Nation

Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Announces Successful Meetings Regarding Clean-up Initiatives And Funds

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RCLC News:

SANTA FE—The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (Coalition) announced successful meetings last week in Washington, D.C.

The group visited the Capitol to meet with the New Mexico Congressional Delegation members, House and Senate Armed Services, Appropriations and Department of Energy (DOE) officials regarding clean-up issues and funding for Los Alamos National Lab (LANL).

The Coalition believes that funding for FY16 environmental clean-up at LANL should be $255 million and stated that request in all meetings. The proposed budget for FY2016 is $189 million, which is Read More

Free Tax Controversy Fair In Albuquerque

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IRS News:

The University of New Mexico, School of Law and the International Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Advocate for New Mexico, are hosting a free income tax controversy fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Feb. 28 at 1117 Stanford Dr., N.E., in Albuquerque.

Third-year law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, will consult with low income taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS in any of five common areas: the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, Head of Household filing status and dependency claims or collection issues. Consultations will be available for taxpayers with Read More

Bandelier: Tsankawi Comment Period Extended

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Part of the trail in the Tsankawi section of Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument Superintendent Jason Lott announced today that the public review period for the Tsankawi Unit Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended through March 16, 2015.  

The plan and environmental assessment evaluate a range of alternatives to improve resource protection, address safety concerns, and enhance visitor opportunities at the Tsankawi section of Bandelier. Three alternatives were developed based on the results Read More

Udall Announces Major Legislation To Improve Health And Well-being Of New Mexico Children

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., introduced major legislation to help improve the health and education of New Mexico children by increasing access to federal education and anti-poverty programs.

The Saving Our Next Generation (SONG) Act is based on outreach and research Udall conducted during the last year, including workshops that brought together child care experts from across the state to discuss how the federal government can help lift New Mexico from the bottom of national rankings for children’s well-being.  Read More

Luján, Fleischmann Lead Nuclear Cleanup Caucus

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From left, Co-Chairman Chuck Fleischmann, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Mark Whitney and Co-Chairman Ben Ray Luján. Courtesy/BRLO

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – Fifty years of government nuclear weapons development stemming from the Manhattan Project during World War II has affected communities across the nation and resulted in the need for environmental cleanup at numerous sites.

In response, U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., will serve as co-chairs of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, which met Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Gets Confirmation WIPP Recovery Efforts Are On Track

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. During a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., confirmed with U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz that the recovery effort at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad is on track to return the facility to normal operation by the current target date of 2018.

WIPP is the only active facility in the United States that disposes defense-generated transuranic (TRU) waste. The facility halted operations in February 2014 following two separate accidents – a fire and a radiation release. Read More

Heinrich On Ashton Carter’s Confirmation For Defense Secretary

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questions Defense Secretary nominee Dr. Ashton Carter during his Tuesday confirmation hearing. ScreenShot/LADP

Scene from Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Defense Secretary nominee Dr. Ashton Carter. ScreenShot/LADP

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich voted to confirm Dr. Ashton Carter to be the next Department of Defense Secretary. The senate confirmed Carter by a vote of 93 to five. Read More

WIPP: Initial Analysis Indicates No Additional Breached Containers Contributed To Radiological Release

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Project Reach’s 90-foot boom is positioned over the top of waste containers in Panel 7, Room 7, as a remotely operated video camera collects photographic evidence. Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

  • AIB: No Additional Breached Containers Contributed to WIPP Radiological Release
  • Watch a short video clip of Project Reach

Initial analysis of the photographic data obtained by Project Reach indicates that no additional breached waste containers contributed to the Feb. 14, 2014, radiological event at WIPP.

According to Ted Wyka, chairman of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Accident Investigation

Read More

Heinrich Appointed Ranking Member Of National Parks Subcommittee

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was appointed Thursday as the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks. Heinrich also will serve on the Energy and Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittees.

“America’s public lands are part of the fabric of our democracy. In New Mexico, our way of life depends on the region’s land and water, and outdoor recreation contributes enormously to our economy,” Heinrich said. “Through my position Read More

Congressional Delegation Visits Los Alamos 3 P.M. Today

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Sen. Tom Udall

Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation including Sen. Tom Udall, Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Ray Luján are visiting Los Alamos at 3 p.m. today to celebrate passage of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

Sen. Martin Heinrich

The community is invited to attend this special event in the upstairs rotunda of Mesa Public Library.

Join the senators and representative at 3 p.m. for a reception and chance to thank them for all of the work they did to ensure passage of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. At 3:30 p.m., the delegation will participate Read More