Environment

CCNS Appeals EPA Denial To Terminate LANL Outfall From Clean Water Act Permit

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2017
CCNS News:
 
Outfall No. 051 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a discharge pipe connected to a key facility, the Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility. The Clean Water Act only regulates facilities that actually discharge pollutants. 
 
After November 2010, the Facility became a zero-liquid-discharge system, meaning the discharge pipe would no longer be used. Since then LANL has been using a Mechanical Evaporator System to evaporate treated water into the air, and nothing has been discharged through the Outfall. Nevertheless, the Environmental
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Bradbury Science Museum Question Of The Month: Why Not Harness Lightning For Renewable Energy Source?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2017

Lightning striking behind LANL’s main technical area. Courtesy/BSM

BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM News:

Given that lightning generates so much electricity, why don’t we harness it as a renewable energy source?

While it’s true that a single lightning bolt could power the entire city of Santa Fe for about a minute, there are some issues with capturing lightning as an energy source.

First, while there are some areas of the planet (like the Sangre de Cristo mountains near Santa Fe and the Florida coast) that get a higher than average number of lightning strikes, getting lightning to exactly strike

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Asteroid Films And Presentation At Nature Center

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2017
 
PEEC News:
 
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) has a special planetarium show with Dr. Galen Gisler on asteroid threats at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 and will show the popular full-dome film Incoming at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7 and 8. 
 
These shows reveal the realities about asteroid threats to Earth. The planetarium, inside the Los Alamos Nature Center, projects the night sky and specially-designed films on a 180-degree dome.
 
Dr. Galen Gisler will reveal the
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Reps. Luján And DelBene Introduce Smart Cities Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2017
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), along with the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced legislation Oct. 2 to promote the advancement of smart cities.
 
“Smart infrastructure has the potential to make our communities safer, more efficient, healthier, and more sustainable. But these advances shouldn’t just be reserved for major cities and Silicon Valley,” Luján said. “Our legislation will help guarantee that smaller and rural
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LAPS Saves Over $2 Million In Energy Costs

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2017

Courtesy photo

LAPS News:

Over the past 12 years, Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) has partnered with Cenergistics and, in that time, has saved over $2 million in utility costs. Curtis Terrill, a science teacher at Los Alamos Middle School, has been a classroom teacher by day and Energy Specialist by night for five years.

“Money saved on our utility bills equals more dollars for our classrooms,” Terrill said. “Our energy conscious district employees make our program a success.”

With the continually rising rates for gas and electricity over the past 12 years, LAPS searched for ways to combat higher Read More

County: 100 Days Of Summer Declared A Success!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 5, 2017

This photograph is an entry in the 100 Days of Summer Photo Contest. Courtesy photo

Sarah Matthews is the winner of Los Alamos County’s 100 Days of Summer Photo Contest. Courtesy photo

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Community Services Department would like to thank the community of Los Alamos for making the inaugural 100 Days of Summer program a great success.

With more than 100 participants, the County was pleased with the level of excitement and involvement. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, residents were encouraged to “Get Out. Get Active,” throughout Los Alamos County and Read More

New Mexico Film Office Announces ‘Dreamland’ To Film In New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 4, 2017
NMED News:
 
SANTA FE ― New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced Tuesday that the feature “Dreamland” produced by Romulus Entertainment, Automatik Entertainment and LuckyChap Entertainment, will begin principal photography in New Mexico. Production will begin mid-October through mid-November. 
 
“We’re proud to see another production choose New Mexico,” Film Office Director Nick Maniatis said. “New Mexico’s deep talent pool, one-of-a-kind landscapes, and  powerful
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NatureScapes 2017 Photo Contest Winners Announced

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 4, 2017
First Place: Virga, Cliff Wood
 
NMMNHS News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― The results are in, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) has announced the winners of the 2017 NatureScapes photo competition.
 
Each year, NMMNHS choses a theme for the photo contest that encourages contestants to examine and understand New Mexico’s natural beauty. This year’s theme – “Water” – invited photographers to explore and re-discover nature throughout the state. Winning photographs will hang in the gallery from Oct. 21 through January
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Valles Caldera Geology Field Trip With Fraser And Cathy Goff Oct. 21

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 3, 2017
Geologists Fraser Goff and Cathy Goff on a hike near La Mosca. Fraser wrote the book on Valle geology and Cathy is an internationally known geologist. Photo by David Schiferl
 
PEEC News:
 
Explore six areas in the Valles Caldera, Saturday Oct. 21, with geologists Fraser and Cathy Goff.
 
This is an amazing opportunity to learn about the volcanology of the preserve and see little-known geothermal springs with the person who literally wrote the book on the Valle’s geology.
 
Explore in the Valles Caldera. Participants will park at the visitor center
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Closure Order Rescinded For Continental Divide Trail

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 3, 2017
SFNF News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Santa Fe National Forest has rescinded the closure order for a segment of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) on the Coyote Ranger District effective at 8 a.m. today, Oct. 3.
 
The CDT from the Ojitos Trailhead at Scull Bridge on the Chama River to the CDT crossing at NM Highway 96 was closed on July 26 to provide for public safety as fire crews worked on the lightning-caused Ojitos Fire on the boundary of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. 
 
Although the Ojitos Fire passed through the CDT area, known locally
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Technical Support Contract Awarded At DOE-EM Sites

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 3, 2017
DOE News:
 
CINCINNATI, Ohio ― The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the award of a Time and Materials, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to Chenega Professional & Technical Services, LLC, of Chesapeake, Va.
 
Chenega Professional & Technical Services, LLC is an Alaskan Native Corporation 8(a) Small Business.
 
The contract will have a maximum value of up to $8 million over five years. Work performed under this contract will be performed for EMCBC and the EM Office of Acquisition and Project Management. The contractor will provide
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Nature On Tap: Bandelier Bird Banding Thursday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 3, 2017
A banded Flicker takes off after contributing to Bandelier’s research efforts. Photo by Daniel Dorantes
 
PEEC News:
 
Join in a discussion about the 2017 bird banding experience with Bandelier biologist Sarah Milligan and bird banding interns Daniel Dorantes and Kim Geissler 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at UnQuarked Wine Bar at 145 Central Park Square.
 
This program offers a way to hear about the avian research going on in Bandelier and ask any questions about bird species that live in and visit our local national monument. The bird banding team will describe
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State Archaeology Fair In Taos Oct. 14

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 3, 2017
NMHPD News:
 
SANTA FE — Would-be archaeologists can be part of a mock excavation at the Oct. 14 New Mexico Archaeology Fair held this year in Taos at the Millicent Rogers Museum.
 
Presented by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, Department of Cultural Affairs, the fair is a chance for children and adults to experience activities associated with cultures that trace their origins back thousands of years. At the same time, they can learn techniques developed over the last 150 years that have helped us better understand the lives of some of New Mexico’s
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PEEC: Thank You To Los Alamos Rotary Club

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 2, 2017
Thank you Rotarians! Courtesy photo
 
PEEC News:
 
A hearty group of Los Alamos Rotarians came to the Los Alamos Nature Center, Saturday Sept. 23, to help construct a new nature play area.
 
They worked through rain and wind and sun to stain logs for the new sandbox. Other volunteers, including local Eagle Scout candidate Junseo Kim, joined in as well, digging holes in which to place the logs.

The Rotarians also donated funds towards new planter benches being installed between the nature play area and the landscaped gardens at the

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