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Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board

The Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) is an appointed, volunteer citizen-led board created to carry out duties to prevent or abate air pollution under the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act and the federal Clean Air Act. The AQCB serves as a joint local authority acting on behalf the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

Stay Informed

Join the Air Quality Control Board email list.

Air Board Authority

The Air Board operates in two main roles: 1) a quasi-legislative (rulemaking) role, and 2) a quasi-adjudicatory (judicial) role. In the rulemaking role, the Air Board may adopt, amend, or repeal air quality rules and standards consistent with the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act to comply with the federal Clean Air Act and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and prevent or abate air pollution. In the judicial role, the Air Board hears appeals of air quality permit decisions made by the Environmental Health Department. The Air Board may also perform duties within the context of recognizing the differences, needs, requirements, and conditions within Albuquerque-Bernalillo County.

The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program, administered by the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, serves as the local agency partner to the Air Board and is authorized to implement and enforce clean air regulations within the boundaries of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

Upcoming Air Board Meetings

View the schedule of upcoming Air Board meetings. 

Air Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m., open to the public and conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Meeting agendas are available on this website no later than the Friday prior to the meeting.

Join the Air Quality Control Board email list to receive notices about upcoming Air Board meetings.

Public Participation in Air Board Meetings

The Air Quality Control Board will take public comments and comments during meetings. Public comment is limited to 5 minutes or less, depending on the number of speakers signed up.

Comments to the Air Board can be emailed to airboard@cabq or mailed to the addresses below.

Mailing Address:
Environmental Health Department
Attn: Air Board Liaison
P.O. Box 1293
Albuquerque, NM 87103

Physical Address:
Environmental Health Department
Attn: Air Board Liaison
1 Civic Plaza NW - 3rd Floor, Room 3023

View public notices and comment opportunities on Air Board rulemaking and adjudicatory matters.

Air Board Members

The Air Board consists of seven voting members, appointed for three-year terms, and two non‑voting members. Four members are appointed by the City and three members are appointed by the County.

The City is designated four members due to its significantly larger population than the County. Board members are selected for their concerns about, and commitment to, local ambient air quality.

The Bernalillo County Planning Commission and the City of Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission may each appoint liaisons to be non-voting members of the Board. The Deputy Director of the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department who oversees the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program, serves as the Secretary of the Board.

Voting Members

City of Albuquerque Representatives

  • Dennis Armijo, Sr. (First term expires: April 1, 2026)
  • Jane Cudney-Black (First term expires: April 1, 2027)
  • Nancy Montaño (First term expired: April 1, 2027)
  • Dr. Joseph Galewsky, Chair (First term expires: April 1, 2026)

Bernalillo County Representatives

  • Dr. Thomas De Pree (First term expires: June 23, 2028)
  • Dr. Josephine Lopez (First Term expires: June 23, 2028)
  • Kitty Richards, Vice Chair (Second term expires: May 22, 2026)

Planning Commission Liaisons

  • Commissioner Connie Chavez: Bernalillo County Planning Commission Liaison
  • Commissioner Joseph Cruz: City of Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission Liaison

Air Board Documents

Rulemaking Procedures

The Air Board process for considering new air quality regulations and plans is governed by the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act and by the Air Board's rulemaking procedures. These laws require that the public be notified and invited to participate in the Air Board's consideration of a proposed regulation or plan. A rulemaking hearing before the Air Board is a hearing to adopt, amend or repeal a board rule, regulation or standard. Procedures for this type of hearing are delineated in 20.11.82 NMAC. Rulemaking procedures do not apply to adjudicatory actions.

Current Rulemaking Proceedings

Recent Rulemaking Proceedings

State Implementation Plan (SIP) Efforts

Recent SIP Efforts

In the Matter of the Petition to Revise a Regional Haze State Implementation Plan Element: Albuquerque-Bernalillo County

Adjudicatory Procedures

An adjudicatory hearing before the Air Board is one in which the Board makes a final, binding determination that directly affects the legal rights of air quality permit applicants, permittees, or other persons who participated in a permitting action before the Department and who are adversely affected by the permitting action. Procedures for this type of hearing are delineated in 20.11.81 NMAC. Adjudicatory procedures do not apply to rulemaking actions.

Recent Adjudicatory Proceedings

In the Matter of the Petition for a Hearing on the Merits Regarding Air Quality Permit No. 3448 (Star Paving Company)

Past Air Board Meetings

View agendas, minutes, and recordings of past meetings.

Records Requests

To obtain records not featured on this webpage, contact City Clerk's Office or NextRequest:

Read the City of Albuquerque's Notice of Right to Inspect Public Records for important information about records requests.