Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

Family Night At Nature Center 6-7 p.m. Today

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 8, 2016

Enjoy hands-on fun at the Los Alamos Nature Center’s Family Night. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Family Night is 6 to 7 p.m. today at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Mesa Public Library’s Melissa Mackey will uncover the mysteries and origin of igneous rock. The nature center will be open until 8 p.m. for exploring exhibits.

The second Tuesday of each month is Family Night at the nature center. This program is free to attend thanks to a generous sponsorship from Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos.

For more information about this and other programs offered

DPU Seeks Input For Policy On Customer-owned Solar Energy Systems

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 7, 2016

COUNTY News:

Discussion scheduled for March 16 BPU Meeting

Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) officials encourage Los Alamos citizens to go to the County’s online open forum at https:////www.peakdemocracy.com/3411 and provide feedback on recommended policies related to distributed energy resources or customer-owned generation sources, such as roof-top solar systems.

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will review and discuss recommendations in the July 7, 2015 Future Electrical Energy Report on this issue at the March 16, 2016 board meeting held at 5:30 Read More

Micronesian Solar Eclipse Viewing At Nature Center

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 7, 2016

PEEC News:

The next solar eclipse will be viewable over Indonesia and other parts of Micronesia.

The Los Alamos Nature Center will be showing live footage of the eclipse March 8 in the planetarium, have experts available and more.

The community is invited to attend this event.

Roger This: Limiting Liability For Our Nuclear Nightmares

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 7, 2016

By ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

In his novel, Odds Against Tomorrow, a talented young writer Nathaniel Rich, explores the converging vectors of risk, natural and manmade disaster and finance in the wisp of time folded between today and tomorrow.

Published in 2013, a few months after Superstorm Sandy battered the entire East Cost while pounding New York and the Jersey Shore, this story of an apocalyptic inundation of Manhattan could not have been better timed. Introducing a “long-short” scheme to profit from a whole market basket of global fears, Rich spins up a valuable parable Read More

Nuke Bird Vulnerability

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 7, 2016

Indian Point nuclear power plant. Courtesy/wikipedia

HSNW News:

Bird droppings cause N.Y. nuclear reactor power outage

One of the nuclear reactors at Indian Point nuclear power plant outside New York City was safely shut down for three days last December, following an electrical disturbance on outdoor high voltage transmission lines.

Entergy Corp., which operates the power plant, hired outside expert to analyze the incident, and they found that the culprit was what the experts call bird “streaming.”

“If it has nowhere to send its electricity, the generator senses that and Read More

Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board Sets Area G Hearing In Santa Fe March 22

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 7, 2016

Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board Chairman Joyce Connery

By ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

The Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board announced that it will hold a public hearing March 22 in Santa Fe.

The board will hear from its own staff and from LANL, DOE and NNSA officials on new and residual management and safety issues concerning Area G, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s hazardous waste disposal area.

In a prepared statement Thursday, DNFSB Chairman Joyce Connery said, “With the upcoming wildfire season, the Board is interested in understanding potential hazards to Read More

Interior Deputy Secretary Connor To Host Listening Session On Land Buy-Back Program

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 7, 2016

Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor

USDI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor hosted a Listening Session March 3 in Albuquerque, to hear directly from tribal leaders and individual landowners on the progress of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program).

Deputy Secretary Connor was joined at the Albuquerque Convention Center by Special Trustee for American Indians Vincent G. Logan and Acting Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Lawrence S. Roberts.

As part of

Fish And Wildlife Conservation Leaders Call For $1.3 Billion Annual Investment For States

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 6, 2016

NWTF News:

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — A group of energy, business and conservation leaders released their recommendations March 3 on how to avert the growing endangered species crisis in this country.

The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources determined that utilizing a portion of revenues from energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters to fund state-based conservation could address conservation needs for thousands of species. An annual investment of $1.3 billion from these development

Storytelling Workshops At Nature Center With Harriet Cole March 12

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 6, 2016

Harriet Cole, storyteller and story-teacher, captivates audiences with the art of performance storytelling. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Learn more about the art of performance storytelling. Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is offering three storytelling workshops with storyteller Harriet Cole at the Los Alamos Nature Center on Saturday, March 12.

Each workshop has a different focus, and all the workshops will be interactive, experiential, and filled with storytelling games designed to increase performing

Cardin, Delaney, Luján Introduce Resolutions Establishing National Clean Energy Goals

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 5, 2016

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (N.M.-3) and U.S. Rep. John K. Delaney (Md.-6) filed resolutions in the House and Senate affirming the establishment of a national goal of more than 50 percent of America’s electricity production coming from clean and carbon-free electricity sources by 2030 and calling for the enactment of new legislation to achieve this goal.

