# New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is a state agency in New Mexico tasked with managing and protecting the natural and energy resources of New Mexico.
The Department is led by the cabinet secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources. The cabinet secretary is appointed by the governor, with the approval of the New Mexico Senate, to serve at his/her pleasure. The current cabinet secretary designate is Melanie A. Kenderdine, appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Apr 29, 2024, pending Senate confirmation in 2025. Kenderdine was confirmed by the New Mexico State Senate on March 10, 2025.

## History

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department was created in 1987 by the enactment of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Act. The Act merged the Energy and Minerals Department and the Natural Resources Department into a single, unified entity.
The mission of EMNRD is to protect, manage, conserve and oversee the responsible use of the state’s natural resources. EMNRD is charged with:
* protecting the environment and ensuring the reclamation of land and resources affected by mining activities
* growing and sustaining healthy forests
* leading the development of reliable energy

## Overview

The EMNRD has six main missions:
* Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
* Health Forests
* State Parks
* Mine Reclamation
* Oil and Gas Conservation
* Program Support
For administrative support purposes only, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is attached to EMNRD.

### Renewable energy

The Energy Conservation and Management Division provides the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program of EMNRD. The Division oversee Statewide energy conservation efforts including the use of alternative fuels. These fuels include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass resources. This is accomplished via partnerships with private businesses, higher education universities, and research laboratories to invest in clean energy.
The division serves as the United States Department of Energy state administering agency for federal energy grants.

### Forestry

The Healthy Forests Program is responsible for the protection of all state forests. The program is responsible for statewide fire management and suppression activities as well as overall tree health. The Program also oversee all forest restoration efforts.

### State parks

The State Parks Program oversees the operations of state parks across the State. These state parks are designed to protect and preserve the state's natural environment.

### Mining and minerals

The Mining and Minerals Division operates the Department's Mine Reclamation Program. The Division oversees all energy and non-energy mining operations in the state. This is accomplished by issuing permits to mining companies, inspecting mining operations, reclaiming abandoned mines, and education members of the public about mining. New Mexico heavily benefits from mined natural resources such as oil, copper, coal, petroleum, potash, molybdenum, uranium, gold, silver, and lead.

### Oil and gas

The Oil Conservation Division oversees all oil, gas, and geothermal drilling operations in the state. This is accomplished by issuing permits to drilling companies, inspecting drilling operations, protecting mineral rights, and preventing fresh water contamination.
The Division is composed of an Administrative and Records Bureau, a Fiscal Bureau, an Engineering and Geological Services Bureau, and Environmental Bureau, a Legal Bureau, and four District Offices.

### Program support

The Program Support Program provides centralized administrative and management support to all other aspects of the Department.

## Organization

The head of EMNRD is the cabinet secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources. The cabinet secretary is appointed by the governor of New Mexico, with the approval of the New Mexico Senate, and serves as a member of the Governor's Cabinet.
The Cabinet Secretary is assisted by a Deputy Secretary and six division directors. Each of the division directors is appointed by the cabinet secretary with the approval of the governor.
* Cabinet secretary - Melanie A. Kenderdine (Designate)
** Deputy secretary - Ben Shelton (Acting)
*** Administrative Services Division - Matthew Lovato
*** State Parks Division - Tobey Velasquez
*** Forestry Division - Laura McCarthy
*** Energy Conservation and Management Division - Rebecca ('Puck') Stair
*** Mining and Minerals Division - Albert Chang
*** Oil Conservation Division - Gerasimos ('Gerry') Razatos (Acting)

## Budget and Personnel

| Division | Number of Employees | Budget (in millions) |
| Renewable Energy | 15 | $1.5 |
| Healthy Forests | 70 | $8.8 |
| State Parks | 300 | $32.6 |
| Mining and Minerals | 33 | $7.2 |
| Oil and Gas | 68 | $9.7 |
| Program Support | 49 | $5.8 |
| Total | 536 | $65.5 |