The public comment period ends Saturday, April 4, about an asphalt plant that could go in near a wildlife reserve in the South Valley. Albuquerque Asphalt applied for a permit to build at hot-mix asphalt plant, and neighbors are concerned that the site for the plant is too close to the Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge. It’s a little more than half a mile away.
Danny Nevarez is with Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department. He said after the public comment period ends, the technical analysis begins. "That’s where we really go through and we look at the permit itself and we review that against all of the air quality regulations—local, state and federal regulations," he said.
On its application, the company says the facility’s operating time would be 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The asphalt would be used for road and highway projects.
The 570 acres between Second Street and the Rio Grande were designated a national wildlife refuge in 2011, and it cost Bernalillo County $5 million.
If there is significant public comment, the Environmental Health Department may choose to hold a public information hearing. Comments should be postmarked by the end of the day on Saturday, April 4.
View the permit application here.
ADDRESS:
Albuquerque Environmental Health Department
PO Box 1293
Albuquerque, N.M., 87103
