Environment

Seed Harvesting Hikes Begin Friday

by

Seed collection volunteers. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Since the Las Conchas Fire, many areas of the Pajarito Plateau are in stream channel stabilization and floodplain restoration. To help in this effort, join Chick Keller to collect grass seeds and look at other interesting native plants.

These seeds will be used next spring in the post-fire restoration project along Frijoles Creek near the Visitor Center in Bandelier National Monument. This project, managed by Keystone Restoration Ecology, is part of a New Mexico River Stewardship grant to protect New Mexico’s water quality and resources. Read More

Learn About Hidden Treasures Of Mesa Prieta Tuesday

by

Mesa Prieta Petroglyph. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Which site has 50,000 volunteer-logged petroglyphs? What is the largest petroglyph site in North America? The answer to both of these questions is Mesa Prieta, an amazing archaeological treasure just in our own backyard.

To learn more about this fascinating area and unique nonprofit, come hear Katherine Wells, founder of Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, discuss her work at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Los Alamos Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road. It is free to attend, and no registration is required.

Wells will show petroglyphs from the Archaic, Puebloan Read More

Upper Gold King Mine Spill Still Not Cleaned Up

by

Mine Wastes on Animas River bank rocks in Durango Aug. 14, 2015. Courtesy/Dr. Jack Nyhan
 
 
By Dr. JACK NYHAN
Independent Environmental Scientist
Northern New Mexico

The ghost town of Gladstone is found in one of the most stunningly beautiful areas of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, located at the head of Cement Creek about 6 miles north of Silverton. 

Proceeding south along the Animas River from Silver City leads to the most beautiful farmland in all of Colorado and New Mexico adjacent to the Animas River. So, from Gladstone, it’s 6 miles to Silverton, and then 47 mi to Durango Read More

SFNF Releases Final EIS For Southwest Jemez Mountains Landscape Restoration Project

by

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) announced the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (ROD) for one of the largest forest restoration projects in the Southwest.

The Southwest Jemez Mountains (SWJM) Landscape Restoration Project is a long-term collaborative effort to restore forest ecosystems at the landscape scale and improve resilience to major disturbances, including fire, insects and disease, and climate change. 

SFNF Supervisor Maria T. Garcia said the plan of action selected for the SWJM project is based Read More

Hazy Los Alamos Sky From Western Fires

by

Hazy skies. Courtesy photo

LAFD News:

The Los Alamos Fire Department explains that the smoky haze occurring in the sky over Los Alamos is coming from fires burning in the western states.

“We’re getting into the Fall pattern and the jet stream is pulling all the smoke from fires in Washington, Idaho, California, Oregon and Colorado right through Los Alamos,” Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider said. Read More

NMED Proposes Repeal Of 20.2.36 NMAC Sulfur Limits

by

NMED News:
 
After review and evaluation, the New Mexico Environment Department―Air Quality Bureau proposes to repeal 20.2.36 NMAC, Petroleum Refinery―Sulfur (Part 36).
 
A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18, in Santa Fe. Part 36 was adopted in 1974 and establishes sulfur limits (sulfur recovery standards) and other requirements for existing and new petroleum refineries. 

The rule was identified in the November 2012 Improving Environmental Permitting Report as a rule for potential revision or repeal. 

The NMED will host informational open houses

Read More

WIPP: New Hybrid Bolting Machine Ready For Service

by

New hybrid bolting machine assembled at Wipp. Courtesy/WIPP

 

WIPP News:

WIPP’s new hybrid bolting machine was recently transported to the WIPP underground, where it was reassembled by site personnel.

The bolter is designed to run on either diesel or electricity. The unit was inspected and acceptance tested at the manufacturer’s site before it was disassembled and transported to the WIPP site. Operational checks have been completed, and the automatic fire suppression system has been installed on the unit.

Before the bolter can be placed into service, portable power units that will Read More

Project Underway To Repair Flood Damage In Bandelier Visitor Center Area

by

Work has begun on a project to clean up and repair the area across Frijoles Creek from the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center. Courtesy/NPS

Fallen branches are being removed as part of a project to clean up and repair the area across Frijoles Creek from the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center. Courtesy/NPS

Map. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

Work has begun on a project to clean up and repair the area across Frijoles Creek from the Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center, which has been damaged by flash floods following the Las Conchas Fire in 2011.

Using emergency relief funds Read More

Sierra Club Applauds New Methane Pollution Standard

by

SIERRA CLUB News:
 
The Obama Administration Tuesday introduced the first-ever proposed methane pollution standards for new and modified oil and gas facilities, a landmark announcement that will blunt the projected growth of methane and smog-forming pollution produced by the industry in New Mexico.
 
The newly proposed standards will help to safeguard public health and put the United States closer to being on track to meet the Administration’s goal of reducing oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent by 2025.
 
“New Mexicans were shocked to hear about the country’s
Read More

Results Of Well Water ‘Walk-in’ Samples Sent To 570 Residents Concerned With Gold King Mine Spill Effects

by

NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn said

NMED News:

SANTA FE – Results of domestic well water testing are being mailed to approximately 570 concerned residents of San Juan County following the Aug. 5 EPA-caused Gold King Mine Spill.

“We mobilized about 25 environment department staff in the wake of the Gold King Mine Spill for a variety of purposes, and we still have many in the field. Many of these environment staff tested water on behalf of more than 500 domestic well owners who brought their ‘walk-in’ samples to the County Fair last week,” NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn said. “Many test participants received Read More