ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King on Monday announced his office has stepped up efforts in combating environmental crimes.

King, a Democrat, said his office has begun a more thorough educational and public outreach program through the state's Environmental Crimes Unit, which is New Mexico's largest environmental laws enforcement division.

According to King, environmental crimes can come in the form of air pollution, hazardous waste, water pollution and solid waste.

The State has issued warnings to consumers informing residents to be on the lookout for containers or drums that appear to be abandoned, dead fish in streams or waterways, strangely colored water, dead animals along riverbanks, dead plant life and foul odors or vapors, according to King.

King said trucks dumping suspicious-looking material and residents burying drums on business property or residential property could be potential criminal activity.

"New Mexico is a large state and just learning about potential environmental law violations can be a difficult task," King said.

The State's Web site has posted a list of environmental crimes, how to report suspicious activity and what to do if a resident comes in contact with hazardous material.