NMED News:

ALAMOGORDO — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is reviewing a Stage 1 Abatement Plan (Plan) for the former Acme Hometown Cleaners dry-cleaning facility at 901 10th St., Alamogordo(Site).

The owners of the Site submitted the Plan to NMED to investigate and define the extent of groundwater and soil contamination from a release of tetrachloroethylene, also known as per chloroethene or PCE. PCE is a toxic chemical commonly used at dry cleaning facilities, which has been recently and widely replaced by alternative cleaners. The Site has been vacant since 2016.

Groundwater concentrations of PCE and associated degradation chemicals at the Site exceed NMED groundwater quality standards, and soil vapor concentrations exceed NMED vapor intrusion screening levels. The owners of the Site entered into a Settlement Agreement with NMED to investigate and remediate groundwater and vadose zone contamination, codified by a Stipulated Final Order (Order) of the Water Quality Control Commission Sept. 13, 2020. 

In compliance with the Order, the owners of the Site have installed monitoring wells and a soil vapor extraction system to address subsurface vapors. The Plan proposes additional actions per the Order and subsection 4106.C of the New Mexico Ground and Surface Water Protection Regulations (20.6.2 NMAC), including additional drilling and sampling. NMED is reviewing the Plan and will either approve or send the Site owners a Notification of Deficiency within 60 days of submittal in accordance with 20.6.2.4109.A NMAC.

The purpose of a Stage 1 Abatement Plan is to design and conduct a Site investigation that will provide the data necessary to select an effective abatement option. Once Site characterization is complete and NMED approves a Final Site Investigation Report, NMED will require a Stage 2 Abatement Plan that presents strategies to cleanup Site contamination. 

View the Plan at https://www.env.nm.gov/public-notices and selecting Otero County. For more information, contact Paul Chamberlain with the State Cleanup Program at 505.670.2571, paul.chamberlain@env.nm.gov, or ros.general@env.nm.gov. NMED is providing this information pursuant to 20.6.2.4108.A NMAC.