this appeal is moot “because	4
NMED has taken a superseding administrative action and, consequently, this Court	5
can no longer grant the relief requested by [SW Research].” The “superseding	6
administrative action” referred to by Permittees is the expiration of the ten-year	7
operating permit granted to Permittees by NMED in 2010, as modified by the PMR	8
at issue in this appeal, and the renewal of that permit for another ten-year period.	9
Permittees argue that the new ten-year renewal permit, issued well after this appeal	10
was filed and briefed, supersedes NMED’s final order granting the PMR for the fifth	11
shaft, and, therefore, even if this Court reverses the final order, the Court could no	12
longer require NMED to cease construction of the new fifth shaft and ventilation	13
system or cease operating that system, if construction had been completed. We do	14
not agree.	15
{7} 	There is no dispute that the renewal permit left in place the terms of the final	16
order granting the PMR. The terms of the final order had been incorporated into the	17
expired permit, and were not changed by NMED in renewing that permit; the	18
renewal 	permit 	continues 	to 	include 	the 	authorization 	for 	the 	excavation,	19
construction and operation of the fifth ventilation shaft and accompanying drifts at	20

6
issue in this appeal. Although twenty-five modifications to the renewal permit were	1
proposed by NMED, none of these affected the construction of the fifth ventilation	2
shaft at issue in this appeal.2F
3
3
{8} 	“A case is moot when no actual controversy exists, and the court cannot grant	4
actual relief.” Gunaji v. Macias, 2001-NMSC-028, ¶ 9, 130 N.M. 734, 31 P.3d 1008	5
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Permittees’ contention is that an	6
order of this Court could no longer be enforced, and that, therefore, no actual relief	7
can be granted because a renewal permit, albeit with the very same terms, has been	8
adopted by NMED. While there is no New Mexico case law directly on point, other	9
jurisdictions have rejected this argument, holding that an appeal of an expired permit	10
is not moot if the “same condition is still in effect and . . . [t]he same controversy	11
exists after the issuance of the renewal permit.” Kescoli v. Babbitt, 101 F.3d 1304,	12
1309 (9th Cir. 1996); Kentucky Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Rowlette, 714 F.3d 402, 406 (6th	13
Cir. 2013) (same); see Humane Soc’y of U.S. v. Env’t Prot. Agency, 790 F.2d 106,	14
114 (D.C. Cir. 1986) (“A controversy concerning an initial permit . . . may simply	15
continue in the context of succeeding permits.” (alteration, internal quotation marks,	16
3 As part of the renewal permitting process after SW Research filed this appeal,
NMED published a draft renewal permit for public comment, as required by
20.4.1.901 NMAC. With it, NMED published a fact sheet setting forth the twenty-
five proposed changes to the expiring permit that would be included in the renewal
permit. The fact sheet did not include any changes to the construction of shaft five
or to any other terms of the PMR at issue in this appeal.

7
and citation omitted)); People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. v. U.S.	1
Dep’t of Agric., 183 F. Supp. 3d 1137, 1144 (D. Colo. 2016) (holding that the	2
renewal of a license does not moot a controversy concerning the original license).	3
{9} 	We find this authority persuasive. Since Permittees do not contend, and the	4
facts do not show, that the renewal of the permit resolved or changed the controversy	5
now before this Court, we conclude that this controversy is not moot. Stated	6
differently, appellate review of the Secretary’s final order in this instance has not	7
been circumvented by ensuing permitting processes. We therefore turn to SW	8
Research’s arguments on the merits.	9
II. 	NMED’s Order Is Supported by Both the Law and the Evidence in the	10
Record of Current Need for the Modifications	11
{10} 	SW Research appeals from the NMED’s final order, raising six issues on	12
appeal. SW Research claims first that Permittees failed to establish by substantial,	13
credible evidence in the record that the fifth airshaft, the connecting drifts, and the	14
other changes to the WIPP facility’s ventilation system sought in the PMR are	15
needed to complete already authorized operations at WIPP. SW Research argues that	16
Permittees’ 	willingness 	to 	spend 	$197 	million 	on 	the 	construction 	of 	the	17
modifications to the ventilation system sought by the PMR can be explained only as	18
a step toward an expansion of WIPP far beyond its approved size, period of	19
operation, and type of waste. According to SW Research, the fifth shaft and other	20
costly modifications to the ventilation system have little or no independent utility	21

