New Mexico environment department updates public comment portal following fraud reports
The New Mexico Environment Department updated its public comment portal after reports of fraudulent submissions supporting the Project Jupiter data center's air quality permits. The Attorney General's office has opened an investigation into these allegations. The new protocol will use email confirmations to verify comments and help identify potential fraud.
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has implemented changes to its public comment portal, effective Friday, following allegations of fraudulent submissions related to air quality permits for the controversial Project Jupiter data center.
Reports from Source New Mexico in June revealed that residents from three New Mexico cities found their names on letters advocating for the data center's permits, despite not having submitted or authorized them. These fraudulent comments, approximately 42 out of over 17,500, were submitted in support of the project developer, Yucca Growth Infrastructure.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez launched an investigation into the fraud allegations in July. NMED has cooperated by sharing portal data with the Attorney General's office, indicating that civil or criminal action may be pursued against those responsible. The new NMED protocol will require email verification for public comments, allowing individuals to confirm their submissions or report unauthorized ones, aiming to maintain a transparent and accessible public participation process.