Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

DPNM Chair Debra Haaland Travels To North Dakota In Solidarity With New Mexico Tribes

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 9, 2016

DPNM Chair Debra Haaland with Standing Rock Sioux members Wasté Win Young and Susan Ireland. Courtesy photo

NMDP News:

Chair Debra Haaland of the Democratic Party of New Mexico traveled recently to North Dakota in solidarity with Native Tribes in New Mexico and across the country. The Department of Justice, Department of the Army, and the Department of Interior temporarily halted construction of the pipeline on federal land Sept. 9 until a proper evaluation is conducted.

“Tribal consultation is the cornerstone of building trust and honoring our government to

Gathering For Mother Earth Set For Oct. 15-16

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 9, 2016

Courtesy photo

CCNS News:

The twentieth annual Gathering for Mother Earth, sponsored by Tewa Women United and the newly organized Mother Earth Ecological Wellness Collaborative, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16, in Pojoaque.

The weekend event, which is open to people of all cultures and ages, seeks to honor Mother Earth for her Lifegivingness. The Gathering is a time for community unity to protect the most vulnerable people, including pregnant women, infants and farmers, especially those living around production sites

Nuclear Worker Documentary Coming To Los Alamos

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 9, 2016

COMMUNITY News:

The Award Winning documentary “The Safe Side of the Fence” will be showing at 7 p.m., Oct. 20 at The Reel Deal Movie Theater in Los Alamos.

The film looks at the nation’s nuclear legacy from the Manhattan Project to today’s nuclear industry. World War II’s Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt Chemical Works took on the job.

As a result, the chemical company’s employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in

Family Night At Los Alamos Nature Center Oct. 11

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 8, 2016

Melissa Mackey leads an evening of games, hands-on activities and music at the Los Alamos Nature Center’s Family Night. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Family Night at the Los Alamos Nature Center is 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11 and features an evening of games, hands-on activities and music with Mesa Public Library’s Melissa Mackey. The nature center will be open for exploring the exhibits until 8 p.m.

The second Tuesday of each month is Family Night at the nature center and thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos, this Read More

Black Holes Film At Planetarium This Weekend

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2016

Update On Accidental Fatality At Bandelier

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2016

BANDELIER News:

An adult female park visitor died Monday, Oct. 3 in Bandelier National Monument after being struck by a falling tree while standing in a parking lot near the head of the Frey Trail.

Park rangers were notified of the incident at approximately 2:30 p.m. and park rangers, the Los Alamos County Fire Department and Los Alamos County Police Department responded to the incident.

“Bandelier National Monument staff is deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased,” Park Superintendent Jason Lott said.

The National Park Read More

Update On Algae Treatment In Ashley Pond

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2016

Ashley Pond in downtown Los Alamos. File photo

COUNTY News:

Parks Superintendent Jeff Humpton provided an update today regarding recent activity to treat algae in Ashley Pond.

The algae has been noticeable to visitors who inquired about whether or not the pond water was “healthy.”

The County has contracted with a specialist, Jason Rector from Wildcat Environmental, to help with pond management. Rector treated the algae in the pond Aug. 30 and again Sept. 19 with a product that is an environmentally friendly, safe algaecide. Additionally, on Sept. 21, the County released 30 sterile Read More

DOE Releases RFP For Oak Ridge Office Of Environmental Management Technical Support Services

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2016

DOE News:

CINCINNATI ― The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) Technical Support Services (TSS) acquisition.

An Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract from which Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) and Time-and-Materials (T&M) task orders may be issued is anticipated. The RFP is being issued as a small business set-aside, and the IDIQ contract ordering period is five years from date of contract award. The IDIQ contract contains a $20 Thousand guaranteed minimum

WIPP UPDATE: Ground Control Review Underway Following Rock Fall

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 7, 2016

WIPP News:

Tuesday, Sept. 27, salt rock debris was discovered by ground control crews during routine monitoring and inspections of the Panel 4 entrance within the WIPP underground.

Panel 4, one of the most southern portions of WIPP, was closed in 2010 and consists of seven disposal rooms filled with transuranic (TRU) waste. No WIPP personnel were present at the time of the salt rock fall, as the area had already been under restricted access — requiring management approval to access — since March 2016.

Recently, access was

Research Suggests Saturn’s Moon Dione May Harbor Subsurface Ocean

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2016

An image of Saturn’s icy moon Dione, with giant Saturn and its rings in the background. New research suggests Dione harbors a subsurface ocean. Courtesy/NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

AGU News:

By The Royal Observatory of Belgium

A subsurface ocean could lie deep within Saturn’s moon Dione, according to a new study using publicly available data from the Cassini mission to Saturn.

