ACtION ALERT: The Missing Shield Petition
Stop Block Project Ranger

Please sign and share the petition:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEQy_2z-LjxAe92JIGURpbWdThG5zmQLxl97cw7-JnqdIO2A/viewform

PETITION FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC HEALTH,
ENVIRONMENTAL, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
PROTECTIONS FROM PROJECT RANGER

To: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Legislature, the New Mexico Environment Department, the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico State Land Office, the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Sandoval County, the City of Rio Rancho, and all agencies with jurisdiction over Project Ranger.

Public reports indicate that Project Ranger may begin static-fire testing in the coming months. Once testing begins, the opportunity to establish meaningful baseline environmental conditions is lost. Baseline monitoring must occur before operations commence so that any future changes can be accurately measured and independently evaluated.

Because baseline environmental conditions can only be documented before operations begin, we respectfully request that no static-fire testing, explosive testing, or similar operations commence until the protective measures below have been implemented and made available for public review.

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the State of New Mexico and local governments to take immediate action to protect the health, safety, civil rights, and environmental quality of communities surrounding Project Ranger before static-fire testing or expanded operations begin.

Project Ranger has received substantial public assistance through the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), Industrial Revenue Bonds, public land agreements, and publicly funded infrastructure improvements. These agreements commit millions of taxpayer dollars to support the project while also establishing requirements for public accountability, reporting, audits, and enforcement. Because public funds, public land, and publicly financed infrastructure have supported this project, the public has a legitimate interest in ensuring that environmental protections, emergency preparedness, and governmental oversight are fully implemented before operations begin.

The people living nearest this facility deserve the same commitment to transparency and public protection that has been extended to the project itself.

TIMELINE
January 21, 2026: Project Ranger groundbreaking. Castelion Corporation, formerly Pallas Industries, announced a 1,000-acre, 21-building campus in Rio Rancho, Sandoval County, with a stated $220 to $650 million economic impact over 10 years.

Approval mechanism: Industrial Revenue Bonds, up to $125 million, and a Local Economic Development Act agreement were finalized before any federal environmental review took place.

What did not happen first: No Environmental Impact Statement was completed. No wildlife consultation occurred. Tribal notice was provided only after the agreement was already signed.

Current status: Public reporting indicates static-fire testing may begin in the coming months. No baseline environmental monitoring plan is currently in place.

WE THEREFORE PETITION
FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

1. Independent Baseline Environmental Monitoring. Before any static-fire testing or explosive operations occur, independent baseline monitoring shall be established for air quality (PM2.5, PM10, metals, hydrogen chloride, and other combustion by-products), groundwater, surface water, stormwater, soil, dust deposition, noise, and vibration. Baseline data should be publicly available before testing begins. Monitoring should also evaluate cumulative impacts, meaning the combined effect of this facility alongside existing air quality conditions, water resource demands, and any known plans for future expansion, not just Project Ranger considered in isolation.
2. Independent Public Health Assessment. Conduct an independent assessment of potential impacts on nearby neighborhoods, schools, children, seniors, medically vulnerable residents, agricultural lands, livestock, wildlife, and drinking-water resources.
3. Public Emergency Preparedness Plan. Develop and publicly release, before testing begins: emergency notification procedures, evacuation routes, shelter-in-place and shelter locations, medical response protocols and hospital coordination, multilingual public notification procedures, school notification procedures, first-responder coordination plans, and annual public drills or exercises.
4. Hazardous Materials Transportation Transparency. Publish appropriate public notification, emergency response planning, and coordination with local first responders regarding hazardous materials transported to or from the facility.
5. Independent Compliance Review. Conduct an independent review of environmental, public safety, land-use, and permitting requirements before static-fire testing or expanded operations commence.

6.independent Experts- Independent means conducted or reviewed by entities without financial or contractual relationships with Project Ranger or affiliated companies.

7. Public Hearings. Hold publicly noticed hearings allowing residents, scientists, medical professionals, tribal representatives, environmental experts, and emergency responders to present testimony before testing begins.
8. Public Access to Environmental Data. Require that all environmental monitoring conducted by governmental agencies or the project operator be made available through an accessible public database, with monitoring methodologies made public so that results can be independently verified. Government agencies should coordinate with community-based monitoring efforts already underway.
9. Protection of Civil Rights. Ensure that surrounding communities receive equal protection under environmental, public health, and civil rights laws through meaningful public participation and transparent governmental decision-making.
10. Independent Cumulative Impact Assessment — Conduct an independent cumulative impact assessment evaluating the combined effects of Project Ranger together with existing and reasonably foreseeable industrial, transportation, and infrastructure activities in the surrounding area. The assessment should consider cumulative impacts to air quality, water resources, soil, noise, vibration, public health, emergency response capacity, wildlife, agriculture, and environmental justice communities. The assessment should be completed and made available for public review before static-fire testing or expanded operations begin.

The assessment should evaluate both routine operations and reasonably foreseeable accident scenarios, considering potential cumulative exposures affecting nearby neighborhoods, schools, childcare facilities, senior populations, medically vulnerable individuals, agricultural operations, and tribal and culturally significant resources.

10. CItizens Science — Government agencies should coordinate with community-based monitoring efforts and make monitoring methodologies publicly available so results can be independently verified.
11. A Written Response Within 30 Days. We respectfully request a written response within 30 days identifying the agencies responsible for implementing these protections and the anticipated timeline for completion.

Throughout this petition, independent means conducted or reviewed by entities without financial or contractual relationships with Project Ranger or affiliated companies.

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE
Economic development and national security are important public interests. They do not diminish the government’s responsibility to protect public health, environmental quality, and the rights of neighboring communities.

When public funds are invested in private development, transparency, accountability, and independent oversight are not optional, they are obligations owed to the public. The Project Participation Agreement and related Intergovernmental Agreement expressly contemplate reporting, audits, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability for the public investment.

We respectfully request that no static-fire testing or similar explosive operations proceed until these protections have been implemented and the public has been afforded a meaningful opportunity to review the information and participate in the decision-making process.

Therefore, we respectfully petition our elected officials and responsible agencies to act immediately to protect the people, water, air, and future of New Mexico.