Environment

Tales Of Our Times: For This Holiday Season

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2017
Tales of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water

Tales of Our Times For This Holiday Season

The years roll on. From the past, I bring local sketches from distinguished writers who passed this way before:
Peggy Pond, the fledgling poet and author, wrote in 1914:
There was the enormous and unbelievably vivid blueness of the sky; the wide horizon that stretched in every direction as we drove down to the Pueblo from our steep plateau; the arid landscape, all sun-baked gullied hill, the pinkish earth dotted with juniper and pinion like cloves stuck into a roasting ham; the
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Solstice Sunrise Thursday At Bandelier

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2017

The sun casts long shadows at sunrise on the solstice, down a path that was laid out by the ancients in Frijoles Canyon to mark the shortest day of the year Thursday during the annual solstice walk at Bandelier. Photo by Katy Korkos

The sun emerges Tursday during the annual solstice walk at Bandelier. Photo by Katy Korkos Read More

Largest Array To Date To Be Constructed At Taos Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2017

BUSINESS News:

TAOS – Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC), alongside its energy supplier Guzman Energy Partners, announced Friday a land-lease agreement and 30-year solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to build up to a four-megawatt solar array at the Taos Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant.

This agreement represents the largest solar array built in KCEC’s service area to date and further demonstrates the Taos community’s commitment to embracing resilient, renewable energy generation and distribution.

KCEC has been committed to its role in providing low energy rates for its members Read More

Bucks Gather In Pajarito Acres

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2017

Bucks are spotted Friday on Monte Rey Drive in Pajarito Acres. Photo by Bob Reedy 

Photo by Bob Reedy 

Photo by Bob Reedy 

Photo by Bob Reedy 

Photo by Bob Reedy  Read More

Daily Postcard: Buck With Thick Antlers In Quemazon

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2017
Daily Postcard: A buck with thick antlers is spotted Friday in Quemazon. Antlers are extensions of the animal’s skull. They are true bone and a single structure generally found only on males, with the exception of the caribou. Antlers are shed and regrown each year and function primarily as objects to attract female deer and as weapons in fights between males for control of harems. Source: wikipedia.com. Photo by Trisha Ancell
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Seasonal Flu Death Estimate Increases Worldwide

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 22, 2017

CDC News:

According to new estimates published this week, between 291,000 and 646,000 people worldwide die from seasonal influenza-related respiratory illnesses each year, higher than a previous estimate of 250,000 to 500,000 and based on a robust, multinational survey.

The new estimate, from a collaborative study by CDC and global health partners, appears this week in The Lancet. The estimate excludes deaths during pandemics.

“These findings remind us of the seriousness of flu and that flu prevention should really be a global priority,” said Joe Bresee, M.D., associate director for Read More

AGU: Algae Growth Reduces Reflectivity, Enhances Greenland Ice Sheet Melting

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 22, 2017
AGU News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — New research shows algae growing on the Greenland ice sheet, the Earth’s second-largest ice sheet, significantly reduce the surface reflectivity of the ice sheet’s bare ice area and contribute more to its melting than dust or black carbon.
 
The new findings could influence scientists’ understanding of ice sheet melting and projections of future sea level rise, according to the study’s authors.
 
Glaciologists have long known materials such as mineral dust and black carbon can darken the surface of large ice sheets. Scientists study these impurities
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Daily Postcard: Santa Lion Spotted At Roundabout

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 22, 2017

Daily Postcard: The mountain lion statue is showing holiday spirit Thursday over at the roundabout on Diamond Drive. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Bandelier Suggests Arriving Early During Busy Holiday Season

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 21, 2017

Bandelier News:

With the mild weather, Bandelier National Monument will be a popular destination during the holiday period from now until early January. Park staff suggest that visitors may want to consider arriving early, perhaps before 10:30 a.m., to avoid crowded parking lots. In summer another alternative is to arrive in late afternoon.
 
But with the short days, those arriving around 3 p.m. or later will need to consider that their opportunities to explore will be limited since as the sun goes down behind the canyon walls the air quickly gets much chillier, and it is nearly dark by 5
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Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 21

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 21, 2017
By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
It’s the middle of December and still no snow covering the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains. Despite cold nighttime temperatures that have caused ice to form on some of the lakes, precipitation has been meager and snowpacks for this time of year are running well below normal.
 
