The Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC) was created in 1991, as a division of the Waste-management Education & Research Consortium (WERC), in the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU). The CEMRC was conceived as a result of inquiries to WERC by concerned citizens of the Carlsbad region, acting as a grassroots coalition who recognized the need for high quality, independent health and environmental assessment. Many individuals and organizations supported the CEMRC's formation including the residents of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and the surrounding region; NMSU; the Carlsbad Department of Development; the New Mexico Congressional Delegation; the New Mexico Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee; Westinghouse Electric Corporation; and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The CEMRC was established with a grant entitled "Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Program" (CEMRP) from DOE to NMSU. The CEMRP initially was funded for $27 million over a seven year period (1991-1998). Subsequently, the grant was increased to almost $33 million to support operations of the program until 2008.

    Dr. Donald J. Fingleton served as Director of the CEMRC during 1991-1996. In 1996, Dr. Fingleton was named Director of Laboratory Development, and Dr. Marsha Conley became Director of Operations. Dr. Fingleton was transferred to a position with WERC in 1997, and Dr. Conley became Director. Mr. Joel Webb was named Manager of Program Development in 1998.

    Temporary office accommodations for the CEMRC initially were provided at NMSU-Carlsbad. In 1992, the CEMRC moved to a leased facility at 800 West Pierce in Carlsbad, which served as a basis for operations through December 1996. Flatow Moore Shaffer McCabe Architects (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and Research Facilities Design (San Diego, California) were selected in 1991 to design the CEMRC's new facilities. In December of 1993, DOE Secretary Hazel O'Leary made a commitment to provide approximately $7 million in additional funding to support debt service for construction of the new facility. In 1994, the NMSU Board of Regents approved the sale of New Mexico State University Research Corporation Lease Revenue bonds to secure construction money. Construction of the Phase I facility began in August 1995 and was completed in December 1996. The facility is located adjacent to the NMSU-Carlsbad campus, on 22 acres of land donated to NMSU by then New Mexico State Representative Robert S. Light (D-55^th District). On March 23, 1997, the Phase I facility was named the Joanna and Robert Light Hall (to be referred to as Light Hall).

    In addition to work associated with design and construction of buildings for the CEMRC, a variety of other developmental projects were undertaken to support the CEMRC's scientific activities. In 1993, design began for the Mobile Bioassay Laboratory(MBL) that would complement the facilities planned for the new CEMRC building. Construction of the MBL began in 1994, and the unit was completed and delivered to Carlsbad in 1996. An application for a Radioactive Material License was prepared and submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department, and the license was issued in 1996.