Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

Daily Postcard: Sunrise Over Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 23, 2017

Daily Postcard: Sunrise today over Los Alamos. Photo by John McHale Read More

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce Introduces Bill To Increase Access To Federal Lands

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 23, 2017

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce introduced a bill Tuesday to increase access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting.

The Make Public Lands Public Act will amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund to increase public access to federal lands by maintaining and restoring existing roads, trails, and rights of way.

“In New Mexico and across the west, private, state, and federal lands are intermingled, resulting in a checkerboard issue that diminishes access to public

PEEC: Summer Family Evening Offers Hands-on Fun

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 23, 2017

Visit the Los Alamos Nature Center June 28 for an evening of hands-on experiments courtesy of Explora Museum. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Investigate nature through hands-on activities at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 28. The Explora Museum of Albuquerque will share a variety of nature experiments that teach conservation principles. This event is part of Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s Summer Family Evenings program.

This Summer Family Evening is a great way to delve hands-first into nature with the Explora Museum. Conduct experiments that Read More

The Curious Case Of The Warped Kuiper Belt

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 23, 2017

A yet-to-be-discovered, unseen ‘planetary mass object’ makes its existence known by ruffling the orbital plane of distant Kuiper Belt objects, according to research by Kat Volk and Renu Malhotra of the UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The object is pictured on a wide orbit far beyond Pluto in this artist’s illustration. Courtesy/Heather Roper/LPL

UA News:

TUCSON, Ariz. — An unknown, unseen “planetary mass object” may lurk in the outer reaches of our solar system, according to new research on the orbits of minor planets to be published

Three Mountaineers’ Stories: Staycation Ideas June 27

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 23, 2017

One of the magnificent views from San Juan Basin. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Everyone looking for ways to make summer exciting and accessible is invited to the Los Alamos Mountaineers meeting Tuesday, June 27, to hear a trio of talks about staycation ideas.

The presentation begins at 7:15 p.m. at the Los Alamos Nature Center. The Los Alamos Mountaineers meeting starts at 7 p.m. and covers information about upcoming outings.

Members of the Los Alamos Mountaineers will share three of their favorite local expeditions.

Cajete Fire Investigation Targets Abandoned Campfire Violator And Unauthorized Drone Operator

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

By MAIRE O’NEIL

Los Alamos Daily Post

When some 40 residents of Jemez Mountain communities attended their final meeting with Cajete Fire officials Tuesday night in La Cueva, they expressed relief and gratitude for the containment of the fire without loss of human life, animals or damage to homes. However, they

County’s Revised Stage II Fire Restrictions

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

COUNTY News:

By order of the Los Alamos Fire Department effective immediately, Los Alamos County is under Stage II Fire Restrictions per the County Fire Prevention Code, Title 22. The Kiwanis Fireworks Show for the 4^th of July is still scheduled.

The following acts are prohibited under Stage II Restrictions until further notice:

Building or maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, or stove fire on public or private land. Propane grills can be used.
Smoking. Smoking is allowed in vehicles, homes, and on paved/cleared surfaces only.
Using fireworks, explosives or

NMDOH Warns Of Heat And Smoke Related Illness

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

NMDOH News:

The New Mexico Department of Health advises residents to take extra precautions to avoid heat and smoke-related illnesses.

Temperatures over the next several days are expected be the warmest days of the year so far in several parts of New Mexico, and because of the El Cajete Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains, smoke is being released into the air, degrading air quality.

Extreme Heat Read More

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Questions Energy Secretary On Safety And Future Of Plutonium Mission At LANL

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall questions Energy Secretary Rick Perry during a hearing Wednesday of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee about steps LANL and the NNSA have taken to ensure safety and the future of the plutonium mission. Screenshot/LADP

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall questions Energy Secretary Rick Perry during a hearing Wednesday about steps LANL and the NNSA have taken to ensure safety and the future of the plutonium mission. Screenshot/LADP

U.S. SENATE News:

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v-7HHpLgWg&feature=youtu.be

WASHINGTON,

Sawyer Fire On Santa Clara Pueblo Reaches 20 Acres

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

FIRE News:

The Sawyer Fire on the Santa Clara Pueblo has burned approximately 20 acres since lightning ignited the blaze late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

Three hand crews are onsite this morning cutting a line around the perimeter and hope to have this done by noon today. Then they plan to mop up hotspots.

Crews working to contain the fire include Los Alamos Fire Department, BLM, Forest Service, Santa Clara Pueblo and BIA.

