New Mexico Environment Secretary Flynn resigns

New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn is stepping down.

Department spokeswoman Allison Scott Majure confirmed Friday that Flynn is resigning Aug. 12.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez appointed Flynn in 2013 to lead the state’s environment department after a retirement forced her to reshuffle her cabinet.

Flynn previous had been the agency’s top lawyer for two years. He was the administration’s main negotiator for an agreement earlier in 2013 with federal regulators and the state’s largest utility for reducing pollution from a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.

During his confirmation hearing, Flynn faced objections of some lawmakers and public-interest groups who questioned his role in the crafting of regulations they said would allow groundwater pollution by copper mines.