Environment

Opposition Mounts To Proposal Increasing Cougar Hunting And Trapping In New Mexico

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APNM Wildlife Campaign Manager Phil Carter

APNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexicans of all stripes are opposed to proposed changes to the state Bear & Cougar Rule released Monday by New Mexico Department of Game & Fish (NMDGF).

The ill-conceived and problematic proposals seek to expand the use of cruel trap and snare devices to kill cougars by eliminating the permit requirement for property owners to set traps for the native big cat species and by allowing the use of traps and snares on cougars on State Trust lands, which total nine million acres across New Mexico.

The department also is recommending Read More

NMED Reminds Animas River Water Users To Stop Taking Water Following EPA Gold King Mine Toxin Spill

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State Engineer Tom Blaine

NMED News:

SANTA FE —The New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer remind water users along the Animas River to stop taking water from the Animas River during the EPA Gold King Mine Spill that released about one million gallons of contaminated water Wednesday into a tributary of the Animas River in Colorado.

“We have successfully reached out to the communities, water systems, and other stakeholders who rely upon the Animas River for water supplies and they have ceased taking river water,” State Engineer Tom Blaine said. “Despite Read More

Dr. Monica Regalbuto Confirmed As DOE Assistant Secretary For Environmental Management

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Dr. Monica Regalbuto

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today confirmed Dr. Monica Regalbuto as the Department of Energy’s assistant secretary for environmental management.

“Having served in both the Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Nuclear Energy, Monica is more than ready for her new role at the Department,” DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “Her hands-on experience in all aspects of nuclear waste cleanup and her tenure as an Argonne National Lab scientist have prepared her for the position of assistant secretary for environmental management. I thank the Read More

The Perseids Are Coming, The Perseids Are Coming!

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A multicolored, long Perseid meteor striking the sky in 2009 just to the left of Milky Way. Courtesy/wikipedia

ASTRONOMERS News:

Three Upcoming Dixon Star Parties:

El Valle Astronomers is planning three upcoming Star Parties at the Dixon Ballfield in August. The dates are Saturday Aug. 8, Wednesday Aug. 12 and Saturday Aug. 15. For all three, meet in front of the Dixon Coop Market at 8 p.m. and President Lee Mesibov will lead the procession up the hill to the Dixon Ballfield.

The big Perseid event is Wednesday, Aug. 12. Bring folding chairs and tarps, blankets and pillows, food and drinks. Read More

Laser Light Shows At Los Alamos Nature Center

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Laser Pink Floyd: The Best of Echoes is one of 12 shows at the Nature Center. Courtesy image

PEEC News:

PEEC is hosting 30 laser light shows in the new planetarium in August..

Aug. 7 through Aug. 15 there will be at least two laser light shows per day. Attendees will have the opportuity to experience a feast for the senses in these dazzling and captivating laser light programs.

With 11 unique shows playing during the week, there is truly something for everyone. Classic music fans will love to see how laser light transforms their favorite bands, with separate shows dedicated to the music of Led Zeppelin, Read More

Secretary Moniz Statement On Release Of Final Clean Power Plan Rules

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U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued their final Clean Power Plan rule that will encourage energy innovation by reducing the carbon emissions from America’s power plants.

Below is the statement from Secretary Moniz:

“Before President Barack Obama took office, America did not have a comprehensive national plan to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Seven years later, we are cutting carbon emissions from our cars, our trucks, Read More

Four LANL Projects Are R&D 100 Award Finalists

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A team uses the PipeLIBS tool, which can quickly assess the condition of a pipe. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Finalists include X-ray imaging, pipe corrosion, data handling and damage-detection software

Four Los Alamos National Laboratory projects have been selected as finalists for the 2015 R&D 100 awards, which honor the top 100 proven technological advances of the past year as determined by a panel selected by R&D Magazine.

The Los Alamos finalists are:

  • LARS: Lab-scale Asynchronous Radiographic System;
  • PipeLIBS: A Self-Contained Elemental Analysis Tool for the Oil Industry;
Read More

‘Art, Wind And Fire’ Event At PEEC Tuesday

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Artwork by Rumi Vesselinova shows the landscape after the Las Conchas Fire. Courtesy/PEEC
 

PEEC News:

PEEC offers the unique opportunity to explore fire through both art and science.

The Las Conchas Fire in 2011 burned more than 150,000 acres in the areas around Los Alamos. During the fire and over the next four years, photographer Rumi Vesselinova has sought to capture how this event altered the visual landscape of the region.

Join the artist as she presents these images 7-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 at the Nature Center.

Immediately after the artist reception, Terry Foxx will discuss Read More

Reminder From Bandelier: It’s Flash Flood Season Again

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Major flash flood Sept. 14, 2013 at Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

Although it has been a rainy summer so far, there haven’t yet been any large flash floods in Bandelier National Monument, either in Frijoles Canyon near the Visitor Center, or in the other canyons in the park. 
 
However, floods are certainly possible, and the park has announced that the annual closure of all canyon bottom camping zones July 1 through Sept. 15 is in effect. Hikers are still welcome to go out on the trails, and backpackers can get Wilderness permits to camp in zones on mesa tops. Juniper
Read More

Attorney General On PRC Refusal To Study Costs And Benefits Of Wind And Solar Energy In New Mexico

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas released the following statement today in response to the Public Regulation Commission’s refusal to study the costs and benefits of solar and wind energy in New Mexico:

“I continue to urge the PRC to gather more accurate and transparent information for taxpayers, including the study of the true costs and benefits of wind and solar energy in New Mexico. New Mexico’s energy system must be modernized in order to strengthen the economic security of New Mexico’s working families.” Read More