New Mexico Levies Record $47.8M Fine for Natural Gas Plant's Air Pollution Violations

State regulators accuse Targa Resources of excess emissions and permit violations, issuing sanctions and a cease-and-desist order.

The New Mexico Environment Department has imposed a $47.8 million fine on Targa Resources for alleged air pollution violations at its gas processing facility near Jal, New Mexico.
The fine, the largest in state history, includes penalties for excess emissions, late reporting, and failure to complete a required root cause analysis.
Regulators issued a cease-and-desist order and mandated corrective actions to address emissions of pollutants linked to respiratory issues and climate change.
Targa Resources has 30 days to respond, comply, or request a hearing; the case has also been referred to federal regulators.
The sanctions align with New Mexico's broader efforts, under Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, to combat climate change through stricter ozone and methane regulations in the oil and gas sector.