Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

Prescribed Burn Planned On Santa Fe National Forest Jemez Ranger District March 21 Through May 14

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 19, 2016

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest are planning to conduct the previously announced prescribed burn on the south end of the Paliza treatment area within the boundaries of the Southwest Jemez Mountains Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project on the Jemez Ranger District.

The window for the Paliza prescribed burn will open March 21 and extend through May 14, 2016. The decision to burn will be dependent on favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality, weather forecasts and available resources.

The 5,409-acre Paliza treatment Read More

Eleven Bandelier Experts Take Over Nature Center

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 19, 2016

Releasing a banded Chipping Sparrow. Photo by Sally King

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument is celebrating 100 years, but what will the next 100 look like? Bandelier’s rangers and scientists will be at the Los Alamos Nature Center 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 to answer questions and continue the celebration.

Throughout the evening, Bandelier’s experts will give mini-talks about the park’s ecology, astronomy, biology, backcountry trails, restoration efforts, and anthropology in the context of climate change. Explore the nature center and talk to Bandelier staff one-on-one at Read More

NMED Secretary To Discuss Revisions And Seek Input To LANL Consent Order

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 17, 2016

NNMCAB News:

The Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board (NNMCAB) is one of eight Site-Specific Advisory Boards established to involve local citizens in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) environmental

clean-up decision process at its nuclear facilities. Members of the public are encouraged to attend NNMCAB meetings and provide their unique perspective on environmental issues.

The NNMCAB will meet 1-5:15 p.m. March 30 at Sandia Resort, Ballroom A, 30 Rainbow Road in Albuquerque. At 1:45 p.m. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, will discuss revisions

LANL: Small Businesses Win Technical Support To Develop Clean Energy Technologies

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 17, 2016

LANL News:

DOE’s Small Business Vouchers Pilot Provides Funds to Catalyze Innovation

Four small businesses will be working with Los Alamos National Laboratory to accelerate the nation’s transformation toward a clean energy economy as part of the Department of Energy’s Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot project.

These businesses will gain access to world-class laboratory resources to help move innovative ideas and technologies closer to the marketplace.

“Small businesses can be real catalysts for innovation and job creation,” said Melissa Fox, program director for Applied Energy Read More

LANL: Nature Study Reveals Rapid Ice-Wedge Loss Across Arctic

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 15, 2016

LANL scientist Cathy Wilson measuring how soil properties change with depth at the DOE Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment, NGEE-Arctic, field site near Barrow, Alaska. Courtesy/LANL

Ice wedge polygons impound snowmelt runoff at the DOE Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment field site near Barrow, Alaska. Thousands of square miles in the Arctic are covered by an interconnected network of ponds in polygon-shaped formations. Recent research reveals rapid and widespread degradation and melting. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Widespread permafrost phenomenon with major hydrological,

Heinrich Cosponsors GMO Food Labeling Legislation

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 15, 2016

Office Of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

“Providing transparency to consumers will ensure they are able to make informed decisions about the products they buy and feed their families.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is cosponsoring S.2621, the Biotechnology Food Labeling Uniformity Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to ensure that consumers can find genetically modified organism (GMO) ingredient labeling on food packaging, while ensuring that food producers are not subject to confusing or conflicting labeling requirements Read More

Critters Emerge From Winter Under Local Porch

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 15, 2016

Critters living under the deck of a home on Oakwood have awakened from their long winter nap. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

This critter can’t eat fast enough. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Climate Change And The Birds Of Northern New Mexico Pt. 1

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 15, 2016

PEEC Amateur Naturalist

Part 1: Climate Change and the birds of northern New Mexico

By Robert Dryja

We have been exploring the data of the Christmas Bird Count. Los Alamos now has a snapshot of birds seen in December 2015 (See here.)

The Christmas Bird Count shows that a few bird species are commonly seen while other species are increasingly rare. Ten species of birds account for about two-thirds of all the birds seen in the Los Alamos area.

The other seventy one species compose the remaining one-third of the birds seen. CHART I show this pattern for the 81 species.

First Round Of Funding Unveiled To Commercialize Products Created Through Labs; Universities

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 14, 2016

From The Office Of The Governor:

ALBUQUERQUE — This afternoon, Gov. Susana Martinez announced the first batch of funding to help develop and commercialize several innovative products that are the result of partnerships between researchers at New Mexico’s laboratories and universities, and the private sector.

The initiative is through the Technology Research Collaborative, which Martinez reestablished in 2013 and allows teams of researchers to compete for funding to bring their ideas and products into the marketplace.

“The technology we develop and create in our labs and universities Read More

District II Garden Club Meets March 23

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 14, 2016

LASGC News:

The Summit Garden Club of Los Alamos is hosting the District II Annual Spring Meeting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at the United Church Graves Hall, 2525 Canyon Road.

The public and all garden club members are invited to attend.

Agenda:

Registration: 9-10:30 a.m. (breakfast of muffins, breads, drinks is provided)

Executive Board Meeting: 9:30-10:15 a.m.

General Meeting: 10:30 a.m. to noon

Lunch/Program: 12:15 – 2 p.m. (Please provide information on special dietary restrictions with your check/reservation.)