8
for authorized WIPP operations, and Permittees’ claims to the contrary are not	1
credible.	2
{11} 	SW Research raises five additional issues, all of which are related to its claim	3
that the fifth shaft and other modifications to the ventilation system are unnecessary	4
for currently authorized operations and are sought solely to support an unauthorized	5
expansion of WIPP. SW Research claims that (1) the hearing officer improperly	6
excluded evidence concerning future WIPP expansion as speculative and irrelevant;	7
(2) the notice to the community near the WIPP facility by NMED of its issuance of	8
a draft permit and the notice to submit technical testimony were not timely given;	9
(3) sufficient Spanish translation of the PMR documents and process was not	10
provided to the public; (4) the Secretary’s approval of the PMR violates restrictions	11
on the expansion of WIPP included in the 1987 Consultation and Cooperation	12
Agreement (C&C Agreement) between DOE and New Mexico; and (5) the	13
constitutional requirement for Congressional appropriation of federal funds was	14
violated by the NMED’s approval of the PMR.	15
A. 	Standard of Review	16
{12} 	We may set aside the Secretary’s final order only it if is “(1) arbitrary,	17
capricious or an abuse of discretion; (2) not supported by substantial evidence in the	18
record; or (3) otherwise not in accordance with law.” Section 74-4-14(C). “The	19
burden is on the parties challenging the agency order to make this showing.” Sw.	20

9
Rsch. & Info. Ctr., 2014-NMCA-098, ¶ 21 (internal quotation marks and citation	1
omitted).	2
{13} 	We review an agency’s conclusions of law de novo. See Law v. N.M. Hum.	3
Servs. Dep’t, 2019-NMCA-066, ¶ 11, 451 P.3d 91. “When reviewing findings of	4
fact made by an administrative agency we apply a whole record standard of review.”	5
Fitzhugh v. N.M. Dep’t of Lab., 1996-NMSC-044, ¶ 23, 122 N.M. 173, 922 P.2d	6
555. “In applying whole record review, this Court reviews both favorable and	7
unfavorable evidence to determine whether there is evidence that a reasonable mind	8
could accept as adequate to support the conclusions reached by the fact[-]finder.”	9
Ruiz v. Los Lunas Pub. Schs., 2013-NMCA-085, ¶ 5, 308 P.3d 983 (internal	10
quotation marks and citation omitted). We are cautioned by our Supreme Court that	11
“[w]hole record review is not an excuse for an appellate court to reweigh the	12
evidence and replace the fact[-]finder’s conclusions with its own.” Herman v.	13
Miners’ Hosp., 1991-NMSC-021, ¶ 10, 111 N.M. 550, 807 P.2d 734. If there is	14
substantial evidence to support the findings of fact, we affirm those findings unless	15
other evidence in the record so undercuts the findings that they are unreasonable.	16
See, e.g., id. (finding administrative decision reasonable notwithstanding conflicting	17
evidence). Applying these standards of review, we address each issue in turn.	18

10
B. 	Permittees Made a Sufficient Showing of Need for a Fifth Airshaft Based	1
on the Currently Authorized Operation of WIPP	2
{14} 	We address first SW Research’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence	3
relating to the need for a fifth airshaft to support currently authorized operations at	4
the WIPP facility. See 40 C.F.R. § 270.42(c)(1)(iii) (requiring a showing of need for	5
the modification to support current operations). This Court has held that a permittee	6
satisfies the requirement for a showing of current need if NMED determines that the	7
permittee’s statement of need in the PMR (1) is justified for the reasons stated in the	8
PMR, (2) is substantiated by data, (3) is an “adequate statement” of the need, and	9
(4) appellants do not demonstrate otherwise. Sw. Rsch. & Info. Ctr., 2014-NMCA-	10
098, ¶ 26. As previously mentioned, SW Research, as the appellant, bears the burden	11
of demonstrating reversible error in NMED’s decision. See id. ¶ 21.	12
{15} 	Permittees stated in the PMR that the modifications are needed to address	13
limited ventilation capacity that has persisted at WIPP because a 2014 radiological	14
event contaminated portions of the ventilation and exhaust systems, requiring the	15
facility to operate on a limited filtration mode ever since. Permittees claim that	16
without the restoration of the lost ventilation capacity, the WIPP facility cannot	17
simultaneously perform underground maintenance, mining, and waste disposal, and	18
that this significantly reduces the efficiency of the underground activities necessary	19
for WIPP to complete its authorized mission. The hearing officer agreed.	20

