Environment

Environment Department Completes Inspection Of WIPP

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 15, 2016
NMED News:
 
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Hazardous Waste Bureau team completed their surface and underground inspections of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility last week.
 
The inspections covered issues dating back to the 2014 salt truck fire and radiation leak incident that led to the facility’s temporary closure, as well as the conditions of the facility’s current hazardous waste permit.
 
“WIPP is a critical asset to our nation’s security, our state’s economy, and the community in which
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Bandelier Offers Special Walks On Winter Solstice

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 14, 2016
Sunrise at Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice. Courtesy/wikipedia
 
BANDELIER News:
 
For Ancestral Pueblo farmers, keeping track of the changing of the seasons was crucial for knowing when to plant and harvest.
 
In many places it appears that they made markers aligned with the sunrise and sunset on the winter and summer solstices, the shortest and longest days of the year. This year Bandelier National Monument will offer ranger-guided walks to observe possible solstice markers among the Ancestral Pueblo dwellings in Frijoles Canyon.
 
On Dec. 21, winter solstice,
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LANL: First Detection Of Boron On Surface Of Mars

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 13, 2016

ChemCam target Catabola is a raised resistant calcium sulfate vein with the highest abundance of boron observed so far. The red outline shows the location of the ChemCam target remote micro images (inset). The remote micro images show the location of each individual ChemCam laser point (red crosshairs) and the B chemistry associated with each point (colored bars). The scale bar is 9.2 mm or about 0.36 inches. Courtesy/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/LANL/CNES-IRAP/William Rapin

LANL News:

  • New finding provides more clues about water habitability

Boron has been identified for the first time on the surface Read More

What’s Playing In The Planetarium This Weekend?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 13, 2016

PEEC News:

Scientists are still learning more about exoplanets and frequently finding new ones. This Friday at 7 p.m., a local astronomer will present the latest information about exoplanets and show images of known exoplanets on the Los Alamos Nature Center planetarium dome. 

Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., We are Stars will play on the full planetarium dome. This exciting, family-friendly film connects us to the evolution of the Universe and explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry.

The Los Alamos Nature Read More

Prescribed Burn Planned On Santa Fe National Forest

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 13, 2016

Prescribed pile burn planned as early as Wednesday on the SFNF’s Cuba Ranger District. Courtesy/NPS

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest are planning a prescribed pile burn on the Cuba Ranger District.

The 20-acre Ojitos prescribed pile burn, located just northeast of Rancho Del Chaparral Girl Scout Camp, may begin as early as Wednesday, Dec. 14, only if conditions, including air quality and weather forecasts, are favorable. Fire managers expect to complete ignitions in one day.

Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Luján, Lujan Grisham On Bill Passage To Expedite Gold King Mine Spill Recovery

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 12, 2016
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham have announced that a bipartisan measure to expedite reimbursements to Tribal, local and state governments for costs incurred in responding to the Gold King Mine spill has passed both Houses of Congress as an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
 
The amendment — authored by Senators Udall and Heinrich on the Senate side and introduced by Luján on the House side, and supported by all four of the lawmakers
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Jewell’s Nationwide Tour Underway Highlighting Progress On Conservation, Energy, Tribal Issues

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 11, 2016

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

USDI News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Deputy Secretary Mike Connor and other senior Interior Administration officials have embarked on a two-week nationwide tour to highlight progress the nation has made during the last eight years to: protect our nation’s lands, waters and wildlife; restore the nation-to-nation relationship with Native Americans and Alaska Natives; engage the next generation; and invest in sound science to inform decisions related to energy development, conservation
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USDA Announces New Conservation Opportunities To Improve Water Quality And Restore Wildlife Habitat

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 11, 2016
USDA News:
 
DES MOINES, IOWA ― Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer farmers and ranchers more opportunities to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
 
The announcement includes new CRP practices to protect water quality and adds an additional 1.1 million acres targeted to benefit wildlife, pollinators and wetlands.
 
“The Conservation Reserve Program is an extremely popular voluntary program that offers producers and landowners a wide variety
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Proposed Joint Fossil Regulation Announced For Interior Department’s Managed Lands

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 11, 2016
USDI News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a proposed rule to further facilitate implementation of the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009.
 
The proposed rule provides standards for a coordinated approach to the management of paleontological resources on lands managed by four Interior Department Bureaus: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS). It will also clarify how these bureaus manage paleontological resources
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McQuiston: How To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
The Jemez Agency
 
December is here and along with it comes the familiar reminders that winter is quickly approaching.
 
