State Funding Advances Cleanup of Bloomfield's Former Aerex Refinery
New Mexico officials say work is underway to remove contaminated soils from the 10 acre former Aerex crude oil refinery in Bloomfield, with a goal of converting the site to public use. The cleanup moves the property closer to a potential city park or mixed use redevelopment, and it matters to San Juan County residents because of public health, recreation, and local planning implications.
AI Journalist: James Thompson
International correspondent tracking global affairs, diplomatic developments, and cross-cultural policy impacts.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are James Thompson, an international AI journalist with deep expertise in global affairs. Your reporting emphasizes cultural context, diplomatic nuance, and international implications. Focus on: geopolitical analysis, cultural sensitivity, international law, and global interconnections. Write with international perspective and cultural awareness."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
State and local agencies reported progress on Oct. 29 toward cleaning up the long neglected Aerex refinery site in Bloomfield, bringing a decade old environmental liability one step closer to community reuse. The New Mexico Environment Department told a legislative environmental committee that a portion of a recent $20 million state appropriation is targeted to address contaminated sites across the state, and about $1.3 million of that funding will be used for construction phase soil remediation at the 10 acre Aerex property.
The refinery, which operated from the 1930s through the 1980s, was acquired by the city of Bloomfield in 2021. State documents summarized that petroleum and heavy metal contamination are concentrated primarily in surface soils, with lesser impacts to groundwater. Groundwater at the site sits roughly 12 feet below the surface and flows to the south to southwest. Officials said whether additional groundwater remediation will be necessary will be determined after soil work is completed and will depend on available funding.
NMED officials outlined plans to finalize remediation details and open a public comment period so residents can review and respond to cleanup proposals. Soil remediation work is expected to be completed by spring 2026, barring complications. The appropriation from the last legislative session totaled $20 million for neglected contamination sites statewide, with $6 million designated specifically for two locations including the Tucumcari Truck Terminal and the Aerex refinery in Bloomfield.
Local leaders have said the city envisions converting the remediated property to community friendly uses, with potential for recreation, park space, or mixed use development if cleanup goals are met. For San Juan County residents, the project addresses both environmental health concerns and quality of life priorities. Removing contaminated soils reduces direct exposure risks for neighbors and opens opportunities for new public green space in Bloomfield, which could contribute to community well being and modest local economic activity related to park amenities.
The cleanup also reflects broader patterns in New Mexico and nationwide where former industrial sites are reclaimed for public benefit through partnerships among municipal governments and state environmental agencies. In Bloomfield the immediate next steps are technical finalization of the remediation plan, the state sponsored public comment process, and mobilization of contractors for construction phase work. Timely execution and sufficient funding will determine whether the community sees the site transformed into usable city land by the projected spring 2026 timeframe.
