Environment

Local Pinyon Trees Teeming With Wildlife

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 29, 2019

Much activity is spotted in recent days since the pinyon nuts have just ripened in the 30-foot tall pinyon trees growing at a residence on Andanada Street on Barranca Mesa. In the last week, all sorts of wildlife have appeared to feast on the bounty. In one day there were Steller’s and California scrub jays, pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches, ravens, spotted towhees, morning doves, chipmunks, red squirrels and even a hummingbird. Here a California scrub jay is grabbing a nut from one of the pinyon trees. Photo by Ken Hanson

A red squirrel grabs a pinyon nut. Photo by Ken Hanson

A pygmy nuthatch Read More

High Altitude Balloon Spotted From Quemazon

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 29, 2019

A high altitude balloon spotted floating in the sky Saturday from Quemazon. The photos taken with a cannon 300mm zoom lens show how the color of the balloon changes as the sun sets into the atmosphere, turning from white to orange and then a final pearl color before the sun goes behind the earth and no longer illuminates the balloon. These balloons typically fly around 100,000 feet in altitude. Photo by Jeff Bloch

A high altitude balloon spotted floating in the sky Saturday from Quemazon appears orange in color as the sun sets. Photo by Jeff Bloch

A high altitude balloon spotted floating in Read More

BLM Personal-Use Fuelwood Permits Available

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 29, 2019
BLM News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Bureau of Land Management is selling fuelwood permits for personal use to the public.
 
Fuelwood permits cost $10-$12 per cord and are available in person at select locations or online.
 
Due to a recent court ruling, the US Forest Service is unable to sell fuelwood permits, so demand for fuel wood from BLM land has increased.
 
In almost all field offices, BLM fuelwood permits are valid for cutting only dead (down or standing) piñon and juniper (cedar). Cutting green trees or other trees not allowed by permit is strictly prohibited. Minimum and maximum
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Ferenbaughs; Romero Best Predictors In Pace Race

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 29, 2019
Atomic City Road Runners News:
 
Anna and Bobbie Ferenbaugh and Ted Romero had the best predictions in Tuesday’s Atomic City Road Runners weekly pace race.
 
The race was on a fairly-flat 1-mile paved loop mainly on Estante Way in Pajarito Acres. One could run any number of loops but with a requested time of 45 minutes or less. All distances from 1 to 5 miles were done.
 
The smallest differences between actual and predicted times in seconds adjusted to 3 miles were Anna Ferenbaugh (9 s), Ted Romero (10 s), Bobbie Ferenbaugh (12 s), Seth Thomas (15 s), Sanna Sevanto (16 s), Heidi
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Udall Secures Strong Investments For New Mexico In Major Interior & Environment Funding Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M), lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, advanced major funding Tursday for New Mexico’s public lands, infrastructure, environmental protection and stewardship, and programs for Indian Country as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
 
The billed passed the committee and will now head to the full Senate.
 
“This bipartisan bill – which makes key investments to benefit
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Delegation Calls On Forest Service To Act Swiftly To Allow New Mexicans To Resume Use Of National Forests

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
STATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small, wrote to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Vicki Christiansen Friday pressing the agency to take immediate action to comply with the law and allow the resumption of traditional forest activities on national forests in New Mexico.
 
“We write regarding the reported impacts of the recent pause of several forest activities on national forests in New Mexico as a result of the District Court of Arizona’s decision that the U.S. Forest
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State Legislators Ask Federal Court For Leave To File ‘Friends Of The Court’ Brief

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
NMELC News:
 
SANTA FE ― Three State Legislators, Sen. Mimi Stewart, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Rep. Andrés Romero have asked the United States District Court for permission to file an Amici Curiae – “Friends of the Court” – Brief in a lawsuit involving toxic pollutants from two Air Force bases.
 
The Brief would support the legal action by the New Mexico Attorney General and the New Mexico Environment Department to compel the United States Air Force to conduct prompt investigation and cleanup of toxic pollutants at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, New Mexico, and Holloman
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BLM To Open San Pedro For Fuelwood Harvest

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
BLM News:
 
TAOS ― The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will conduct a hazardous fuels reduction project in the San Pedro area in order to minimize heavy fuels that are optimal for fuelwood use.
 
To ensure public safety during removal of fuelwood, this area will be closed to shooting Oct. 18-31. Fuelwood permits will be available for fuelwood removal.  
 