In 2013, images from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft hinted that Dione had a subsurface ocean when the moon formed, but the new study suggests the ocean could still

Santa Fe National Forest Offices Closed For Columbus Day

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2016

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― All Santa Fe National Forest offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 10, in observance of Columbus Day.

Forest offices will resume regular business hours Tuesday, Oct. 11.

For additional information, contact a local Ranger District or the Forest Headquarters at 505.438.5300.

Bandelier Fall Festival, ‘Lunacy’ Night Saturday

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2016

Pueblo jewelry at Bandelier’s Fall Festival. Courtesy/NPS

NPS News:

This Saturday, Oct. 8, there will be two special annual events at Bandelier National Monument: Fall Fiesta and International Observe the Moon Night.

Fall Fiesta is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Frijoles Canyon near the Visitor Center, with more than a half dozen local Pueblo artists offering their handmade crafts for sale, including pottery, drums, kachinas and jewelry.

There also will be a dance group presenting traditional dances in late morning and early afternoon. There

Prescribed Burn Planned On Cuba Ranger District

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2016

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest are planning to conduct the Diego prescribed burn on the Cuba Ranger District.

Ignitions for the 378-acre treatment area, located just north of Gilman and two miles southwest of Seven Springs, could begin as early as Oct. 11 and run through Nov. 4, 2016. That window is dependent on favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts. Small blocks may be treated each day to decrease the daily smoke volume.

Prescribed fires

Natural History Museum Has Interactive Dinosaur

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2016

Temporary Exhibit ‘Be the Dinosaur’. Courtesy photo

MUSEUM News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science’s new traveling exhibit Be the Dinosaur™ is a state-of-the-art video game that allows visitors to explore some of the greatest mysteries of paleontology in a completely interactive way while walking through the Cretaceous period as a dinosaur.

The six stations allow the visitor to forage through a virtual field searching for food and water while also avoiding attacks from other dinosaurs. Visitors

Los Alamos Nature Center Open Holiday Weekend

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 5, 2016

Enjoy the beautiful views and engaging exhibits at the Los Alamos Nature Center this holiday weekend. Photo by Patrick Coulie

PEEC News:

This weekend is a great time to embrace nature and the Los Alamos Nature Center can help.

The nature center is open all weekend and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Columbus Day, Monday Oct. 10. The community is to visit the animals, use the Los Alamos Trails App to find a fun hike, bring in a Passport to the Pajarito Plateau for the next prize, or build great memories with the family in the Satch and George Cowan Children’s

NNSA And Bulgaria Partner To Complete Nuclear Detection Architecture

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 4, 2016

NNSA News:

SOFIA, BULGARIA ― Representatives of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian government this week celebrated the completion of Bulgaria’s nuclear detection architecture, which will enhance efforts to prevent smuggling of dangerous radioactive materials across its borders.

National and foreign dignitaries, including U.S. Ambassador Eric Rubin and Deputy Prime Minister Rumiana Bachvarova, gathered in Sofia to highlight the successful implementation

Fun, Food And Cider At PEEC-nic Oct. 16

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 4, 2016

Children enjoying PEEC’s outdoor play area at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites the community to take part in its fall party, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road.

PEEC’s annual membership meeting, fondly called PEEC-nic, is open to the public, not just members, and it’s free!

To celebrate PEEC has special activities planned including hands-on activities for kids and adults, a leaf art contest

New Mexico Museum Of Natural History & Science Announces New Programs And Schedule Changes

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 4, 2016

Celebrate National Fossil Day Oct. 12 and Attend ‘Startup Sendoff’. Courtesy photo

NMMNHS News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science announces the presentation of two special programs designed to expand access to the Museum and Tuesday closures designed to provide more flexibility in after hour access.

The first special program “Afternoon Science Adventures” celebrating National Fossil Day is 3-6 p.m., Oct. 12. The second special program “Startup Sendoff” is 5:30-9 p.m., Friday,

Feeling the Burn: Understanding How Biomass Burning Changes Climate

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 4, 2016

Allison C. Aiken is a chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division. In 2014, at the age of 34, she was named one of ‘The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds’ by Thomson Reuters for being in the top 1 percent of geoscientists to have her work cited. She is posing in front of a crab sign on Ascension Island, where she installs instruments to collect data about black carbon aerosols. The island is tropical, but very isolated with rugged volcanic terrain and dominated by non-native species. There are, however, some interesting and rare Read More

Orphaned Bear Cubs On Track For November Release

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 4, 2016

Orphaned bear cubs Valley Girl and Cowboy rescued from the Valles Caldera in the summer came into Dr. Kathleen Ramsay’s clinic at just around 10 pounds and the most recent estimate puts them north of 75 pounds. The cubs will likely be ready for release next month back into the wild. Courtesy/LEWF Read More

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