RE: cotton gins

Hughs, Ed to: Weaver, Lany, NMENV, Ashley Mohr 04/18/2012 02:01 PM

Cc: Jeffrey Robinson, "Goodyear, Richard, NMENV"

From: "Hughs, Ed" <Ed.Hughs@ARS.USDA.GOV>

To: "Weaver, Lany, NMENV" <lany.weaver@state.nm.us>, Ashley Mohr/R6/USEPA/US@EPA

Cc: Jeffrey Robinson/R6/USEPA/US@EPA, "Goodyear, Richard, NMENV" 

<richard.goodyear@state.nm.us>

History: This message has been replied to and forwarded.

Hi Lany,

In answer to Ms. Mohr’s question ‐ in the 2004/2005 ginning season there were seven (7) commercial

gins registered but there were only six (6) commercial cotton gins operating in New Mexico and the

seven registered gins were:

1.       Farmers Co‐op Assn., Hagerman, NM

2.       Four Points Gin Co., Las Cruces, NM (dormant)

3.       Harvey Gin Co., Las Cruces, NM

4.       Mesa Farmers Cooperative, Mesquite, NM

5.       Artesia Alfalfa Growers Assn., Mill Gin, Artesia, NM

6.       Loving Gin, Inc., Loving, NM

7.       Luna Cotton Co‐op, Deming, NM

Since that time, only gins number 1, 4, 5, and 6 are currently operating. The others have been closed and

even the equipment sold out of them.  Number 6 processes only a very small number of bales each year

and I am not sure how much longer it will continue to operate.  The two New Mexico permitted cotton

gins are numbers 1 and 4.

I do not believe any new cotton gins will be constructed in New Mexico in the foreseeable future.  As you

have stated, Lany, the cotton production industry is pretty static and the current ginning capacity is

more than adequate to handle the annual cotton crop.  If this drought keeps up much longer the state’s

production of agricultural commodities will decrease in all areas.

I hope this gives you the information that you need.

Ed Hughs

From: Weaver, Lany, NMENV [mailto:lany.weaver@state.nm.us] 

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 11:22 AM

To: Ashley Mohr

Cc: Jeffrey Robinson; Goodyear, Richard, NMENV; Hughs, Ed

Subject: RE: cotton gins

Ashley,

The SIP submittal assumed that the number of gins at the time of rule adoption was the same number

quoted by Ed Hughs in his testimony.  It’s not a volatile industry.  Since that time, I don’t believe we have

received permit applications for any new gins in the state, but I’m cc’ing Richard Goodyear to confirm.  

Mr. Goodyear can also provide information as to the locations of any permitted facility.  I doubt that
there are any new small gins, given the dropping cotton production in the state, although the last time

the state did a detailed inventory of cotton gins was 1974.  However, Mr. Hughs is likely to know what

the current inventory of cotton gins in NM is and where they are; I’ve cc’ed him on this email as well.

I hope this helps,

Lany

From: Ashley Mohr [mailto:Mohr.Ashley@epamail.epa.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 10:01 AM

To: Weaver, Lany, NMENV

Cc: Jeffrey Robinson

Subject: Re: cotton gins

Lany,

Thanks for your quick reply. Based on my notes from our previous conference calls, NMED had indicated 

previously that there are currently 4 cotton gins in operation in New Mexico. Could you confirm this 

number and provide facility name and location information for the 4 currently operating gins?

Also, could you provide information regarding the number of cotton gins (including name and location 

information, if available) that were in operation during the 2003/2004 time frame when the Cotton Gin 

regulation was being developed? The written testimony provided by Mr. S.E. Hughs dated September 

24, 2004, which was included in the 2005 SIP revision submittal, indicated that 6 cotton gins were 

operating in New Mexico at that time, but I did not locate where NMED has addressed the number of gins 

operating when the rule was adopted.

Finally, are you aware of any emissions inventory work that have been conducted by New Mexico for 

cotton gins? I found emissions inventory data online for agriculture sources, including cotton gins, 

located Dona Ana County for 2002 that was collected as part of the Atlas Project. I wasn't sure if more 

recent information was available for Dona Ana County and/or if this type of emissions inventory collection 

had also been conducted on a state level in 2002 and since. Let me know if I should contact someone 

else directly regarding this question.

Thanks again for your help!

Ashley

__________________________________

Ashley N.Q. Mohr

Environmental Scientist

Air Permits Section (6PD-R)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1445 Ross Avenue

Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 665-7289

FAX (214) 665-6762

mohr.ashley@epa.gov

From: "Weaver, Lany, NMENV" <lany.weaver@state.nm.us>

To: Ashley Mohr/R6/USEPA/US@EPA
Date: 04/18/2012 10:30 AM

Subject: cotton gins

Hi, Ashley.  I received your phone message about trends in the numbers of cotton gins.  I don’t have new

information about the numbers of gins, except to say that I haven’t heard of any new ones in a long time (since

long before the rule was adopted).  An explanation is attached – cotton production in NM has been going down for

a long time.  There is no need for new gins when the existing ones are getting less cotton to gin each year.

I hope this helps.  Let me know if I can provide any other information.

Lany Weaver

New Mexico Environment Department

Air Quality Bureau

(505) 476-4322[attachment "AcresNMcotton.pdf" deleted by Ashley Mohr/R6/USEPA/US] 

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