The San Pedro fuels reduction project is located on BLM lands on the south side of NM Highway 344, approximately 1 mile east of the intersection of NM Highway 14 and NM Highway 344.  
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PEEC: Thank You Triad National Security!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
Kindergarteners get outside and explore patterns and shapes in nature on PEEC’s field trips. These field trips and other work are funded through the generosity of granters like Triad National Security. Photo by Bob Walker
 
Photo by Bob Walker
 
PEEC News:
 
Thanks to the generosity of Triad National Security, a lot more kids will be getting out on the trails and into nature to learn science through hands-on lessons.
 
Triad recently granted the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) $5,000 to continue its work getting students outside for engaging science learning.
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NMMSH: Free Lunar Viewing Event Oct. 4

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019
A waxing gibbous moon was pictured above the Earth’s limb as the International Space Station orbited over the southern Indian Ocean just southwest of the African continent. Courtesy/NASA
 
NMMSH News:
 
ALAMOGORDO ― Once a year, everyone on Earth is invited to join together and learn about our planet’s nearest neighbor, the Moon. 
 
The New Mexico Museum of Space History, in conjunction with NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night, will be hosting Moon Over the Museum Friday, Oct. 4. 
 
This free event starts at 6:30 p.m. inside
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Daily Postcard: Deer Graze On Barranca Mesa

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 28, 2019

Daily Postcard: A buck grazes on grass in the yard of a residence Sunday on Andanada Street on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Ken Hanson

A buck grazes on grass Sunday on Andanada Street on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Ken Hanson 

A fawn visits a residence Sunday on Andanada Street on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Ken Hanson Read More

INL Marks 500th WIPP Shipment Since Reopening

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 27, 2019
EM crews pose with Idaho State Police (ISP) officers in advance of the 500th shipment of transuranic waste leaving the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, headed for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. ISP officers inspect each shipment that leaves the DOE Idaho National Laboratory Site. Courtesy photo
 
Fluor Idaho Transportation Certification Official Shawn Strozzi, left, double-checks the 500th shipment’s manifest as Idaho State Trooper Peter Sibus conducts an inspection of the shipment. Courtesy/DOE
 
DOE News:
 
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho ― EM crews safely and compliantly
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Council: October Is ‘The People’s Eco Challenge Month’

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 27, 2019

At the Tuesday night council meeting, Councilor James Robinson, left, presents Environmental Services Division Senior Office Specialist Joshua Levings with a proclamation declaring October ‘The People’s Eco Challenge Month’. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Council presented a proclamation, which declares October “The People’s Eco Challenge Month,” during its Tuesday night regular meeting. 

Councilor James Robinson presented the proclamation, which reads:

WHEREAS: The Los Alamos County Green Read More

Tales Of Our Times: Know-How In Waste Handling Attained Sudden Importance

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 27, 2019
Tales of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water
 
Know-How In Waste Handling Attained Sudden Importance
 
New Mexico Citizens for Clean Air & Water has lobbied to have the Manhattan Project National Historical Park include environmental history. This task began before the park existed.
 
History will always be debated. If history is kept in accurate context and a breadth of aspects, the debate may be one of substance. If history fades out, the debate will be “sound and fury.” Keeping history strong and healthy is the aim of the National Park
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NMDOH: Students To Celebrate Farm To School Programs For New Mexico Grown Week

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 27, 2019
 NMDOH News:
 
SANTA FE ― Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, as part of “New Mexico-Grown Week”, students across the state will participate in special events and activities that highlight a variety of fruits and vegetables cultivated from local farms, hoop houses and school gardens.
 
Participating schools may prepare special meals featuring local produce, invite farmers into the classroom to discuss the importance of local agriculture, or have students plant their own school gardens.
 
“New Mexico-Grown Week” is an opportunity to recognize school districts across the state
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Ray: An Unfair Chase…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 27, 2019
By MARY KATHERINE RAY
Rio Grande Chapter Sierra Club
 
It may still come as a surprise that today, in 2019, it is still actually legal in New Mexico to set a steel-jawed leg-hold trap or strangling wire snare in order to catch any one of 16 kinds of native wild animal that includes bobcats, foxes and badgers, for fun and profit.
 
Trapping is legal nearly statewide with the approval of the State Game Commission by purchasing a $20 license.
 
In recent years, dozens of hikers’ dogs have been caught in traps hidden on land open to the public, including my own. The number of reported
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