How The Hen House Turns: Animal Partners

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 13, 2016

Youngsters get aquainted. Courtesy photo

Animal Partners

By Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper, Ph. D.

The word partner is appropriate, I believe, when applied to the relationship between humans and animals who have agreed to cooperate for whatever they are asked to do.

Asked is the key word here, for animals have been routinely coerced or enslaved by humans over many thousands of years. I’ll look at that in the next article.

A partnership assumes some degree of fulfillment or reward for both parties. Martin Clunes, the delightful animal lover who plays Doc Martin, made a special aired Read More

Planetarium Feature Film Premiere: Mysteries Of The Unseen World March 12, 13, 26, & 27

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 11, 2016

Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

There is still time to see the latest nature center full-dome planetarium film, Mysteries of the Unseen World. Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is showing this fascinating film in the planetarium at 2 p.m., March 12, 13, 26, and 27.

This planetarium film lets us embark on an adventure to discover unseen worlds and hidden dimensions beyond our view. With the help of technology, we can unravel the mysteries of things too fast, too slow, too small or simply invisible.

Mysteries

Energy Department Announces Denver As Next Location For Solar Decathlon Competition

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 11, 2016

Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. won the 2015 DOE Solar Decathlon. Courtesy/DOE

DOE News:

DENVER – At an event today in Denver, Colo., the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Under Secretary for Science and Energy, Dr. Franklin Orr, joined Mayor Michael Hancock to announce Denver as the host city for the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition in the fall of 2017.

Dr. Orr revealed that Denver won the bid to host this biennial event, in which student teams compete to design, build, and operate cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive solar-powered Read More

Grand Canyon Adventurer Speaks March 16

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 11, 2016

Coming Down South Kaibab Trail one mile below the rim. Photo by Benedict Dugger

LA Mountaineers News:

The Los Alamos Mountaineers will offer an exciting presentation Wednesday, March 16 at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, by life-long trail explorer and outdoors adventurer Benedict Dugger who resides in Phoenix. Social and reports of recent and upcoming trips are at 7 p.m. The program is at 7:30 p.m.

Dugger was born and raised in the Netherlands, 5,200 miles away from the Grand Canyon, surrounded by green rain-soaked pastures in a country where the highest hill is 300 feet and the Read More

Udall At VA Budget Hearing: Improve Access To Care For Rural Veterans

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 11, 2016

U.S. SENATE News:

Also presses VA Secretary on restoring trust in VA, continuing burn pit exposure research

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OCinTGYocyA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a hearing Thursday about the fiscal year 2017 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Sen. Tom Udall continued his call for the VA to improve care for veterans living in rural New Mexico and rural communities across the country.

Udall has championed the need to improve access to rural veterans’ health care through expanded use of telehealth technology, increasing transportation

‘Spectrum’ Show Celebrates Link Between Art And Science

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 9, 2016

Grasping Synapses by Todd Siler. Courtesy/CU Art Museum, University of Colorado

UNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — DaVinci knew it. Michaelangelo knew it. And the artists and scientists featured in the annual Art of Systems Biology and Nanoscience show know it, too: art and science are closely related.

This year’s show, ‘Spectrum,’ will feature stunning artwork by artists inspired by nature and dazzling images by scientists studying nature at the smallest scales. “All the pieces are really quite beautiful,” says Bridget Wilson, PhD,

Luján Discusses Easement Issues With Secretary Jewell

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 9, 2016

U.S. Rep. Ren Ray Luján

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District attended a Natural Resources Committee hearing earlier last week to discuss important easement issues impacting Santa Fe County and San Ildefonso Pueblo.

While Luján is not a member of the committee, he attended the hearing in order to bring up this important matter with Interior Secretary Jewell. Below are his remarks as delivered. Click here to watch his remarks and to access the documents submitted into the committee record

NM Delegation Urges EPA To Address Compensation Delays For Gold King Mine Spill Victims, Work With State To Monitor Water Quality

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 9, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed concerns with delays in compensation for costs and damages in New Mexico caused by the EPA’s Gold King Mine spill in Colorado six months ago.

They urged the EPA to process reimbursement claims submitted by the state and the Navajo Nation and to set up an Office of Gold King

Interior Department Names Jeff Klein Executive Director Of Natural Resource Investment Center

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 9, 2016

DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor announced Monday that the Department has tapped business leader Jeffrey D. Klein to lead the Natural Resource Investment Center (The Center) as its first executive director.

Klein is charged with fostering partnerships with the private sector to develop creative financing opportunities that support economic development goals while advancing the Department’s resource stewardship mission. The announcement will be highlighted later today at a meeting at the

Los Alamos Garden Club Meets March 21

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 8, 2016

LAGC News:

The Los Alamos Garden Club will meet March 21 at the Crossroads Bible Church on East Road.

Refreshments will be served 9:30-10 a.m. Following the 10 a.m. business meeting, Carlos Valdez, director of NM State University Cooperative Extension Office in Los Alamos, will present the program “Garden Pests and Insects”.

Visitors are always welcome to attend.

For further information,call President Sally Warner at 505.662.9473.

LOS ALAMOS

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