The 11-member citizen committee will meet publicly in Sunland Park to finalize its bylaws, advance plans for a water-usage information session and consider topics for future discussions.

Organ Mountain News report

SUNLAND PARK - The citizen committee established to independently monitor Project Jupiter will meet Nov. 21 in Sunland Park, where members are expected to advance plans for a public information session focused on water usage associated with the massive data center development.

The 11-member Community Monitoring Committee will hold its second business meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Sunland Park Sports Complex, 4700 McNutt Road. The meeting is open to the public, according to a Nov. 12 announcement from Doña Ana County.

Committee members are expected to complete consideration of their bylaws, firm up plans for their first information meeting on water usage and discuss potential topics and experts for a second information meeting.

The committee also will consider options for reimbursing members' fuel expenses.

Water questions among committee priorities

The planned information session on water usage comes as residents continue to raise questions about the resources required to operate Project Jupiter, the large data center development under construction in the Santa Teresa area.

The county's announcement did not provide a date, location or list of speakers for the water information meeting. Those details are among the matters committee members are expected to discuss Nov. 21.

The committee was established to provide independent study and public oversight of the project's operations and effects in and around Doña Ana County.

In August, the Board of County Commissioners approved the creation of the citizen-led body, authorizing it to develop its own bylaws, elect officers and organize information forums addressing community concerns about the development.

As previously reported by Organ Mountain News, the committee's work is intended to address questions about water, air, noise, pollution and other potential environmental effects.

Committee begins organizing public oversight

County commissioners announced the committee's 11 members in October, selecting representatives from all five commission districts.

Each district has two representatives, with an additional seat allocated to District 2, where Project Jupiter is located.

Committee members serve voluntarily and were required to disclose financial interests, employment relationships or affiliations with entities connected to the project, including organizations supporting or opposing it.

The committee held its first business meeting Oct. 31 at the Doña Ana County Government Center, beginning work on its governing procedures and identifying subjects for future information meetings.

Its stated mission is to transparently and independently monitor and study Project Jupiter's operations and effects in Doña Ana County and surrounding communities.

How to attend

The committee's second business meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Sunland Park Sports Complex, 4700 McNutt Road in Sunland Park.

The meeting is open to the public. The county's Nov. 12 announcement did not specify whether public comment would be accepted.

Topics scheduled for consideration include finalizing bylaws, preparations for the first water-usage information meeting, potential subjects and experts for a second information meeting and reimbursement of committee members' fuel expenses.

Additional information about the committee and Project Jupiter is available through Doña Ana County's Project Jupiter webpage.