Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

New Mexico Delegation Welcomes BLM’s Draft Rule On Reducing Natural Gas Loss, Fighting Climate Change

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 25, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday, that they welcome the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft rules for curbing natural gas waste.

New Mexico is the nation’s leading producer of oil from onshore federal land, and second for natural gas production. Yet too much of the state’s natural gas goes to waste through venting, flaring and leaks – causing dangerous methane pollution over the San

Earthjustice: Supreme Court Ruling A Win For Clean Energy

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 25, 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/Earthjustice

EARTHJUSTICE News:

Decision helps reduce barriers to critical clean energy resource, reducing rates and enhancing grid reliability

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that ensures that a critically important clean energy resource will continue to provide key benefits in our wholesale energy markets.

It decided that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to remove barriers to “demand response” programs, which compensates consumers for reducing their Read More

Warmer Oceans Could Substantially Boost Destructive Power Of Future Superstorms

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 25, 2016

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hurricane Sandy became the second costliest hurricane to hit the United States when it blew ashore in October 2012, killing 159 people and inflicting $71 billion in damage.

Informally known as a “superstorm” after it made landfall, Sandy was so destructive largely because of its unusual size and track. After moving north from the tropical waters where it spawned, Sandy turned out to sea before hooking back west, growing in size and crashing head-on into the East Coast, gaining strength when it merged with an eastbound mid-latitude

LANL’s Plutonium Plans Move Forward, Draw Fire

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2016

Aerial view of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy photo

By ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

The Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration continue to move toward establishing a long-term manufacturing capability for producing plutonium pits, the nuclear triggers for thermonuclear weapons, at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

LANL has long played a crucial leadership role in investigating and handling plutonium materials and maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. A Los Alamos site report by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Read More

Bandelier In Great Shape But Watch For Falling Trees

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2016

Trees in the Las Conchas Fire area are now breaking and falling, creating a hazard for hikers, skiers and snowshoers. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

For those who enjoy getting out into the winter woods, this year Bandelier National Monument has the whole range of conditions available.

The ski trails and trail up Cerro Grande are in good shape for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while trails at lower elevations can provide opportunities for hikes through the snow. But almost everywhere in the eastern Jemez, winter travelers need to beware of a serious hazard –

Planetarium Shows ‘Back To The Moon For Good’

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2016

State Police Handling Haz-Mat Incident In Ojo Caliente

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 23, 2016

NMSP News:

New Mexico State Police is handling a hazmat situation that occurred Friday in Ojo Caliente near US 285 milepost 348.

Two individuals complained of possible exposure and were treated by EMS. No major exposure or injuries have been reported.

The scene is secure and US 285 from milepost 346 to milepost 353 is closed and will remain closed until the hazmat has been deemed safe. Out of precaution, the perimeter has been moved back another half mile and is now set at one mile north and south of the affected warehouse.

State Police received an initial report of smoke emitting from Read More

DOE And New Mexico Finalize $74M In Settlement Agreements For Nuclear Waste Incidents of 2014

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 22, 2016

The New Mexico Environment Department, the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors signed two settlement agreements resolving the February 2014 incidents at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad and the associated activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The agreements provide for a set of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in both the Carlsbad and Los Alamos communities that enhance and improve New Mexico’s roads, water infrastructure and emergency response infrastructure. Courtesy/NMED

NMED News:

Agreements Include Schedules and Funding Parameters

PEEC Offers Snowshoe Hike To Cañada Bonita Saturday

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

Youth enjoying a snowshoe hike on a beautiful winter day. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is offering a beginning snowshoe hike from Pajarito ski hill parking lot to Cañada Bonita 9-11 a.m. Saturday.

PEEC’s educator Siobhan Niklasson will lead participants along a showshoe trail maintained by the Southwest Nordic Ski Club and point out ecological features of the winter forest. This family-friendly hike will cover 3 miles and about 300 feet of elevation change.

This is a free hike. Advance registration is required. Participants can

Bandelier Reduces Frijoles Canyon Analysis Of Access Plan Impacts To Categorical Exclusion

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

Shuttle bus at Bandelier Visitor Center in Frijoles Canyon. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

In 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) notified the public that an environmental assessment (EA) would be prepared to analyze the potential environmental effects of project alternatives to improve transportation conditions at Bandelier National Monument.

This notice is to inform the public that the analysis of proposed action and associated impacts of the project has been reduced to a degree that an EA is no longer required. Alternatively, the NPS is preparing

Energy Department Announces $58 Million To Advance Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Technologies

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced more than $58 million in funding for vehicle technology advancements and released a report highlighting the successes of DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program while touring the newest vehicle technologies Thursday at the Washington Auto Show.