LAFD Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawald told the Los Alamos Daily Post that Santa Clara Pueblo is taking good care of all of the crews on scene with food, water and support Read More

Stargazing And Free Camping At Bandelier

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 22, 2017

Camping at Juniper Campground, Bandelier National Monument. Courtesy/NPS

PEEC News:

This Friday and Saturday, June 23-24, will be a great opportunity to get out, go camping at Bandelier, and take a good look at the starry heavens, as the park celebrates their Third Annual Night Sky Fiesta and also the Great American Campout.

For the Night Sky Fiesta, visitors will have the chance to do both daylight and nighttime astronomy. Astronomy volunteers will have solar scopes set up on the back porch of the Visitor Center 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

SFNF Implements Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Across Entire Forest Friday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 22, 2017

Help prevent forest fires … make sure campfires are completely out and cold to the touch before leaving.’ –Smokey Bear

SFNF News:

Violations Punishable Up To $5,000 For Individuals; $10,000 For Organizations; Imprisonment Up To Six Months

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will implement Stage 1 fire restrictions across the entire forest at 8 a.m. Friday, June 23.

Fire danger on the forest remains high due to continued high temperatures and dry conditions.

The Jemez Ranger District, where the Cajete Fire sparked last week from an abandoned campfire near Sierra de los Pinos, went Read More

DOE Awards Contract To Professional Project Services, Inc. Of Oak Ridge For OREM Technical Support

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 22, 2017

DOE News:

CINCINNATI, Ohio ― The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) June 19, announced the award of a contract to Professional Project Services, Inc. of Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) Technical Support Services (TSS) procurement.

This contract is an Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) from which Firm-Fixed-Price and Time-and-Materials task orders may be issued. The IDIQ contract contains a $20 thousand guaranteed minimum value of services and a $49 million maximum value of services, and has a five

SFI: The InterPlanetary Project Panel Discussion July 18

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 22, 2017

SFI News:

At 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 18, The InterPlanetary Project‘s kick-off event is a panel discussion at the historic Lensic Performing Arts Center in downtown Santa Fe.

Panelists will consider questions like these: What will it take to become an InterPlanetary civilization? How should we address the most pressing problems of Earth to tackle a challenge at this scale? What will success mean for future generations? What is holding humanity back and what do we all need to achieve in terms of novel governance, new technologies, shared resources,

Cajete Fire Update: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions In Effect … Burned Area Closed

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 21, 2017

SFNF News:

Crews on the fireline working the Cajete Fire today anticipate minimal fire activity. The uncontained section of the fire perimeter is within a snag patch (a section of standing dead trees) in the southeastern corner of the fire near Los Griegos Peak.

The standing dead trees in this area, left by the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, can fall suddenly. For this reason, firefighters are avoiding particularly hazardous areas. This portion of the fire has Read More

LANL Internal Memo Addresses Ongoing Safety Improvements At TA-55 Plutonium Facility

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 21, 2017

Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL

Staff Report

Ongoing safety improvements at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory are addressed in an internal memo obtained by the Los Alamos Daily Post:

To: LANL-All

From: Craig Leasure, PADOPS, A102

Date: June 19, 2017

Subject: Ongoing Safety Improvements at the TA-55 Plutonium Facility

In light of the recent public discussion and interest in operational issues at TA-55, I thought it was important to set the record straight and update Laboratory employees on the many improvements in the areas of safety,

Daily Postcard: Summer Solstice 2017

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 21, 2017

Daily Postcard: The Summer Solstice captured on camera at about 5:55 a.m. today from the Anniversary Trail in Los Alamos. Photo by Don Siebe Read More

AGU: Wildfires Pollute Much More Than Previously Thought

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 21, 2017

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Summer wildfires boost air pollution considerably more than previously believed.

Naturally burning timber and brush launch what are called fine particles into the air at a rate three times as high as levels noted in emissions inventories at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new study. The microscopic specks that form aerosols are a hazard to human health, particularly to the lungs and heart.

“Burning biomass produces lots of pollution. These are really bad aerosols to breathe from a health point of view,” said

Weekly Fishing Report: June 21

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 21, 2017

Courtesy photo

By GEORGE MORSE

Sports and Outdoors

Los Alamos Daily Post

Anglers looking to catch a big trout should have some success thanks to the State Game and Fish Department. The Department stocked big trout in several locations throughout Northern New Mexico last week.

One lake that should be really hot is Fenton Lake State Park in the Jemez Mountains. The Department stocked 142 rainbow trout averaging 16 inches, along with over 1,500 catchable-size rainbow trout averaging 10 inches.

The big news at Fenton Lake is the rare opportunity

Life, As We Know It, Depends On … Pollinators

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 21, 2017

National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. More than 75 percent of the Earth’s flowering plants depend on bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators. Yet scientists have noted that these hardworking insects and other animals are in trouble. Our own well-being and the welfare of our planet rests upon their wings.

LOS ALAMOS

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