Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez says his office is conducting an ongoing review of thousands of public comments submitted on an air quality permit application for Project Jupiter that could affect the integrity of the public comment record. The review began after the state DOJ received reports that some comments may have been submitted without the knowledge or consent of the individuals whose names appeared on the comments.
In a letter sent to New Mexico Environment Department. An examination of data provided by the department identified potential irregularities among over 17,400 comments submitted on the permit application.
Roughly 60% of the submissions or over 10,000 comments, came from about internet addresses and nearly identical form letters supporting the project.
Some entries appeared to be software test submissions rather than genuine public comments. The letter further identified 22 filings attributed to public officials, government entities and organizations that were submitted from a single computer and several of the officials whose names are on those submissions reportedly denied authorizing them.