11
{16} 	SW Research argues that Permittees are hiding the real reason such a major	1
overhaul of the ventilation system is needed: that a $197 million investment in	2
excavation of a new shaft can be justified only to ventilate a substantially expanded	3
WIPP facility that accepts an increased amount of waste (including waste that is	4
more severely contaminated), and that continues to operate for decades into the	5
future, well beyond any current estimates of shutdown. According to SW Research,	6
the Permittees’ statement of current need is contrived to hide the fact that the costly	7
modifications to the ventilation system that are proposed have “little or no	8
independent utility,” and that Permittees’ ulterior motive is to install an expensive	9
ventilation system in the hope that this expenditure “would commit the Permittees	10
to continue with operation and, therefore, [lead to] expansion of disposal capacity”	11
of the WIPP facility.	12
{17} 	In support of its position that the PMR cannot be justified based on currently	13
authorized operations at WIPP, SW Research first contends that, as a matter of law,	14
WIPP was scheduled to cease disposal operations in 2024. SW Research argues that	15
the new ventilation system could not be completed before the end of 2025, at the	16
earliest, after operations at WIPP should have ceased.	17
{18} 	SW 	Research, 	however, 	fails 	to 	point 	to 	any 	statutory 	or 	regulatory	18
requirement ending disposal operations at WIPP in 2024. The sole citation provided	19
is to a statement in the 2010 operating permit that the disposal phase of WIPP is	20

12
“expected” to end in 2024. That permit, of course, was adopted before the 2014	1
radiological event temporarily shut down the facility and permanently reduced its	2
efficiency and capacity. The Permittees argue, and the hearing officer and NMED	3
concluded, that WIPP is authorized by Congress by the LWA to dispose of up to 6.2	4
million cubic feet of transuranic waste—an amount that will not be achieved until	5
long after 2024—and which will be followed by an extended period where workers	6
will need to work inside the facility to close off the disposal tunnels, and to perform	7
other facility closure and decommissioning activities. SW Research offers no	8
authority to contradict the LWA’s measure of WIPP capacity, or of the expectation	9
that an extended period will be required for closure, during which workers will need	10
ventilation, and we have located none.	11
{19} 	SW Research next claims that, even if WIPP is authorized to continue full	12
operations, including disposal of waste after 2024, Permittees’ do not need to	13
increase the volume of airflow because the airflow volume has already been restored	14
to the level achieved prior to the 2014 contamination event. SW Research’s	15
argument is directly contrary to the finding of the hearing officer, adopted by	16
NMED, that the existing ventilation system limits airflow to a small percentage of	17
the flow available before the 2014 incident.	18
{20} 	To 	support 	its 	argument, 	SW 	Research 	turns 	to 	what 	it 	alleges 	are	19
contradictions in the testimony of Permittees’ technical expert witnesses, Dr. Jill	20

13
Farnsworth 	and 	Robert 	Kehrman. 	SW 	Research 	points 	to 	Dr. 	Farnsworth’s	1
testimony that the new filtration building, which was separately authorized and had	2
been completed at the time of the hearing on the PMR for the fifth shaft, is alone	3
capable of producing 540,000 ACFMs, an airflow equivalent to the pre-2014 levels.	4
Although Dr. Farnsworth stated that the filtration building can achieve this level of	5
airflow, additional expert testimony explains that the filtration building was not	6
designed to sustain this level; it was designed as what the hearing officer described	7
in his findings as “a defense in depth,” a backup system that could take over	8
temporarily in an emergency to protect workers and the environment if the normal	9
ventilation system fails. Expert Kehrman noted that “[t]he filtration system, as	10
originally designed, can accommodate only a small percentage of the original design	11
airflow,” and the addition of a fifth ventilation shaft “will support a new intake and	12
exhaust system capable of restoring full-scale, concurrent, unfiltered mining,	13
maintenance, and continuously filtered waste emplacement operations.”	14
{21} 	The explanation given by Permittees’ technical witnesses of the need for a	15
fifth airshaft is reasonable. We note that SW Research does not challenge the	16
qualifications of Permittees’ experts. We will not disturb a finding supported by	17
substantial evidence in the record and not shown to be unreasonable. Herman, 1991-	18
NMSC-021, ¶ 10.	19

