In response to community concerns in 1995, Intel commissioned an outside consultant to conduct a site risk assessment. The final report was published in June 1997. The study used the standard methods of risk assessment and risk guidelines provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (The EPA guidance documents can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/air_risc/3_90_024.html.) The study showed that risks from Intel were within the bounds, including a margin of safety, which the EPA recommends to protect the public from effects of human activity. The study also found that chemical levels in the soil and air are as low near Intel as in other parts of the Rio Grande Valley.

In 2002, Intel commissioned a different firm — the 25-year-old international consulting firm of Environmental Resource Management (ERM) — to update the 1995 assessment. The broad conclusions in the 2005 report are consistent with those of the 1997 report, as described above. However, the 2005 report identified certain compounds that may pose a concern in the future based on Intel's projected usage amounts. Intel will continue to monitor these compounds to make sure they remain below the levels that would pose a risk. (The complete reports can be found at the Corrales and Rio Rancho public libraries, and summary reports are available at http://www.intel.com/community/newmexico/.)

In another response to community concerns, New Mexico state agencies worked from 2002 to 2004 to learn more about air quality in Corrales. The study involved the New Mexico Environment Department, the New Mexico Health Department, and public task force members. (The final report is available online at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/projects/corrales/.) The broad conclusions of the Corrales air study are again consistent with the conclusions of both the 1997 and the 2005 risk assessments.