Coalition pushes NM lawmakers to support jobs bill

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – A coalition of elected officials, environmentalists and labor unions urged New Mexico's congressional leaders on Monday to throw their support behind a federal jobs bill that could mean millions of dollars for water system improvements in the state.

The coalition released a report that suggested much-needed investment in water management systems across the country, including those in New Mexico, could lead to billions of dollars in economic activity and close to 1.9 million jobs over five years.

The study predicted that New Mexico could see the creation of anywhere from 300 jobs to more than 11,000, depending on whether funds from the proposed American Jobs Act are shared based on infrastructure needs or a state's unemployment level.

Supporters said the legislation would present an opportunity for New Mexico – a state humbled this year by exceptional drought and continued water supply pressures – to upgrade its infrastructure while creating jobs and limiting costs for ratepayers.

Art de la Cruz, chairman of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, stood in front of the metro area's sewage treatment plant as he talked about the study. He said the plant, which processes waste water from more than 500,000 customers, is in dire need of repairs and improvements. The price tag has been estimated at more than $200 million.

“There are those who would wish to politicize investing in ourselves,” he said. “It is never a wrong time to do the right thing. It's the absolute most important time to do this. Our country needs it, our infrastructure needs it.”

The water utility has come under fire twice this year for violating provisions of the Clean Water Act, spurring concerns by environmentalists that failure to correct the problems could ultimately affect the Rio Grande.

This fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an administrative order against the city of Albuquerque for alleged storm water permit violations. Some engineers have estimated that it could cost as much as $3 million to come into compliance.

In May, the agency issued an order requiring the water utility to fix problems at the sewage treatment plant. That order came down after an equipment failure resulted in a discharge of wastewater into the Rio Grande that contained higher-than-allowed levels of chlorine. The spill killed an unknown number of fish.

Grants that would be available under a certain provision of the jobs act would go a long way to helping Albuquerque and the utility ensure that federal clean water standards are met, said Bernalillo County Commission Chairwoman Maggie Hart Stebbins.

Some of the equipment at the treatment plant was first installed in the 1950s, making EPA violations inevitable, she said. Still, she said the plant is considered among those that are state-of-the-art.

“When we look at the problems we're having here and we recognize what's going on in other parts of the state and other parts of the country, this is really essential to environmental protection,” she said.

Aside from potential infrastructure and environmental benefits, several union groups touted the jobs bill as a way to boost the struggling construction industry.

Unemployment numbers for the industry have skyrocketed to about 30 percent, said Ray Baca, executive director of the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council.

“The situation is dire and relief is needed now,” he said.

The jobs bill has the potential to bring about $750 million to New Mexico along with 3,700 infrastructure jobs, said Greg Bloom, a field representative for Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

How much funding will ultimately be earmarked for water projects has yet to be settled, but the demands are great, Bloom said. Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation have already been busy trying to secure funding for everything from a series of high-dollar Indian water rights settlements to restoration projects along some of the state's impaired waterways.