14
{22} 	SW Research next challenges the testimony of Permittees’ experts that the	1
amount of airflow is not the only measure, and that more than an adequate amount	2
of airflow is needed to safely conduct all operations simultaneously. Permittees’	3
technical experts point to the ability of the planned fifth shaft to exhaust unfiltered	4
salt particles generated from construction sites at WIPP, and to the advanced control	5
of air pressure throughout the facility that the fifth shaft would allow WIPP to	6
achieve. SW Research argues that these improvements in ventilation are so minor,	7
and so much money is being spent to achieve them, that it is “obvious” that the claim	8
that these improvements are sufficient to show need for the fifth shaft is a sham.	9
{23} 	We do not agree that it is “obvious” that these improvements are unimportant	10
to 	the 	continued 	operation 	of 	WIPP. 	The 	hearing 	officer 	found 	significant	11
improvement in the efficiency of the facility, in worker safety inside the facility, and	12
environmental safety in the surrounding community would be achieved by these	13
changes to the ventilation system. Our review of the record shows that the hearing	14
officer’s findings of fact on the benefits of both unfiltered exhaust of salt particles	15
and regulation of air pressure are supported by detailed expert testimony. Permittees’	16
experts testified, for example, that avoiding having to filter construction exhaust	17
filled with salt particles would prevent the current contamination of salt particles and	18
construction debris with radioactive particulates. According to the expert testimony,	19
the mixing of contaminated and uncontaminated salt and debris that occurs in the	20

15
existing combined filtration system, requires all of the material caught by the filters	1
to be treated as radioactive waste, increasing the volume of waste that must be stored	2
at WIPP, and endangering the workers who are required to remove and safely store	3
this radioactive material when replacing the filters.	4
{24} 	Expert testimony also highlighted the importance of being able to control the	5
air pressure in the WIPP facility. Controlling air pressure will ensure that the airflow	6
moves from outside clean air, through areas where construction or maintenance is	7
underway, to the disposal areas, where radioactive material is stored, ensuring that	8
any radioactive release does not contaminate the air breathed by workers or escape	9
into the environment.	10
{25} 	This evidence, which the hearing officer found credible, is sufficient to	11
support the hearing officer’s and the NMED’s finding that the excavation of a fifth	12
shaft, is “necessary to have a fully functioning facility with enhanced ventilation	13
systems to ensure that [WIPP] operations can progress in a manner that protects	14
human health and the environment and provides optimal safety for its workers.” We	15
conclude that SW Research has not met its burden of demonstrating reversible error.	16
C. 	The Hearing Officer Properly Excluded Evidence of Possible Future	17
Expansion of WIPP as Irrelevant to the PMR	18
{26} 	SW Research argues next that the hearing officer erred by excluding evidence	19
of unapproved proposals for the future expansion of WIPP from the evidence	20
introduced at the hearing. According to SW Research, discussing the existence of	21

16
proposals to expand WIPP by increasing its period of operation and by expanding	1
the amount and type of waste that could be stored, and exploring the impact on the	2
community of any expansion, was of central importance to the decision on whether	3
to grant the PMR. SW Research contends that this evidence is relevant to the	4
decision to allow the construction of the fifth shaft because it would expose	5
Permittees’ ulterior motive for the modification of the ventilation system.	6
{27} 	“With respect to the admission or exclusion of evidence [in an administrative	7
proceeding], 	we 	generally 	apply 	an 	abuse 	of 	discretion 	standard 	where 	the	8
application of an evidentiary rule involves an exercise of discretion or judgment, but	9
we apply a de novo standard to review any interpretations of law underlying the	10
evidentiary ruling.” Dewitt v. Rent-A-Ctr., Inc., 2009-NMSC-032, ¶ 13, 146 N.M.	11
453, 212 P.3d 341.	12
{28} 	Recognizing that SW Research and many members of the public were eager	13
to testify against any expansion of WIPP, and that expansion would be a major focus	14
of the hearing if this testimony was admitted, NMED filed a motion in limine to	15
prohibit 	the introduction 	of evidence concerning 	future expansion of WIPP.	16
Although NMED acknowledges that Permittees’ would likely file a separate Class 3	17
PMR in the future seeking to add additional disposal panels to the WIPP permit to	18
replace those contaminated in 2014, it argued that this was irrelevant to these PMR	19
proceedings, which required Permittees to show the need for the modifications they	20

