Environment

McQuiston: How To Prepare Your Home For Winter

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
The Jemez Agency
 
December is here and along with it comes the familiar reminders that winter is quickly approaching.
 
Turn on the radio and Christmas music is blaring, go to the store and see decorations and lights lining the shelves. It’s also that time of year again when you have to prepare your home for freezing temperatures. Here are a few items that you can start with to help winterize your home this season.
 
Cover patio furniture—patio furniture wears easily in climate change. If possible, I recommend storing patio furniture in a shed or garage. If that’s
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Udall On Trump’s Nominee For EPA Administrator

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall responded to President-elect Trump expected nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as EPA Administrator:
 
“Global warming is one of the greatest threats to public health, our environment and our national security. And New Mexico is in the bull’s eye, as farmers and anyone who relies on water and weather know all too well. The American people accept that the science is real; the facts can’t be denied, and we need to take urgent action to stop the impacts from growing
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WIPP Update: DORR Team Provides Preliminary Report

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WIPP News:
 
The DOE Operational Readiness Review (DORR) Team provided an initial briefing of their findings to the senior leadership from DOE and Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) Dec. 2.
 
The DOE ORR team concluded that upon satisfactory closure of the pre-start findings and approval of corrective action plans for the post-start findings, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) can be authorized to safely restart waste emplacement in accordance with DOE standards.
 
The ORR identified 21 pre-start findings, those issues that will have to be resolved
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Secretary Vilsack Appoints Members To Council For Native American Farming And Ranching

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USDA News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of six new members and the re-appointment of five members to the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching.
 
As a discretionary advisory committee, the Council provides recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on changes to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and other measures that would eliminate barriers to program participation for Native American farmers and ranchers.
 
“The Council for Native
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Honoring Military Families During ‘Not Forgotten Outreach Appreciation Week’

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Courtesy photo

TAOS SKI VALLEY News:

Since 2014 Taos Ski Valley (TSV) & Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc. (NFO) has been providing Military Families an affordable ski vacation.

The Appreciation Ski Week is a Free event, Taos Ski Valley would like to thank the men and women and Families of the Armed Services. The 4th Annual Not Forgotten Outreach Week is Jan. 17-22. 
 
We would like to invite active duty military, Gold Star families, veterans and any family member with a military ID to come ski for $30/day. Free
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EM Names Sue Cange New Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

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EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Sue Cange
 
DOE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― EM announced Dec. 8 that Sue Cange has been named its principal deputy assistant secretary.
 
“Sue is a trusted and effective leader with a deep understanding of EM’s cleanup mission and passion for advancing our mission,” EM Assistant Secretary Monica Regalbuto said. “With a strong track record of leading organizations to complete cleanup work safely and efficiently, she will be integral to our progress.”
 
Cange has nearly three decades of DOE leadership
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Fresh Holiday Trees At Valles Caldera National Preserve This Week!

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LAVC News:
 
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera’s Holiday Tree forest restoration project has been so successful that we needed to cut more trees!
 
Unfortunately, we ran out of trees last weekend (we apologize to those who drove up and couldn’t get a tree), and we were only able to cut 40 more for this week. Snow in the restoration area has prevented further cutting, so this week, ending Dec. 11, will be our last week at the Valle Grande Staging Area, off Hwy 4 between mile marker 39 and 40.
 
The trees are mostly White Fir of varying sizes from
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Family Night At Los Alamos Nature Center Dec. 13

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A child plays on the drum he made during Family Night with Melissa Mackey at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Tuesday, Dec. 13 is Family Night at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Enjoy an evening of games and hands-on activities 6-7 p.m. with Mesa Public Library’s Melissa Mackey. The nature center will be open until 8 p.m. for exploring the exhibits. 

The second Tuesday of every month is Family Night at the nature center. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos, this program is free for all.

For more information about this and other programs offered Read More

Udall Welcomes EPA Proposal To Ban TCE In Dry Cleaning Under Lautenberg Chemical Safety Law

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall 
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to ban uses of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) under the newly reformed bipartisan chemical safety law.
 
It is the EPA’s first effort to ban an existing chemical since it failed in its attempt to ban asbestos in the early 1990s. Used as a degreaser and spot remover in dry cleaning, TCE is a neurotoxin linked to cancer, developmental
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