N.M. Stat. § 74-6C-8
Appeals to the commission.
A. An interested person who is affected by a permitting action or compliance order
may file a petition for review before the commission. The petition shall:
(1)
be made in writing to the commission within thirty days from the date
notice is given to the applicant or permittee of the department's action;
(2)
include a statement of the issues to be raised and the relief sought; and
(3)
be provided to all other persons submitting evidence, data, views or
arguments in the proceeding before the department.
B. A person who files a timely petition for review may request a stay of the
department's action, which the commission may grant in whole or in part after a hearing
on the request and a showing of good cause.
C. Unless a timely petition for review is made, the decision of the department shall
be final and shall not be subject to judicial review or review by the commission.
D. If a timely petition for review is made, the commission shall consider the petition
within ninety days after receipt of the petition at a commission meeting open to the
public. The commission shall notify the petitioner and the applicant or permittee, if other
than the petitioner, of the date, time and location of the public commission meeting at
which the petition for review will be considered. If the petitioner is not the applicant or
permittee, the applicant or permittee shall be a party to the proceeding. The
commission shall ensure that the public receives notice of the date, time and place of
the review.
E. The commission shall review the record compiled before the department,
including the transcript of any public hearing held on the permitting action or compliance
order, and shall allow any party to submit arguments.
F. The commission may designate a hearing officer to review the record and the
arguments of the parties and recommend a decision to the commission.
G. Based on the review of the evidence, the arguments of the parties, if any, and the
recommendations of the hearing officer, if one is designated, the commission shall
sustain, modify or reverse the action of the department. The commission shall enter
ultimate findings of fact and conclusions of law and keep a record of the review.
H. Prior to the date set for review, if a party shows to the satisfaction of the
commission that there was no reasonable opportunity to submit comment or evidence
on an issue being challenged, the commission shall order that additional comment or
evidence be taken by the department. Based on the additional evidence, the
department may revise the decision and shall promptly file with the commission the
additional evidence received and action taken. The commission shall consider the
additional evidence within ninety days after receipt of the additional evidence and shall
notify the petitioner and the applicant or permittee, if other than the petitioner, of the
date, time and place of the review.
I. The commission shall notify the petitioner and all other participants in the review
proceeding of the action taken by the commission and the reasons for that action.