17
sought based on the currently authorized operation of WIPP, and not based on	1
speculation about whether an expansion would be authorized in the future. NMED	2
claimed that the only evidence relevant to the hearing officer’s recommendation to	3
approve the PMR was evidence showing or evidence rebutting the current need for	4
the proposed modifications.	5
{29} 	The hearing officer granted the motion in limine in part, excluding “evidence	6
of future expansion of [WIPP]” at the hearing because it was not relevant to the	7
approval or denial of the PMR. We agree with the hearing officer that evidence about	8
plans for a future expansion of WIPP were irrelevant to the grant or denial of the	9
PMR. The hearing officer’s ruling required both sides to focus on the issue at hand:	10
whether the modifications of the ventilation system were needed for the current,	11
authorized operation of WIPP, assuming WIPP was not expanded. This was a	12
significant limitation on the testimony of Permittees’ experts, as well as on SW	13
Research and the other opponents of the modification. The ruling acknowledged the	14
requirements of the regulations, forcing the Permittees to come forward with expert	15
testimony and data showing that the proposed modification was needed for the	16
current operation of WIPP, and that it would improve the protections for workers’	17
health 	and 	the 	environment 	during 	the 	currently 	authorized 	operation. 	See	18
20.4.1.901(B)(7) NMAC (providing that “[i]n a permit modification under this	19
section, only those conditions to be modified shall be reopened”). The decision to	20

18
exclude evidence of the possibility of WIPP expansion similarly forced SW	1
Research and other opponents of the PMR to introduce expert evidence and data	2
rebutting the claims of current need, showing—rather than simply asserting—that	3
the modifications to the ventilation system could not be justified based on current	4
operations.	5
{30} 	SW Research argues that our Supreme Court’s decision in In re Application	6
of Rhino Environmental Services, 2005-NMSC-024, 138 N.M. 133, 117 P.3d 939,	7
supports the relevance of the evidence of future expansion excluded by the hearing	8
officer. Rhino stands for the proposition that an administrative hearing officer, in	9
approving a landfill, must “listen to [the community’s] concerns about adverse	10
impacts on social well-being and quality of life, as well as report them accurately to	11
the Secretary,” and cannot rely solely on technical evidence. Id. ¶ 24. In this	12
proceeding, neither the public testimony nor the testimony by interested parties at	13
the administrative proceeding concerning the adverse impacts on quality of life,	14
health, or the environment of the requested modifications in the ventilation system	15
was limited. Evidence concerning the impact of the excavation of a fifth shaft and	16
the changes to the ventilation system was welcome and findings on these matters	17
were entered by the hearing officer and adopted by NMED.	18
{31} 	SW Research’s concern appears to be with the limitation of evidence on the	19
impact of the expansion of WIPP on the environment and the community. As we	20

19
have already explained, the PMR proceeding did not authorize any expansion of	1
WIPP. Any future expansion must include the opportunity for both public comments	2
and evidence on the impact of expansion on the environment, workers, and the	3
community.	4
{32} 	For these reasons, we find that NMED did not abuse its discretion in excluding	5
testimony about WIPP expansion.	6
III. 	Permittees and NMED Substantially Complied with the Statutory and	7
Regulatory Notice Requirements, and Provided Meaningful Notice to the	8
Public	9
{33} 	SW Research contends that the NMED’s notice to the public during the PMR	10
process violated the statutory and regulatory requirements in three ways, any one of	11
which requires reversal and remand for new proceedings: (1) notice of the issuance	12
of a draft permit by NMED—the second step in the process, after public comment	13
has been considered on the submittal of the PMR to NMED—was not timely	14
provided to the local Carlsbad community by publication in a local newspaper and	15
by public service announcement on local radio broadcasts, as required by the	16
regulations; (2) the notice given prior to the deadline for submission of expert	17
testimony was inadequate given the importance and complexity of the issues at	18
stake, and the timing of the hearing officer’s ruling on Permittees’ motion in limine	19
further limited SW Research’s ability to prepare expert testimony; and (3) NMED	20

