OSHA and the American Subcontractors Association sign an agreement to create a safer workplace for New Mexico subcontractors.

Safety Agreement Reaches Higher Risk Subs

New Mexico Environment Department's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau and the American Subcontractors Association of New Mexico signed a partnership agreement in Albuquerque to help create safe working conditions for the state's subcontractors.

The Safety and Health Initiative Partnership Agreement is a first time partnership oriented for subcontractors whose workers perform the majority of work on commercial construction projects. The agreement contains milestones ASA's members must meet to participate in the program. The partnership requires ASA-NM to have a comprehensive health and safety program.

"The Environment Department's OSHA Partnership Program takes a proactive approach to workplace safety by allowing employers to address safety and health issues before they have the potential to become regulation problems," says NMED Secretary Ron Curry. "The agreement will allow us to work with leaders in the construction industry to protect workers in jobs with a high rate of injury."

75% of construction work in the commercial construction industry is completed by subcontractors, who have a higher risk of on the job injuries than other workers in that industry, according to ASA-NM.

The partnership allows OSHA and ASA-NM to work to reduce fatalities, injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

New Casino Planned Near Santa Fe

The Pueblo of Nambe has completed the Environmental Assessment and its acceptance by the National Indian Gaming Commission for the approval of a management contract for a casino on Pueblo lands.

Las Vegas, Nev.-based Full House Resorts Inc. has executed a management agreement with the Tribe for the development and management of the casino/resort on tribal land located on US 285, 15 miles outside Santa Fe.

Plans include approx 50,000-sq-ft facility with 600 slot machines, eight table games, three food outlets, gift shop, lounge and other amenities.

The project is currently in the design phase, with a tentative opening scheduled for third quarter 2008. Albuquerque-based design firm Studio Southwest has been retained for the project.

Spaceport Referendum Passes in Dona Ana County

Final design and engineering for Spaceport America will move into "high gear" as a result of passage of the Spaceport Tax in Dona Ana County, according to Rick Homans, chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and the state's cabinet secretary for economic development.

"This positive vote ignites the final design, engineering and construction of Spaceport America," Homans says. "We can now say that Spaceport America is ready for blast off - all systems are go. New Mexico is prepared to launch a whole new era of discovery, exploration and commercial activity in space, on the Moon and beyond."

The tax is expected to generate approximately $6.5 million a year for 20 years. Up to 25%, $1.6 million, of the revenue will be used to fund math and science programs in the county school system. The other 75%, $4.9 million, will be used as a revenue stream to bond approximately $50 million towards the construction of Spaceport America.

Homans says the next two critical milestones for Spaceport America will be the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Environmental Impact Statement, and then receipt of the site operator's license from the Federal Aviation Administration, expected in the first quarter of 2008.

Spaceport America will be built in Sierra County, 45 miles northeast of Las Cruces. According to economic forecasts by NMSU and Futron, Spaceport America may spur up to 5,000 new jobs and up to $1 billion in new revenue in the state.

The spaceport is scheduled to be operational by late 2009 or early 2010.

"Winning this election was one of the biggest hurdles we faced when we proposed this project in December 2005," Homans says.

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