They encourage plants and industrial sources to do better planning before applying for their permits to be sure they will comply with federal air standards. When a stationary source has been fined the money is deposited into a general fund. From there the money is used to support safety workshops for small businesses, environmental education classes for particular schools who could not otherwise afford them, and scholarships for environmental college students. The most prevalent problem is dust. New Mexico, having a dry arid climate, has a very loose top soil.
Most construction creates dust as well as problems for the surrounding community.
Extra steps must be taken to control dust at these sites. Along with construction, expansion of residential areas has brought neighborhoods closer and closer to larger stationary pollution sources. Carbon monoxide is another essential problem in Albuquerque. Because of Albuquerque's bowl shaped topography, the denser carbon monoxide gets trapped between the Sandia Mountains in the east, the Rio Grande valley to the west, Manzano Mountains to the south, and a gentle slope to Santa Fe in the north. The carbon monoxide is discharged from automobile tailpipes, wood burning stoves, off road vehicles, construction, and agricultural burning.