Continuing the Obama Administration’s commitment to supporting the domestic automobile industry, Moniz announced a $55 million funding opportunity that will solicit

PEEC Offers Bosque del Apache Birding This Weekend

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

Birders at Bosque del Apache. Photo by Mouser Williams

PEEC News:

Learn more about wildlife this weekend birding at the Bosque del Apache with two expert birders and excellent teachers, David Yeamans and Mouser Williams. The Pajarito Environmental Education Center is sponsoring the program.

Yeamans has watched birds most of his life starting in Los Alamos many years ago, and in the last five years, he has been a birder of the type he calls “semi-pro.”

Yeamans is active in Audubon bird counts, bird banding, field trips, and local birding activities.

Heinrich Applauds Cosmic Campgrounds International Dark Sky Sanctuary Designation

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., applauded western New Mexico’s Cosmic Campground on being designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

The Cosmic Campground is the first International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) location on U.S Forest Service land and the first dark sky sanctuary designated in the United States.

“The Cosmic Campground in Catron County brings visitors from around the United States and the world to enjoy New Mexico’s unmatched wild places,” Heinrich said. “Outdoor

Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority Approves Planned Irradiation Project At Halden Research Reactor

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016

LTBR News:

Reston, VA ― Lightbridge Corporation, a U.S. nuclear energy company, announced Thursday that the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which operates the Halden Research Reactor in Norway, had received formal regulatory approval from the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) for all planned irradiation of Lightbridge metallic fuel at the Halden Research Reactor in Norway, which is expected to begin in 2017.

This regulatory approval follows a safety report previously submitted by IFE to the NRPA relating to irradiation testing of Lightbridge-designed

Explore Mars In The Nature Center Planetarium Friday

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016

Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Learn more about Mars at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at the Los Alamos Nature Center as Rick Wallace leads a planetarium show and discussion of Mars, the challenges, opportunities, and realities of this red planet.

This special planetarium show is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are available by calling or stopping by the nature center. Seating is limited.

Planetarium shows are suitable for ages four and up. For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit here, email programs@peecnature.org

Caltech Researchers Find Evidence Of A Real Ninth Planet

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016

This artistic rendering shows the distant view from Planet Nine back towards the sun. The planet is thought to be gaseous, similar to Uranus and Neptune. Hypothetical lightning lights up the night side. Courtesy/Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

CALTECH News:

Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

– See more at: https:////www.caltech.edu/news/caltech-researchers-find-evidence-real-ninth-planet-49523#sthash.LN79Qeyo.dpuf

IET Issues Call For Papers To Gas Turbine Instrumentation Community

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016

IET News:

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)—a member organization of the Automation Federation—has issued a Call for Papers, inviting experts within the international gas turbine instrumentation community to share their latest research and results at the 2016 EVI-GTI Conference on Gas Turbine Instrumentation.

The conference, to take place in September in Berlin, Germany and bring together gas turbine professionals, process engineers and leading industry experts to discuss new and innovative instrumentation techniques, developments and applications

‘Earthshaking’ Science On Tap Jan. 21 At UnQuarked

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 20, 2016

LACD News:

Does one big earthquake lead to another?

While large earthquakes have occurred throughout the Earth’s history, their number has dramatically increased in the last ten to fifteen years. What is it that makes the earth move under our feet? How is it that earthquakes can cause other earthquakes? Can human activities, such as “fracking,” also trigger earthquakes?

Paul Johnson with the Lab’s Geophysics group will help explore this topic at the next Science On Tap, at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, at UnQuarked Wine Room, 145 Central Park

Letter To The Editor: Bears Ears National Monument?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 19, 2016

By JODY BENSON

Los Alamos

Here in Los Alamos, we prefer data to anecdotal (so-called) information, and the data about public support of public lands as presented in the recent letter in the Los Alamos Daily Post about Colorado College’s Poll on Conservation in the West is heartening: 78 percent of New Mexicans value conserving public lands.

Los Alamites with access to the mesas and canyons appreciate the quality of life open space provides. In fact, 16 years ago, many of us put those values into action as we worked diligently for two years to save our beautiful Valles Caldera from development Read More

Secretary Jewell Launches Comprehensive Review Of Federal Coal Program

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 18, 2016

Secretary Sally Jewell

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Secretary Sally Jewell announced Friday, that the Interior Department will launch a comprehensive review to identify and evaluate potential reforms to the federal coal program in order to ensure that it is properly structured to provide a fair return to taxpayers and reflect its impacts on the environment, while continuing to help meet our energy needs.

This is another step along the path that President Obama announced in Tuesday’s State of the Union address to improve

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