20
failed to translate into Spanish and make available to the public all important	1
documents related to the PMR. We address each contention in turn.	2
A. 	NMED Cured Any Deficiency, Providing Adequate Local Notice	3
{34} 	SW Research contends first that NMED failed to provide timely local notice	4
of its issuance of the draft permit, as required by 20.4.901(C)(3) NMAC. The hearing	5
officer addressed this issue in his report, concluding that NMED’s failure to provide	6
notice on June 12, 2020, (the day the draft permit was issued) in the local Carlsbad	7
newspaper and on local radio stations, created a deficiency under 20.4.1.901(C)(3)	8
NMAC, but that NMED cured the deficiency when it published a subsequent notice	9
in two local newspapers and by a public service announcement on local radio stations	10
on March 18, 2021, more than sixty days before the hearing on the PMR, and noticed	11
a sixty-day renewed public comment period, which extended until the end of the	12
upcoming hearing. We agree with the hearing officer’s determination.	13
{35} 	Upon issuance of a draft permit, NMED must provide public notice “by	14
publication of a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected . . .	15
[and] broadcasts over local radio stations.” 20.4.1.901(C)(3) NMAC. The regulation	16
requires NMED to allow forty-five days for review and public comment following	17
the publication of the notice. 20.4.1.901(A)(3) NMAC. It is undisputed that NMED	18
did not publish the required notice in local media at the time the draft permit was	19
issued, publishing only in the Albuquerque Journal (a newspaper of general	20

21
circulation) and broadcasting on radio stations that serve large areas of the state, but	1
which do not target the local Carlsbad community.	2
{36} 	“Although some courts have held that even a minor defect in notice will	3
invalidate an action taken by [administrative agencies], New Mexico does not take	4
such a strict view.” Nesbit v. City of Albuquerque, 1977-NMSC-107, ¶ 3, 91 N.M.	5
455, 575 P.2d 1340 (citation omitted). Instead, our test is whether “publication of	6
notice 	substantially 	compl[ies]” 	with 	the 	statutory 	requirements. 	Martinez 	v.	7
Maggiore, 2003-NMCA-043, ¶ 13, 133 N.M. 472, 64 P.3d 499. Notice substantially	8
complies if it allows the public the ability to “meaningfully participate in the	9
permitting process.” Id. ¶ 17.	10
{37} 	NMED’s failure to publish notice of its issuance of the draft permit violated a	11
regulatory requirement. Under this standard of law, however, this does not end our	12
inquiry. We look to see whether the notice given to the public, as a whole, allowed	13
the public to meaningfully participate in the permitting process. The draft permit	14
was issued in June 2020. Notice of the issuance and a sixty-day comment period,	15
ending in August 2020, was given in the state’s largest newspaper and broadcasted	16
over the radio. Following that comment period, the persons who requested a public	17
hearing—including SW Research—participated in negotiations with Permittees and	18
NMED to see whether the parties could reach a compromise. The public hearing was	19
not scheduled until March 2021, nearly a year after NMED issued the draft permit.	20

22
At that time, NMED published public notice in the Carlsbad newspapers and	1
provided a public service announcement on Carlsbad radio stations of its decision to	2
proceed to a public hearing on the draft permit. At the same time, NMED reopened	3
public comments and agreed to take written comments for a full sixty days, until the	4
conclusion of the public hearing. Members of the local community were also invited	5
to testify at the public hearing.	6
{38} 	We note that this sixty-day period of public comment, followed by a public	7
hearing at which any interested person was invited to testify followed more than	8
three years of public consideration of the changes to the ventilation system at WIPP,	9
including the construction of a fifth airshaft. The public process began in 2017 with	10
an initial filing of a PMR by Permittees for both a new filtration building and the	11
addition of a fifth ventilation shaft. Public meetings were held in Carlsbad to discuss	12
this joint PMR with the local community.	13
{39} 	Following these community discussions, Permittees decided to proceed first	14
with the filtration building, and withdraw the PMR for the fifth shaft until a later	15
time. After construction of the filtration building, Permittees refiled the PMR for the	16
fifth shaft at issue in this appeal, and a new set of public notice and public	17
proceedings on the fifth shaft was begun. The notice of the issuance of the draft	18
permit was the third opportunity for the local community to comment on the	19
construction of the fifth airshaft and associated drifts.	20

