Daily Postcard: Sunrise shines over Pajarito Acres. Photo by Doug Reilly Read More
Environment
County: Winter Sidewalk Guidelines
County reminds residents that it is important to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Courtesy photoCOUNTY News:
During the winter months, the County would like to remind residents that it is important to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice so that they remain passable for postal workers, children walking to school and others who need to use them.
When possible, and depending upon available resources, County crews will conduct sidewalk-clearing operations by removing snow first from the adopted “safe routes to school” and then move to other selected sidewalks. The
Read More County Issues Winter Driving Safety Tips
Los Alamos County issues winter driving safety tips. Courtesy photo
COUNTY News:
Winter weather is here, and the County would like to remind residents of some important safety considerations for motorists to take in order to make their travel as safe as possible.
Motorists are encouraged to equip their vehicles with chains and/or snow tires and carry a container of sand and a shovel in their vehicle. Additionally, motorists should make sure their vehicle is ready for winter driving by making sure the washer fluid reservoir is topped off with washer fluid that is winter rated, the windshield Read More
Join Local Birders In The 117th Annual Christmas Bird Count Dec. 17
Enthusiastic bird watchers. Photo courtesy of Beth CortrightPEEC News:
In the 1800’s, many in North America participated in a common holiday tradition of going out on Christmas day and competing to kill as many birds as possible.
At the turn of the 20th century, American ornithologist Frank Chapman suggested that perhaps it would be a better idea to simply count the birds rather than shoot them. Chapman enlisted the help of 26 like-minded bird enthusiasts and in December of 1900 held the first annual Christmas Bird Count.
For the last 116 years, the National
Read More Amateur Naturalist: The Forests Of The Cerros Del Abrigo
Grasses growing among burnt tree trunks at the start of the Cerro Del Abrigo trail. Photo by Robert Dryja
PEEC Amateur Naturalist: The forests of the Cerros Del AbrigoBy Robert Dryja
Clear cut logging in the early 1970’s left a large area of the Cerros Del Abrigo a blank slate for plant regeneration.
From this starting point different trees and grasses started to regrow. Three variables affecting the regeneration were: (1) the steepness of a slope; (2) more or less moisture; and (3) more or less soil available for growth. The Las Conchas forest fire created another
Read More DOE Secretary: U.S. Commits To IAEA Monitoring For Six Metric Tons Of Plutonium Disposition
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
DOE News:
VIENNA – At an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz today announced the United States is embarking on an effort to dilute and dispose of six metric tons of excess plutonium from the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, and that the United States is prepared to work with the IAEA in 2017 to develop a monitoring and verification plan for the disposition process.
Below are Secretary Moniz’ remarks at the conference, which begin with a message from President Obama to the conference:
“Let me start Read More
NM Natural Resource Trustee & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Seeking Public Comment
USFWS News:ALBUQUERQUE ― The New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (collectively, the Trustees) seek public comment on the Draft Addendum to the Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the Chino, Cobre and Tyrone Mine Facilities in Southwestern New Mexico.
The trustees have completed an evaluation of wildlife and wildlife habitat restoration projects that were proposed after holding an informational meeting in Silver City Oct. 21, 2015, which reopened the restoration
Read More U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Welcomes Decision To Reject Easement For Dakota Access Pipeline
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, the incoming vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to reject the current route for the Dakota Access Pipeline and explore alternatives:
“I appreciate the president and the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision today to deny an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline crossing under Lake Oahe in North Dakota and to explore alternate routes. Over the last seven months, thousands of people, including Indian nations from
Read More Tussock Moth Outbreak On Santa Fe National Forest Appears To Be Almost Over
SFNF News:SANTA FE ― The defoliation of Douglas-fir and White fir on several thousand acres on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest appears to be coming to a natural end.
In August, specialists from Forest Health Protection out of the Forest Service’s Southwestern Regional Office in Albuquerque documented an outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth (DFTM), a native defoliating insect that feeds on the trees’ needles, in the Cañada de los Alamos area near Shaggy Peak.
In the most heavily affected areas, defoliation ranged
Read More WIPP: Ground Control Progress In Panel 7
An Underground Operations employee, wearing anti-contamination clothing and a respirator, installs bolts in Panel 7 of the WIPP underground. Courtesy photoWIPP News:
Underground operations personnel installed 360 bolts in one recent week – doubling the previous weekly record.
The significant progress made in ground control maintenance over the past several weeks in the WIPP underground has exceeded expectations. Ground control is important to ensure safe working conditions for resuming waste emplacement.
“The performance of our underground
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