Opinion ID: 1397801
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tends to Cause Harm.

Text: This case was originally remanded by the Court of Appeals to the agency solely to determine whether the wood smoke Duke City emitted was injurious to health or safety. Duke City Lumber Co. v. New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board, 95 N.M. 401, 407, 622 P.2d 709, 715 (Ct.App. 1980), cert. denied, 95 N.M. 426, 622 P.2d 1046 (1981). The Air Quality Control Act defines air pollution as, the emission ... into the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in such quantities and duration as may with reasonable probability injure human health   . NMSA 1978, § 74-2-2(B) (Repl.Pamp. 1983). The Board may grant a variance when compliance with air quality regulations will result in arbitrary and unreasonable taking of property or will impose an undue economic burden, and will not result in a condition injurious to health or safety. NMSA 1978, § 74-2-8 (Repl.Pamp. 1983). This definition does not permit the denial by the Board of a variance upon a mere showing that a condition  tends to cause harm. The Board has power under the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act to deny the variance when the air pollution that would result from granting a variance would with reasonable probability injure health. The Legislature has provided the standard of reasonable probability, and this Court must adhere to it. The Board and the Court of Appeals erred by expanding the statutory definition of air pollution from emissions from a reasonable probability of injuring health to a condition which  tends to cause harm. The result we have reached under this Point II would be the same whether we applied the old substantial evidence test or the new whole record review standard.