In a show of significant support for this initiative, the “50×30 Resolutions” are cosponsored by 30 Senators and 103

Hubble Team Breaks Cosmic Distance Record

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 5, 2016

NASA News:

By pushing NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to its limits, an international team of astronomers has shattered the cosmic distance record by measuring the farthest galaxy ever seen in the universe.

This surprisingly bright, infant galaxy, named GN-z11, is seen as it was 13.4 billion years in the past, just 400 million years after the big bang. GN-z11 is located in the direction of the constellation of Ursa Major.

“We’ve taken a major step back in time, beyond what we’d ever expected to be able to do with Hubble. We see GN-z11 at a time when the universe

Heinrich Pushes For New Mexico Priorities In DOE FY 2017 Budget

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 5, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D. C. ― During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the U.S. Department of Energy’s fiscal year 2017 budget request, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich continued to push for Waste Isolated Pilot Plant (WIPP) safety and recovery efforts, a new cleanup schedule at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and technology transfer opportunities.

The committee received testimony from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz.

During the hearing, Heinrich underscored that the safety of WIPP

March Night Sky Planetarium Show At Nature Center Tonight

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 4, 2016

A view of the night sky and our Milky Way galaxy. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Do you want to learn more about the stars and constellations visible in March? At 7 p.m., Friday, March 4 in the Los Alamos Nature Center planetarium, astrophysicist Galen Gisler will give a tour of the March evening skies including neighboring galaxies and clusters of galaxies.

Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s Night Sky shows are ideal for stargazers who want to expand their knowledge.

For astronomers in the northern hemisphere,

DOE On Launch Of U.S. – Republic Of Korea High Level Bilateral Commission

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 4, 2016

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul announced Thursday the launch of the High Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC).

Republic of Korea Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul

In their roles as HLBC Co-Chairs, Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall and Vice Minister Cho also announced that the first meeting of the HLBC will take place April 14 in Seoul. Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall will travel Read More

Udall Fights For New Mexico Priorities In Interior Department Budget

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 4, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, helped lead a hearing Wednesday on the president’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Udall welcomed proposals for increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and mandatory funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program.

He also pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on several other issues important

Udall Raises Concerns About Gila River Diversion, Pushes For Funding For New Mexico Water Projects

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 4, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall raised concerns Wednesday about a potential Gila River diversion project and pushed for continued funding for several water projects important to New Mexico communities at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Udall has previously expressed skepticism over the high cost of a Gila River diversion project. He asked Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan R. López for an update and assurances that any proposed project would get a thorough economic and environmental

Heinrich Statement On Adding Gold King Mine Spill Site To Superfund National Priorities List

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 3, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, issued the following statement in support of adding the site of the Gold King Mine spill that polluted the Four Corners region last summer to the Superfund National Priorities List.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper formally endorsed a Superfund cleanup for 48 abandon mining sites, including the Gold King Mine.

“I fully support the local communities and Gov. Hickenlooper in their effort to add these mine

Geocaching Workshop At Nature Center March 5

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 2, 2016

Geocashers Coleen Meyer and her daughter. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Coleen Meyer, an experienced and passionate geocacher, will teach the ins-and-outs of playing the geocaching game from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 5 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

This free workshop will cover the history, lingo, equipment, and technology used for geocaching as well as what to look for and what to do once you find a cache, aside from a brief victory dance. A geocaching event will follow the workshop from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Coleen

AGU: New Research Reveals Sound Of Deep-Water Animal Migration

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 2, 2016

AGU News:

NEW ORLEANS ― The American Geophysical Union has announced that new research finds there is a distinct sound coming from a massive community of fish, shrimp, jellies and squid as they travel up and down from the depths of the ocean to the water’s surface to feed.

This sound could be serving as a “dinner bell” for these deep-water organisms that play a key role in ocean food webs and the global carbon cycle, and could help scientists better understand this mysterious ecosystem, according to new research being presented here Monday.

A vast number of animals, including

Youth Conservation Corps Summer Job Applications Closing 5 p.m. March 7

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 2, 2016

The Family YMCA’s summer Youth Conservation Corps work on trails. Courtesy/YMCA

Y News:

The deadline to turn in applications for The Family YMCA’s summer Youth Conservation Corps trail repair program is 5 p.m., March 7.

Applications should be turned in as soon as possible. No applications will be taken after 5 p.m., Monday, March 7. Applications may be turned in at the Los Alamos and Espanola YMCA teen centers and at the Y, 1450 Iris St., in Los Alamos, attention Human Resources.

Hiring for this program is restricted Read More

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