Each mining, milling or smelting operation shall furnish each year to the mining and minerals division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department information regarding production and value of production, persons employed, mining equipment and methods and any other information as may be reasonably required for the previous calendar year on blank forms to be furnished the operator for that purpose. Any information regarding production of individual mines is to be held confidential and not published unless agreed to by the operator; except that the information may be provided to the state mine inspector. Concerning any information so provided, the secretary and employees of the energy and minerals department and the state mine inspector are subject to the provisions of Section 71-2-8 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 1933, ch. 153, § 192; 1941 Comp., § 67-1902; Laws 1951, ch. 231, § 1; 1953 Comp., § 63-19-2; Laws 1963, ch. 229, § 4; 1973, ch. 218, § 48; 1979, ch. 325, § 2; 1987, ch. 234, § 57; 1989, ch. 193, § 15.

The 1989 amendment, effective July 1, 1989, rewrote the first and second sentences, which formerly read: "Each mining operation shall furnish to the state mine inspector on or before February 15 of each year information regarding estimated production and value of estimated production, persons employed, mining equipment and methods and any other information as may be reasonably required for the previous calendar year on blank forms to be furnished the operator by the state mine inspector for that purpose" and "Any information regarding production of individual mines is to be held confidential and not published by the inspector unless agreed to by the operator; provided that the inspector may reveal the information to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources", respectively; and inserted "and the state mine inspector" in the last sentence.

The 1987 amendment, effective July 1, 1987, substituted "energy, minerals and natural resources" for "energy and minerals" both places it appears and made minor changes in language throughout the section.

The 1979 amendment inserted "state" preceding "mine inspector" near the beginning of the section, substituted "state mine inspector" for "state inspector of mines" near the end of the first sentence, added the proviso at the end of the second sentence and added the third sentence.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 53A Am. Jur. 2d Mines and Minerals § 274 et seq.

58 C.J.S. Mines and Minerals § 237.