Two lawyers with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center have joined a Southside fight against an asphalt plant whose owners want to operate 24/7 and consolidate operations in Santa Fe County.

Maslyn Locke and Eric Jantz, lawyers with the center, and Mike Schneider, who worked in the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau for 23 years and is now the coalition’s designated expert, are working pro bono to represent a collection of Southside residents and groups.

Schneider and the lawyers are taking a close look at the company’s air quality permit application, which would allow it to move all operations from 3810 Oliver Road to 86 Paseo de River St., just across Highway 599 behind the County Public Works building, as well as operate around the clock and 365 days a year.

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