Environment

Udall To Rally For Chemical Safety Reform Today

May 31, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

From the Office of Sen. Tom Udall:

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall will celebrate historic progress on the the push to reform the broken chemical safety law with a rally at an Albuquerque business devoted to selling home and building products free of hazardous chemicals.

Joining Udall will be business owners, building trade workers, the March of Dimes, moms and experts on health and safety, including Dr. Cheryl Willman of the UNM Cancer Center, Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins and Caroline Scruggs of UNM’s School of Architecture and Planning.

See Stars At Bandelier Night Sky Fiesta June 2-4

May 30, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Telescope viewing through one of the giant telescopes, Bandelier Night Sky Fiesta. Courtesy/Bandelier

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier’s Second Annual Night Sky Fiesta is coming up at light speed, Thursday June 2 through Saturday, June 4. There will be solar scopes during daytime, guest speakers, and then giant telescopes in the evenings providing chances to enjoy Bandelier’s very dark skies.

A solar viewing at the Bandelier Visitor Center is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 2. At 8:30 p.m., at the Juniper Campground amphitheater, guest speaker Kara Baker, NASA Near

Bears Are Back In Town!

May 28, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Courtesy photo

PEEC & LEWF News:

It is one of the most wonderful times of the year! The bears are back in town!

After their long rest, bears have begun to wander out of their dens, and we have been blessed with seeing a couple of bears in Los Alamos already.

Bears always come with some fear. Fear of the predator in your back yard, and Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation would like to give everyone some facts before they get too scared.

Bears are the embodiment of power! They are big, strong, and fast. Given enough time, a bear can break into almost any contraption. With this, people often fear bears Read More

Volunteer On The Winsor Trail For National Trails Day

May 28, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Celebrate National Trails Day June 4 and 11 by helping the Santa Fe National Forest reroute two sections of the popular Winsor Trail.

National Trails Day is the American Hiking Society’s annual event to encourage Americans to enjoy the outdoors by highlighting trails and activities in all 50 states.

June 4, the Santa Fe National Forest, the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society and REI are teaming up for a National Trails Day event on the upper Winsor Trail. Volunteers will create a reroute to bypass a steep and badly eroded section

WIPP Update: Firefighters Complete Training

May 27, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

WIPP News:

Members of the WIPP fire department recently participated in Live Fire Training at the Permian Basin Regional Training Center south of Carlsbad.

Live Fire Training is a critical part of the training and certification process for WIPP firefighters and the facilities at the regional training center allowed the 29 participants to respond and fight fires in a realistic, but controlled environment.

The training required participants to solve unique problems associated with fires in different types of structures and

TALES OF OUR TIMES: Imagine Sustainability

May 27, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Tales of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water

Imagine Sustainability

The computer is a bringer of prospects. But how did it get stuck with the name “computer?”

Few in the crowd compute. Many more think of video games, texting or maybe e-books. “Greens” think of smart cars and paperless records.

Rare is the breed hooked on sustainability games, a many-sided teaching tool. Yet, games may be the best hope we have that coming generations will work out the problems we pass to them.

“Sustainability games” are computer games that test a player’s

Jewell Announces $10 Million For Projects To Increase Wildfire Resilience Across America

May 27, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

DOI News:

BOISE, ID ― U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced $10 million in funding to help increase the resiliency of critical landscapes across the country to better mitigate the impacts of wildfire and climate change.

The Wildland Fire Resilient Landscapes Program is a new approach to achieve fire resiliency and help restore public lands nationwide through multi-year investments in designated landscapes.

Launched last year, the program incorporates goals of the National Cohesive Wildland

Santa Fe National Forest Campgrounds, Picnic Areas Open For Summer Season

May 27, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Warmer weather and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend are the unofficial launch of the summer recreation season on the 1.6-million-acre Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

The SFNF offers a multitude of recreational opportunities to its visitors. Developed sites for camping and picnicking are among the most popular, offering scenic vistas, access to fishing and hiking, and perhaps even a little peace and quiet.

Forest visitors are asked to follow campfire safety guidelines and adhere to the Leave No Trace principles

Nature Center Open Memorial Day Weekend

May 26, 2016 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Los Alamos Nature Center on Canyon Road is open this Memorial Day weekend. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

This weekend is a great time to spend time in nature, and the Los Alamos Nature Center can help. The nature center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Memorial Day and is a great day to visit the animals, use the Los Alamos Trails App to find a fun hike, pick up a Passport to the Pajarito Plateau, or build great memories with family and friends in the Satch and George Cowan Children’s Discovery Area.

For more information about the Los Alamos Read More

SFNF Issues Order Prohibiting Marijuana

May 26, 2016 by Submitted by Chris Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― In order to provide for public health and safety and protect resources, the Santa Fe National Forest issued an order that prohibits possessing, storing or transporting marijuana within Forest boundaries.

The order, which is in effect until May 31, 2018, allows Forest Service law enforcement personnel to issue citations to violators. Marijuana possession, storage or transport on the Forest is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not