Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Letter To The Editor: Women’s Equality Day Aug. 26

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 25, 2015

By TARIN NIX

LWVNM

Aug. 26 is the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico honors the amazing women who fought with unrelenting tenacity to achieve the most powerful extension of citizenship rights in our nation’s history.

We urge voters to participate in the political process. You are the important element in a healthy democracy. As our founder Carrie Chapman Catt said, the vote is “a tool to build a better nation, to provide for the common welfare, and to help humanity upward.”

Look

LAHS Grads Honored For Natural History Day Project

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 24, 2015

Daniel Wang, Kimberly Pestovich, Kaylen Pocaterra and NHD Advisor Allen Andraski, a teacher at LAHS, at Frederick Douglass House in Washington D.C. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

Kimberly Pestovich, Kaylen Pocaterra and Daniel Wang, all graduates of Los Alamos High School and past club members of National History Day (NHD), an academic competition focusing on history, recently won an accomplishment award from Honorable Gov. Susana Martinez for their achievement at the National Competition.

On top of this honor, they won two awards. The first

Gov’t. To Stockpile 75 Million Doses Of Anthrax Vaccine

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 24, 2015

Pfenex is a leading-edge biologics company. Courtesy/pfenex.com

HSNW News:

San Diego, California-based Pfenex Inc. has announced that it has signed a five year, cost plus fixed fee contract valued at up to $143.5 million with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for the advanced development of Px563L, a mutant recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.

“This contract for the development of Px563L offers the potential for a dramatic improvement in the rapid production of large amounts of Read More

SFNF Releases Final EIS For Southwest Jemez Mountains Landscape Restoration Project

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 22, 2015

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) announced the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (ROD) for one of the largest forest restoration projects in the Southwest.

The Southwest Jemez Mountains (SWJM) Landscape Restoration Project is a long-term collaborative effort to restore forest ecosystems at the landscape scale and improve resilience to major disturbances, including fire, insects and disease, and climate change.

SFNF Supervisor Maria T. Garcia said the plan of action selected for the SWJM project is based Read More

DOE Selects U.C. Berkeley To Lead Consortium For U.S.-China Research Center’s Energy-Water Track

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 22, 2015

DOE News:

WASHINGTON ― The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected the University of California, Berkeley to lead a consortium of university, nonprofit, utility, and national laboratory partners in a new technical track under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) that addresses water-related aspects of energy production and use.

Once the award is finalized, the U.S. consortium will match or exceed DOE funding of $12.5 million and work with their Chinese counterparts to bolster collaborative efforts to ensure energy, water, and environmental security

NMED Proposes Repeal Of 20.2.36 NMAC Sulfur Limits

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 21, 2015

NMED News:

After review and evaluation, the New Mexico Environment Department―Air Quality Bureau proposes to repeal 20.2.36 NMAC, Petroleum Refinery―Sulfur (Part 36).

A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18, in Santa Fe. Part 36 was adopted in 1974 and establishes sulfur limits (sulfur recovery standards) and other requirements for existing and new petroleum refineries.

The rule was identified in the November 2012 Improving Environmental Permitting Report as a rule for potential revision or repeal.

The NMED will host informational open houses

WIPP: New Hybrid Bolting Machine Ready For Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

New hybrid bolting machine assembled at Wipp. Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

WIPP’s new hybrid bolting machine was recently transported to the WIPP underground, where it was reassembled by site personnel.

The bolter is designed to run on either diesel or electricity. The unit was inspected and acceptance tested at the manufacturer’s site before it was disassembled and transported to the WIPP site. Operational checks have been completed, and the automatic fire suppression system has been installed on the unit.

Before the bolter can be placed into service, portable power units that will Read More

Sierra Club Applauds New Methane Pollution Standard

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 20, 2015

SIERRA CLUB News:

The Obama Administration Tuesday introduced the first-ever proposed methane pollution standards for new and modified oil and gas facilities, a landmark announcement that will blunt the projected growth of methane and smog-forming pollution produced by the industry in New Mexico.

The newly proposed standards will help to safeguard public health and put the United States closer to being on track to meet the Administration’s goal of reducing oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent by 2025.

“New Mexicans were shocked to hear about the country’s

National Ignition Facility Fires 300th Laser Target Shot Of Fiscal Year 2015

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 20, 2015

NIF News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Last week, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) fired its 300th laser target shot in fiscal year (FY) 2015, meeting the year’s goal more than six weeks early.

In comparison, the facility completed 191 target shots in FY 2014. Located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the NIF is the world’s most energetic laser.

Increasing the shot rate has been a top priority for the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program and in particular the NIF team at LLNL. The greater than 50 percent increase in NIF shots from FY 2014 to FY

Results Of Well Water ‘Walk-in’ Samples Sent To 570 Residents Concerned With Gold King Mine Spill Effects

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn said

NMED News:

SANTA FE – Results of domestic well water testing are being mailed to approximately 570 concerned residents of San Juan County following the Aug. 5 EPA-caused Gold King Mine Spill.

