N.M. Admin. Code § 20.4.5 § 12
VACATING NOTICE OF CONTAMINATION
Operative Text
A. The owner of a clandestine drug laboratory is responsible for providing proof to the department that the property has been remediated in compliance with 20.4.5.16 NMAC. B. Within seven days of the department determining that a clandestine drug laboratory has been remediated in accordance with this part, or that no remediation is required, the department shall notify the owner of the clandestine drug laboratory that the notice of contamination can be removed from the property. [20.4.5.12 NMAC - N, 1/01/2008]
Under NMAC 20.4.5 § 12, once a property that was identified as a clandestine drug laboratory has been cleaned up in accordance with the applicable remediation standards, the state department must notify the property owner within seven days that the posted notice of contamination may be removed. The rule places the initial burden on the property owner to demonstrate that remediation has been completed, or that no remediation was necessary. Only after the department makes that determination does the formal clearance process begin.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under NMAC 20.4.5 § 12, a compliant property owner gathers and submits documentation to the department showing that remediation was carried out in full accordance with 20.4.5.16 NMAC, or that the department has determined no remediation is required. Operators generally maintain records of all remediation work, contractor reports, and correspondence with the department to support that submission. Once the department issues its notification, the owner is then authorized to remove the notice of contamination from the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
NMAC 20.4.5 § 12 establishes that a notice of contamination posted on a property formerly used as a clandestine drug laboratory cannot be removed until the state department formally notifies the owner that remediation standards have been met or that no remediation was needed. Tenants have an interest in knowing whether that departmental clearance has actually been issued before occupying or re-occupying such a property. Those with questions about the status of a specific property's contamination notice may contact the relevant New Mexico state department directly or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on how to obtain that information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.