Environment

New Viruses: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly July 29

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AIA News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― The Albuquerque International Association (AIA) will host a public lecture by Dr. Terry McNearney, M.D. titled “New Viruses: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at 3 p.m., Friday, July 29, at the UNM Continuing Education Conference Center (1634 University Blvd NE).
 
Dr. McNearney served on the faculties of Washington University School of Medicine and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, specializing in rheumatology and retrovirology. A long-time research focus of her lab has been how viruses
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Public Astronomy Dark Night Saturday At Overlook

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PAJARITO ASTRONOMERS News:
 
The Pajarito Astronomers will be holding a County-Sponsored Dark Night starting at 8:15 p.m. (sunset,) Saturday, July 30 at Spirio Soccer Field, Overlook Park.
 
Weather permitting, the public is invited to come out, wander among the telescopes, and star gaze. The planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune may all be visible. There will be a tour of the summer constellations, and there will be telescope views of double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. 
 
The public is
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Commission Accepts Taos Regional Water Plan

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ISC News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) on Thursday accepted the Taos Regional Water Plan.
 
The presentation of the plan to the commission by regional Steering Committee representatives Taos County Commissioner Tom Blakenhorn and Taos County Chief Planner Nathan Sanchez, focused on the key water issues, key collaborative strategies and regional recommendations for consideration in the state water plan update.
 
Members of the regional Steering Committees worked together to identify projects, programs and policies
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Nuclear Watch New Mexico Seeks To Invalidate New Cleanup Order For LANL

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DOE News:

Nuclear Watch New Mexico amended its complaint against the U.S. Department of Energy and Los Alamos National Security, LLC, which alleges 12 cleanup violations of the 2005 Consent Order issued by the New Mexico Environment Department for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

The amendment is asking the federal court to invalidate the recently issued Consent Order because the Department did not hold a formal public hearing as required by federal and state hazardous waste laws and regulations.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is the owner of LANL, and the Los Alamos National Security,

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Teens Learn About Mars Rover From Roger Wiens

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Team Intergalactic checks out a Mars Rover exhibit at the Bradbury Science Museum. Courtesy photo
 
YMCA News:

Members of Española YMCA Teen Center’s “Team Intergalactic” spent an afternoon with Dr. Roger Wiens, the ChemCam/SuperCam principal investigator of the Mars Rover, at the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos.

Dr. Wiens educated the group on the design and function of the Mars Rover, to include internal and external working parts. The teens enjoyed their time and wealth of information shared by Dr. Wiens, a YMCA representative said.

The team expressed its thanks to Dr. Wiens Read More

Trash Piles Up On Santa Fe National Forest

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Trash left at dispersed camping site in Dalton Canyon last weekend. Courtesy/USDA Forest Service
 
SFNF News:
 
SANTA FE ― Trash is an all-too-common sight on the Santa Fe National Forest. It’s everywhere – at developed recreation sites, at dispersed camping sites, in Wilderness, on trails and even in streams. 
 
It seems clear that the “Pack It In, Pack It Out” mantra isn’t getting the job done. The Santa Fe National Forest is asking visitors to take one more step and “Pack It Home” to throw away with the household trash. 
 
Estimates
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Heinrich, Udall Introduce Buffalo Tract Protection Act

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) have introduced the Buffalo Tract Protection Act in response to deep concerns from local communities in southern Sandoval County about the negative impacts of a proposed gravel mine in the area.
 
The bill will withdraw four parcels of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, including the Buffalo Tract and the Crest of Montezuma, from any mineral development, including gravel mining.
 
In 2012, the BLM released a draft of the new resource management plan
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PEEC: Local Storytellers Tell Tales On The Trails July 30

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Courtesy/PEEC
 
PEEC News:

The community is invited to join storytellers Terry Foxx and Kimberly Gotches at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30 for a walk around the beautiful landscape of northern New Mexico.

The easy one-mile trek will stop at four different outdoor locations near the Los Alamos Nature Center and Kinnikinnik Park, and participants can enjoy stories and activities along the way. Adults and children are welcome to attend.

Meet in front of the Los Alamos Aquatic Center near the Kinnikinnik Park trailhead. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a sun hat, dress for the weather, and carry a Read More

Learn About Wildland Fire Fighting Wednesday

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Wildland fire truck.Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

What does it take to be a wildland fire fighter? What equipment do they use? What can kids do to prevent wildfires from starting? On Wednesday, July 27, bring the family to find the answer to these and lots of other fire-related questions! Beginning at 6:30 p.m., local wildland firefighters will be on hand to answer questions, demonstrate how to use their firefighting equipment and let families see their fire engine.

Summer Family Evenings have always been a popular program organized by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), and Del Read More

Planetarium Film: ‘Black Holes’ July 23-24

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Poster for ‘Black Holes.’ Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Ever wonder what it would be like to voyage through the galaxies in search of black holes? Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC’s) new planetarium film, Black Holes, explores a place where time stands still, universal order breaks down, and the the unimaginable becomes reality.

This family-friendly film will play in the Los Alamos Nature Center planetariumat 2 p.m. Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24.

Black Holes will also play in the nature center planetarium at 2 p.m. July 30, Aug. 13, and Aug. 14.

Tickets may Read More