Turn on the radio and Christmas music is blaring, go to the store and see decorations and lights lining the shelves. It’s also that time of year again when you have to prepare your home for freezing temperatures. Here are a few items that you can start with to help winterize your home this season.
 
Cover patio furniture—patio furniture wears easily in climate change. If possible, I recommend storing patio furniture in a shed or garage. If that’s
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PEEC’s Top 10 List Continues: #4

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016

Volunteers, participants, donors, and other community members are a vital part of PEEC. Quite frankly, we need our community! Thus, the number 4 reason why people support PEEC is because without them, PEEC wouldn’t be possible. Support PEEC. You make PEEC possible! Courtesy/PEEC Read More

Udall On Trump’s Nominee For EPA Administrator

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall responded to President-elect Trump expected nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as EPA Administrator:
 
“Global warming is one of the greatest threats to public health, our environment and our national security. And New Mexico is in the bull’s eye, as farmers and anyone who relies on water and weather know all too well. The American people accept that the science is real; the facts can’t be denied, and we need to take urgent action to stop the impacts from growing
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WIPP Update: DORR Team Provides Preliminary Report

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
WIPP News:
 
The DOE Operational Readiness Review (DORR) Team provided an initial briefing of their findings to the senior leadership from DOE and Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) Dec. 2.
 
The DOE ORR team concluded that upon satisfactory closure of the pre-start findings and approval of corrective action plans for the post-start findings, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) can be authorized to safely restart waste emplacement in accordance with DOE standards.
 
The ORR identified 21 pre-start findings, those issues that will have to be resolved
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Secretary Vilsack Appoints Members To Council For Native American Farming And Ranching

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
USDA News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of six new members and the re-appointment of five members to the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching.
 
As a discretionary advisory committee, the Council provides recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on changes to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and other measures that would eliminate barriers to program participation for Native American farmers and ranchers.
 
“The Council for Native
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Honoring Military Families During ‘Not Forgotten Outreach Appreciation Week’

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
Courtesy photo

TAOS SKI VALLEY News:

Since 2014 Taos Ski Valley (TSV) & Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc. (NFO) has been providing Military Families an affordable ski vacation.

The Appreciation Ski Week is a Free event, Taos Ski Valley would like to thank the men and women and Families of the Armed Services. The 4th Annual Not Forgotten Outreach Week is Jan. 17-22. 
 
We would like to invite active duty military, Gold Star families, veterans and any family member with a military ID to come ski for $30/day. Free
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EM Names Sue Cange New Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016
EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Sue Cange
 
DOE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― EM announced Dec. 8 that Sue Cange has been named its principal deputy assistant secretary.
 
“Sue is a trusted and effective leader with a deep understanding of EM’s cleanup mission and passion for advancing our mission,” EM Assistant Secretary Monica Regalbuto said. “With a strong track record of leading organizations to complete cleanup work safely and efficiently, she will be integral to our progress.”
 
Cange has nearly three decades of DOE leadership
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Fresh Holiday Trees At Valles Caldera National Preserve This Week!

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 9, 2016
LAVC News:
 
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera’s Holiday Tree forest restoration project has been so successful that we needed to cut more trees!
 
Unfortunately, we ran out of trees last weekend (we apologize to those who drove up and couldn’t get a tree), and we were only able to cut 40 more for this week. Snow in the restoration area has prevented further cutting, so this week, ending Dec. 11, will be our last week at the Valle Grande Staging Area, off Hwy 4 between mile marker 39 and 40.
 
The trees are mostly White Fir of varying sizes from
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Family Night At Los Alamos Nature Center Dec. 13

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 9, 2016

A child plays on the drum he made during Family Night with Melissa Mackey at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Tuesday, Dec. 13 is Family Night at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Enjoy an evening of games and hands-on activities 6-7 p.m. with Mesa Public Library’s Melissa Mackey. The nature center will be open until 8 p.m. for exploring the exhibits. 

The second Tuesday of every month is Family Night at the nature center. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos, this program is free for all.

For more information about this and other programs offered Read More

Udall Welcomes EPA Proposal To Ban TCE In Dry Cleaning Under Lautenberg Chemical Safety Law

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 9, 2016
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall 
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to ban uses of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) under the newly reformed bipartisan chemical safety law.
 
It is the EPA’s first effort to ban an existing chemical since it failed in its attempt to ban asbestos in the early 1990s. Used as a degreaser and spot remover in dry cleaning, TCE is a neurotoxin linked to cancer, developmental
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