Did NM Tech repeatedly fib to the public?

NM Tech has on many occasions, both in writing and verbally (through spokesmen such as Dr. Van Romero), claimed that the EMRTC drop zone was being developed in collaboration with (or in a cooperative agreement with) the U.S. Air Force's 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW) out of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. The EMRTC Environmental Assessment (warning: large file) paid for and prepared on behalf of NM Tech and EMRTC states, "the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) in cooperation with the United States Air Force 58th Special Operations Wing (58th SOW) (emphasis added) have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) to address the potential effects of establishing a Drop Zone (DZ) at EMRTC’s field laboratory." The letter we have in our possession, from the Air Force to Senator Domenici, completely and totally refutes this claim.

Air Force disavows drop zone involvement; claims EMRTC environmental assessment not up to snuff

In the letter, the Air Force states that not only were they not involved in the EMRTC drop zone evaluation, but also says that the NM Tech funded environmental assessment fails to meet the standards set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Air Force minces no words when evaluating the EMRTC Environmental Assessment document: "it appears the process was not carried out in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations..." and "federal law does not allow an institution such as EMRTC to issue a FONSI (Finding of no Significant Impact) on behalf of a Federal agency. If a need for a drop zone is validated then the Air Force is responsible for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act." In other words, NM Tech is not acting on behalf of the Air Force and, even if they were, their environmental assessment doesn't pass muster.

Full text of letter available

As always here at Socorro News, we believe in the public's right to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We don't believe in spin, we don't just "take someone's word for things", and our motto, as you may know, is "miners, dig a little deeper!" So, in accordance with these principles, we believe in providing all available supporting evidence for our stories. This story is no exception. Please find the Air Force's letter to Senator Pete Domenici's office in the attached pdf file. Note: you will need Adobe's Acrobat reader (free from Adobe) in order to read the letter.