Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

Moniz Travels To Israel And Kazakhstan To Continue Discussions On Energy Cooperation

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 5, 2016

DOE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― The U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz traveled to Israel. He will continue discussions with Yuval Steinitz, Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy, and Water Resources, on the ongoing energy partnership between the two countries.

He also will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. These discussions will cover a wide range of issues, including the U.S.-Israel Energy Dialogue, as well as expanded cooperation in energy research and energy water nexus programs.

Secretary

Nature On Tap At UnQuarked Thursday April 7

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 5, 2016

LACD News:

Come to Nature On Tap at 5:30 p.m., Thursday at UnQuarked Wine Room, 145 Central Park Square, to discuss what is new and planned for the Los Alamos County trail network.

Los Alamos County’s Open Space Specialist Eric Peterson will provide an update on upcoming projects, expected maintenance, and how community members can get involved. There are numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the summer in the 1st Annual Summer Series—Volunteer Trails Cleanup Days!

Peterson serves as the Open Space Specialist overseeing the County’s open space and trails systems. He Read More

Governor Visits Los Alamos To Highlight $32 Million In Water And Transportation Upgrades Around LANL

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 4, 2016

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez this morning, at the White Rock Y on N.M. 4, highlighting $32 million in water and infrastructure upgrades around LANL. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

STATE News:

Gov. Susana Martinez highlighted $32 million in water and infrastructure upgrades around Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) during press conference this morning at the White Rock Y on N.M. 4.

These funds provide for Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) based on settlement agreements between New Mexico and the U.S. Department

New Book Helps Wildflower Lovers Identify What They See In The Jemez

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 4, 2016

Book cover. Courtesy photo

BOOK News:

If you have ever wondered about the name of a plant you see on one of the trails around Los Alamos, there’s a new way to help you find out.

Local naturalists Terry Foxx and Craig Martin have published a book, Plants of the Jemez Mountains Volume 1, that offers up drawings and color photos of the trees, shrubs, and vines found in the Los Alamos area and beyond.

“The book is a revision and expansion of the plant guide I did with Dorothy Hoard in 1984 and last revised in 1995,” Foxx explained.

Long out of print, the Foxx and Hoard guide was a popular and important book that Read More

The American Lion: Pumas At The New Mexico Wildlife Center

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 4, 2016

Mountain lion kittens at the NM Wildlife Center in Espanola. Courtesy photo

Orphaned mountain lion kitten at the NM Wildlife Center. Courtesy photo

By KATHERINE EAGLESON

NM Wildlife Center

Historically this powerful predator claimed a range that covered most of the New World. The only other mammal that covered more territory and flourished in as many environments was Homo sapiens. Nearly all of the Western Hemisphere was home to the mountain lion (cougar, catamount, puma, painter). By the 1900s the other top predator in its range had managed to extirpate it from the eastern Read More

Stone Calendars Of The Southwest Talk Tuesday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 4, 2016

Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Ron Barber will describe the technology, culture, and history of stone calendars in the Southwest at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5 at the Nature Center. His presentation includes results of the Stone Calendar Project; a hobby that somehow got out of hand.

There are hundreds of stone calendar sites around the Southwest. These calendars are found with specific glyphs that align with unique shadows to mark the time of year and important dates. The Stone Calendar research project surveys sites throughout the Southwest. Sites are studied using a variety of techniques from modeling Read More

Scenes From Carlsbad Caverns

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 2, 2016

Scene from a recent trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scene from a recent trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scene from a recent trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Scene from a recent trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Photo by Robert Beberniss

Udall, Alexander: Sick Nuclear Workers Deserve Better

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 1, 2016

From The Office Of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall:

Department of Labor should delay new rule that could jeopardize benefits for those who worked at Cold War-era sites

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., this week urged the U.S. Department of Labor to delay a new rule that could make it more difficult for sick nuclear workers who served at Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Y-12 and other Cold War-era nuclear sites to get benefits they deserve under the department’s Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.

“It’s shameful that so many Americans

Amateur Naturalist: Climate Change And Green Vultures

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 1, 2016

Front of green vulture—Less green due to less algae present. Photo by Sally King, Bandelier National Monument

PEEC Amateur Naturalist

Climate Change and Green Vultures

By Robert Dryja

We have been considering the possible impact of climate change on bird species in Los Alamos and the north-central mountains of New Mexico. Two ways of evaluating possible change include: (1) consider species that are unique to areas of the north-central mountains and (2) consider species that are common throughout the mountains. Are unique species being replaced by common species?

From Earth To The Universe At Planetarium April 2-3

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 1, 2016

A still from ESO’s planetarium show From Earth to the Universe showing the Helix Nebula, also known as NGC 7293. Courtesy/T. Matsopoulos, ESO

PEEC News:

View stunning imagery from space in this weekend’s full-dome feature film, From Earth to the Universe.