23
{40} 	In this context of extensive local involvement and public knowledge that the	1
PMR process was underway, we agree with the hearing officer that the error in local	2
publication on the third of four public comment periods was corrected by the notice	3
in Carlsbad, along with an additional sixty-day public comment period, followed by	4
the public hearing with participation by zoom available statewide. Local residents	5
were provided a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision to allow	6
construction of a fifth shaft, and NMED substantially complied with the notice	7
requirements.	8
B. 	NMED’s Notice of Public Hearing Was Sufficient and the Hearing	9
Officer’s Order Excluding Irrelevant Evidence Did Not Change the	10
Nature of the Proceeding	11
{41} 	SW Research next argues that NMED’s March 18, 2021 notice of public	12
hearing, sixty days prior to the hearing, followed by the decision on the motion in	13
limine excluding testimony about plans for a future expansion of WIPP, deprived	14
SW Research of the opportunity to adequately prepare expert testimony. SW	15
Research claims that all proceedings along the way, and most importantly the notice	16
of public hearing issued in March 2021, requested comments on the expansion of	17
WIPP, and therefore, the hearing officer’s order in limine changed the nature of the	18
proceeding at the last minute. The record does not support this claim.	19
{42} 	Contrary to SW Research’s argument, the notice of hearing expressly limited	20
the hearing to the “[c]hanges to the[] Permit,” stating that “the proposed new shaft	21

24
in facility and ventilation configuration” are the “subject of the modification and are	1
the only portions to be opened in this proceeding.” The hearing officer’s order on	2
the motion in limine did not change the nature of the noticed proceedings. It was	3
clear from both the regulations and the notice of hearing that speculation about the	4
future expansion of WIPP was not relevant to the subject of the hearing: whether	5
there was a current need based on the authorized operation of WIPP for the new	6
ventilation shaft.	7
{43} 	SW Research relies on a single sentence taken from a fact sheet distributed by	8
NMED with the notice of hearing, arguing that this sentence in a secondary	9
document amounts to an invitation to comment on WIPP expansion at the hearing.	10
We do not agree. The fact sheet reports that “[a] primary concern raised by	11
commenters was the proposed new shaft’s relation to expansion of the [f]acility’s	12
footprint,” before noting that expansion is not at issue in the upcoming hearing on	13
this PMR, and would be considered in separate proceedings in the future.	14
{44} 	We conclude that SW Research and the public were on notice long before the	15
motion in limine was granted of the testimony that would be relevant to NMED’s	16
decision on whether to grant the PMR, and that no prejudice resulted from the ruling	17
on the motion in limine.	18

25
C. 	Limited 	English 	Proficiency 	Spanish 	Speakers 	Were 	Not 	Denied	1
Participation	2
{45} 	In its final argument related to notice, SW Research makes a broad assertion	3
that limited English proficiency Spanish speakers were “almost totally denied	4
meaningful participation” in the PMR process because NMED allegedly failed to	5
translate vital information into Spanish. The hearing officer found that NMED	6
substantially complied with all requirements for Spanish translation, citing to	7
unrefuted testimony in the record that Spanish translations of every significant	8
announcement and decision related to the PMR were publicly available, and that	9
four Spanish language interpreters provided live interpretation of the hearing on both	10
the Zoom platform and telephonically. SW Research does not dispute the hearing	11
officer’s 	finding of fact, or explain 	why it 	believes 	these translations 	were	12
inadequate. Therefore, we do not address this issue further. See Headley v. Morgan	13
Mgmt. Corp., 2005-NMCA-045, ¶ 15, 137 N.M. 339, 110 P.3d 1076 (“We will not	14
review unclear arguments, or guess at what [a party’s] arguments might be.”).	15
IV. 	SW Research Claims of Violation of the C&C Agreement and of the	16
Appropriations Clause of the United States Constitution	17
{46} 	We address SW Research’s two remaining arguments together. SW Research	18
argues that NMED’s approval of the PMR violates both (1) the C&C Agreement	19
between New Mexico and DOE, and (2) the Appropriations Clause of the United	20
States Constitution. Although these arguments are inadequately developed, we	21

26
understand SW Research’s argument to be that the approval of the fifth shaft either	1
authorizes an illegal expansion of WIPP, or is a pretext, making such expansion	2
inevitable, and that NMED’s authorization to Permittees to build the fifth shaft,	3
therefore, violates both the federal-state agreement on WIPP found in the C&C	4
Agreement, 	or 	expends 	federal 	funding 	without 	Congressional 	appropriation.	5
Because we have concluded that substantial evidence supported NMED’s approval	6
of the PMR to improve the ventilation system to serve WIPP’s current needs, we do	7
not address these arguments.	8
CONCLUSION	9
{47} 	For the above reasons, we affirm.	10
{48} 	IT IS SO ORDERED.	11
__________________________________	12
JANE B. YOHALEM, Judge	13
WE CONCUR:	14
_________________________________	15
J. MILES HANISEE, Judge	16
_________________________________	17
MEGAN P. DUFFY, Judge	18