Their project focused on a coal ash cleaning process to extract rare earth metals. This method is cleaner because it uses citric acid and high pressurization, as opposed to previous methods that relied on incredibly toxic chemicals. They pitched the project as turning “coal ash into coal cash.” They cited their knowledge of EPA regulations and environmental laws as the edge that would allow them to make the model profitable. Moreover, they discussed environmental justice, citing the massive amounts of coal ash and mining dumps foisted onto native lands.

3Ls Victoria Lovato and Elisabeth Gutierrez have been selected to participate in the Community Governance Attorney Program after graduation. The program, established through legislation in 2019, provides students with a tuition waiver for their third year when they commit to work for Legal Aid after graduation. Lovato will clerk for NM Supreme Court Justice David K. Thomson prior to starting the program. At Legal Aid, Gutierrez and Lovato will provide legal services for acequias, land grants, and low-income residents of colonias. Both have a history with land grants and acequias and are looking forward to working in the field after graduation.