Santa Fe – The New Mexico State Supreme Court today upheld a decision that will keep the upcoming Dairy Rule Hearings in Roswell, NM. The dairy industry directly employs more than 4,200 New Mexicans, with most dairies located in southeast New Mexico.

"The New Mexico Environment Department is pleased with today's Supreme Court ruling that will keep the upcoming Dairy Rule hearing in Roswell, which is in the region where the overwhelming majority of New Mexico's dairies are located," said New Mexico Environment Department Ryan Flynn. "As the Environment Department has argued all along, hearings on important rulemakings need to be held in locations where those most affected will be able to participate in the process regardless of the subject matter. In this case, that location is clearly southeast New Mexico."

Earlier this year, the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission made the decision to hold the Dairy Rule Hearing in Roswell, the area that is most substantially affected by the regulation. Approximately 90% of the dairies in the state are in south and southeast New Mexico.

The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit last fall arguing that the hearings should be held in Santa Fe, NM. There are no dairies north of Bernalillo County and none in the Santa Fe area. After losing the case in the First Judicial District Court on November 25th, the Sierra Club appealed the decision to the New Mexico State Supreme Court. Today's ruling affirms Roswell as the location for the upcoming hearings.

The dairy industry is the largest producer of agricultural products in the state.