There are some that would just as well never have it snow, but the reality is we need snow. Water supply systems for irrigation and municipal water supply is based on a certain amount of spring runoff from the melting snowpack. Spring runoff
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Notice: Public Meeting On Annual Plan For Cleanup Of LANL Legacy Waste Jan. 16

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 20, 2017
NMED News:
 
SANTA FE ― The state of New Mexico’s Environment Department and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Los Alamos field office are hosting a public meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 16, 2018 at the Los Alamos County Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave. in Los Alamos, concerning cleanup priorities for legacy waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for fiscal year 2018.
 
The Consent Order (CO) is a settlement agreement between the state of New Mexico’s Environment Department and the U.S. Department of Energy that
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PEEC: Movie, Special Solstice Show This Weekend

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 20, 2017
 
 


 

PEEC News:
 
This weekend, the Los Alamos Nature Center has two special planetarium programs: a special solstice show Friday and a full-dome film Saturday. The Friday, Dec. 22, show Bones, Tombs, and Solstice will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, the exciting full-dome film Exploding Universe is screening at 2 p.m. These planetarium programs are made possible thanks to the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
 
LANL astrophysicists Erica Fogerty
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How The Hen House Turns: Urban Deer

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 20, 2017
Courtesy photo
 
By CARY NEEPER
Formerly of Los Alamos
 
While living beside the canyons of Los Alamos, one learns to get along with deer—or not. I would recommend it.
 
They are beautiful animals and don’t eat more apples than their share. A large buck was very careful to take no more than one bite out of the three huge green tomatoes that I had laboriously watered all summer in the only sunny spot in our front yard.
 
There was a chance that those tomatoes might have ripened. Maybe. It was late August. Maybe not. A few days later the deer came back and nibbled a little from each native
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DOE Awards New Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract To Newport News Nuclear BWXT–Los Alamos, LLC

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 20, 2017

DOE News:

CINCINNATI – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the award of the new Los Alamos National Laboratory legacy cleanup contract to Newport News Nuclear BWXT–Los Alamos, LLC, out of Broomfield, Colo.

The total value of the contract is $1,390,086,635. The period of performance includes a 90-day Contract Transition Period, Base Period of five years, Option Period 1 for three years, Option Period 2 for two years, with a total period of performance of up to ten years and three months. The contract primarily includes a cost-plus-award-fee line item with a cost-reimbursement Read More

Environmental Sustainability Board Meets Thursday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2017
COUNTY News:
 
The Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, in Room 110 in the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.
 
The meeting is open to the public.
 
Agenda:
 
1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the November 16, 2017, Environmental Sustainability Board Minutes Presenters: John Blis
5. BOARD BUSINESS
Election of Chair and Vice-chair Presenters: John Bliss
Approval of the Environmental Sustainability Plan Presenters: John Bliss
Approval
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Imposter Spotted At Los Alamos Residence

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2017

An imposter is spotted attempting to blend in with a trio of deer standing in the front yard of a residence last week on North Road. Photo by Nicolé Raddu Ferry Read More

Reservoir, Access Road Closed Beginning In January

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2017

COUNTY News:

Pedestrian access to the Los Alamos Canyon Reservoir and surrounding areas west of the Ice Rink off West Road will be closed in early January through the summer of 2018. 

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities will construct a new 10-inch non-potable water pipeline from the reservoir along the reservoir access road and connect to the townsite’s non-potable water system.

Department officials warn that construction crews with heavy equipment will be utilizing and working on the single dirt road rendering it and the surrounding area unsafe for hikers and/or cyclists. Read More

Attorney General Balderas Announces $57 Million Clean Energy Jobs Package As Part Of Sagamore Wind Project

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2017
Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Thursday, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he has reached an agreement with Southwestern Public Service Company, Western Resources Associates and Collation for Clean Affordable Energy on a $57 million jobs package as part of the Sagamore Wind Project.
 
The agreement will foster and expand skilled construction and environmental job opportunities throughout the State. The jobs package that was agreed to and filed today will help to develop local, clean energy businesses and provide opportunities
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