“We mobilized about 25 environment department staff in the wake of the Gold King Mine Spill for a variety of purposes, and we still have many in the field. Many of these environment staff tested water on behalf of more than 500 domestic well owners who brought their ‘walk-in’ samples to the County Fair last week,” NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn said. “Many test participants received Read More

San Ildefonso Pueblo Tries To Reach Agreement With Santa Fe County Over Roads And Access

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

San Ildefonso Pueblo Gov. James Mountain earlier this month at his office. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO News:

SANTA FE – San Ildefonso Pueblo leaders met this week with Santa Fe County officials in an attempt to finalize negotiations on a proposal put forth by the Pueblo to address access issues regarding County Road 84 running through its land.

Unfortunately, negotiations ended in an impasse when Santa Fe County officials stated they were unwilling to move forward on the County Road 84 proposal.

Pueblo leaders are extremely

Heinrich, Hirono: Legislation Puts Higher Education Within Reach For More Americans

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii introduced S.1998, the Middle Class Creating Higher Education Affordability Necessary to Compete Economically (CHANCE) Act, a bill to increase access to affordable post-secondary education for low- to moderate-income students.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono

The bill would address the significant loss in value of Pell Grants by adjusting them for inflation, reinstate year-round Pell Grants, and increase the number of eligible semesters to 15.

“Pell Read More

Udall, Heinrich Announce $500K For Outdoor Projects

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 18, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON ― Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the State of New Mexico will receive $500,138 through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support outdoor recreation and conservation projects throughout the state.

LWCF funds are a highly effective tool for creating and protecting urban and rural parks and open spaces that provide recreation opportunities, enhance communities and create jobs, but the program will expire in September unless Congress takes action.

Udall

Udall Leads Coalition Pressing FDA On E-Cig Toxins

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jack Reed, D-R.I. and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii called for clear product standards and good manufacturing processes to combat the health risks of toxic substances in e-cigarettes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalizes its first regulations of the aerosol-producing products.

The number of e-cigarette users—especially among young people—has soared in recent

WIPP: Radiological Contamination Mitigation Continues

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) personnel will complete the installation of the brattice cloth and salt barrier tthis week on a 570-foot section of floor in the WIPP underground.

The installation process includes rolling the brattice cloth out to cover the entire surface area of the floor and securing it to the ribs (walls) and in the center of the drift (access tunnel). Once the cloth is in place, it is covered with six to eight inches of mined salt to create a walking/driving surface.

This ensures radiological contamination

New Mexico, Colorado Delegations Urge President To Direct Federal Resources To Gold King Mine Response

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Members of the New Mexico and Colorado congressional delegations are urging President Barack Obama to direct any and all appropriate federal resources to help respond to damage from the Gold King Mine spill that occurred last week in the Animas River.

Communities in both states along the affected rivers are working quickly to minimize the short-term and long-term public health and economic challenges caused by the tragic spill.

Recovering from the spill will take a full and coordinated approach from the Environmental Protection

Ban Lifted On Water Supply Connection To Animas And San Juan Rivers And Public’s Recreational Use

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2015

NMED NEWS:

Governor Susana Martinez’ Long-Term Impact Review Team in Place

FARMINGTON – New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, Game and Fish Department Director Alexa Sandoval and Health Department Secretary Retta Ward Saturday lifted the ban on San Juan County’s drinking water systems’ supply connection to the Animas and San Juan Rivers and on the public’s recreational use of the rivers.

The ban is lifted with certain prudent health practices, following the Aug. 5 Gold King Mine Spill.

“Because the waters of the Animas and San Juan Rivers are now meeting all applicable Read More

Acting EM Manager Christine Gelles Blazes New Trail

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2015

Acting Manager Christine Gelles of the EM field office in Los Alamos at Wednesday’s ETEBA meeting in Santa Fe. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

By ROGER SNODGRASS

LOS ALAMOS DAILY POST

Christine Gelles will not forget Valentine’s Day, Feb.14, 2014 in Washington, D.C.

“I had already had a really bad restaurant experience that day and then all of these reports came in,” she recalled 16 months later. “Life has been strange since then,”

That was the evening a barrel of plutonium waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory erupted at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the underground Read More

Robert Gibson Presents ‘Powering Los Alamos Into The Mid-21st Century…’ At GOP Meeting Thursday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2015

GOP News:

The Republican Party of Los Alamos Central Committee will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 at UNM-LA, Bldg 2, Lecture Hall, Room 230.

Guest speaker is Robert Gibson will present “Powering Los Alamos into the Mid-21st Century: Our Energy Uses, Sources, and Emissions.”

The public is invited to hear Gibson’s presentation, which is followed by a short break before the Central Committee business meeting. For further information, contact Bill McKerley at 505.672.1067. Read More

Lt. Gov. Sanchez Reads With Chamisa First Graders

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez visited Chamisa Elementary School first graders this morning. After sharing the cowboy alphabet book ‘B Is For Buckeroo,’ by written by Louise D. and Gleaves Whitney and illustrated by Susan Guy, with the first graders, each children received a hardcover copy of the book from Sanchez as part of the ‘New Mexico Reads to Lead’ initiative, which promotes early reading. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus, seated, Chamisa staff, guests and first graders listen intently as Lt. Gov. Sanchez shares his

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