This great film is playing in the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, the last chance to see this film until late summer or fall. From Earth to the Universe takes passengers on a voyage through space and time. Along the way, adventurers will visit birthplaces and burial grounds of stars and explore Read More

Updated Map Available For Motorized Travel On SFNF

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 1, 2016

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Updated Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for the 1.6 million-acre Santa Fe National Forest will be released today. The MVUMs show all Forest roads and trails open to motor vehicle travel.

All national forests are required to designate a system of roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use by class of vehicle and, when necessary, by time of year. Public motor vehicle traffic is prohibited on all routes not shown on the MVUM. Visitors to the forest are reminded that it is their responsibility to determine if they are

State Unveils Draft Of New Consent Order For Public Comment

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 31, 2016

Resource Protection Division Director Kathryn Roberts and NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn discuss the newly released draft Consent Order with the Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board Wednesday in Albuquerque. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

The NNMCAB meets Wednesday in Ballroom A of the Sandia Casino and Resort in Albuquerque. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

By ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

Albuquerque – The New Mexico Environment Department released a draft revision to the current Consent Order between the state and the Department of Energy Read More

LANL Draft Consent Order Released For Public Comment

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 30, 2016

NMED News:

Updated Cleanup Agreement Will Enhance Legacy Waste Cleanup and Support Stronger Federal Funding Requests

SANTA FE – Today the New Mexico Environment Department released the Draft Consent Order for public review and comment.

The Draft Consent Order, an agreement between the New Mexico Environment Department and the U.S. Department of Energy, guides and governs the cleanup of legacy waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“We are pleased to open the Draft Consent Order to public review and comment as we continue our dialogue with stakeholder groups Read More

Pajarito Astronomers Hold Dark Night April 9

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 30, 2016

PA News:

The Pajarito Astronomers will be holding their first County-Sponsored Dark Night of 2016 starting at 7:30 p.m. (sunset,) Saturday, April 9 at Spirio Soccer Field, Overlook Park.

Weather permitting, the public is invited to come out, wander among the telescopes, and star gaze. The planets Mercury and Jupiter will be visible. There will be a tour of the winter and spring constellations, and there will be telescope views of double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

The public is invited and encouraged to

Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Ute Tribe, and Navajo Nation Prepare For Melting Of El Niño Snowpack & Churn Of Heavy Metals

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 30, 2016

NMED News:

SANTA FE ― The states of New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Southern Ute Tribe and Navajo Nation announced their Animas, San Juan Spring Runoff Preparedness Plan.

The Plan participants share the Animas/San Juan Watershed and are joining forces to prepare for and monitor the melting of El Niño snowpack throughout the region. Monitoring during the spring runoff period is one of the necessary short-term needs for the multi-state and multi-tribe region that is in direct response to the Gold King Mine release caused by the US Environmental

Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting Thursday

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 30, 2016

COUNTY News:

A special meeting for the Envrionmental Sustainability Board will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at the Eco Station, 3701 East Jemez Road in the Eco Station Break Room.

The meeting is open to the public.

Agenda:

1. Call to order – roll call

2. Board business – Develop potential recommendations for brush and bulk item collection program.

Presenter: John Bliss

3. Adjournment

Southwest Wineries Recognized For Safety Excellence

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 29, 2016

NMED News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) presented Deming’s Southwest Wineries with the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award for exemplary injury and illness prevention. Southwest Wineries becomes one of nine recognized SHARP participants in New Mexico.

March 10, a ceremony recognizing the company’s accomplishments was held at the Southwest Wineries site in Deming. Representatives from OHSB presented the company with the award.

“Southwest Wineries is

DOE Announces Millions In Funding For 16 Indian And Alaska Native Community Clean Energy Projects

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 29, 2016

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding for 24 American Indian and Alaska Native communities to deploy clean energy and energy efficiency projects. DOE plans to invest more than $9 million in 16 facility- and community-scale energy projects in 24 tribal communities.

As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to partner with Tribal Nations, these projects provide Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages with clean energy solutions that will save communities money and reduce carbon pollution. DOE’s funding is

Public Meeting Highlights Forest And Resilient Landscapes Monitoring Programs For April

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 29, 2016

NPS News:

JEMEZ SPRINGS — The National Park Service, Valles Caldera National Preserve and the USDA Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest are hosting the 2016 “All Hands” public meeting for the Southwest Jemez Mountains Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration & Resilient Landscapes Program.

The meeting is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 7 and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, in the Jemez Rooms of the Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe. The public is invited to attend both days of meetings.

During the Thursday session,

Wind Gusts Kick Up Dust At Los Alamos Airport

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 28, 2016

With the gusty Spring winds, the construction activities at Los Alamos County Airport are kicking up thick clouds of dust. Here’s a view taken today from a residence near the east end of San Ildefonso Road on North Mesa. Construction crews should consider spraying water on this site to keep the dust down. This would make things better for anyone using the hiking trail along the airport perimeter and for people living a little further east on North Mesa. Photo by Richard Hughes

Wind gusts kick up dust during construction today at the Los Alamos County Airport. Photo by Richard Hughes

LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems