Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

NMED Proposes Repeal Of 20.2.36 NMAC Sulfur Limits

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 21, 2015

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

WIPP: New Hybrid Bolting Machine Ready For Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

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

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

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

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 20, 2015

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

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

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

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

Hummingbird Spotted In Downtown Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 20, 2015

A hummingbird sips sweet water Tuesday from a dispenser in a yard near downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Udall, Heinrich Announce $500K For Outdoor Projects

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 18, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON ― Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the State of New Mexico will receive $500,138 through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support outdoor recreation and conservation projects throughout the state.

LWCF funds are a highly effective tool for creating and protecting urban and rural parks and open spaces that provide recreation opportunities, enhance communities and create jobs, but the program will expire in September unless Congress takes action.

Udall

Albuquerque Wildlife Federation & Los Amigos De Valles Caldera To Conduct Ecological Restoration Project

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

AWF News:

Albuquerque Wildlife Federation (AWF) is teaming with Los Amigos de Valles Caldera (Amigos) to host a weekend-long volunteer project, Aug. 14-16, in the Valle Seco section of the preserve.

Volunteers from both groups will be working to improve integrity of Sulphur Creek and adjoining wetlands in the area via stream restoration work and repairs to enclosure fencing. The August event is the second such collaborative project between AWF and Amigos in the Valles Caldera in 2015.

“We’re very excited to get back to this beautiful,

Sunset Scenes Over Los Alamos And White Rock

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

This past weekend, Phillip Noll sent some beautiful sunset photos from the Los Alamos/White Rock area to the Los Alamos Daily Post to share with the public. Please visit his website www.ravenmountain.com. Photo by Phillip Noll

Photo by Phillip Noll

WIPP: Radiological Contamination Mitigation Continues

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) personnel will complete the installation of the brattice cloth and salt barrier tthis week on a 570-foot section of floor in the WIPP underground.

The installation process includes rolling the brattice cloth out to cover the entire surface area of the floor and securing it to the ribs (walls) and in the center of the drift (access tunnel). Once the cloth is in place, it is covered with six to eight inches of mined salt to create a walking/driving surface.

This ensures radiological contamination

New Mexico, Colorado Delegations Urge President To Direct Federal Resources To Gold King Mine Response

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 17, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Members of the New Mexico and Colorado congressional delegations are urging President Barack Obama to direct any and all appropriate federal resources to help respond to damage from the Gold King Mine spill that occurred last week in the Animas River.

Communities in both states along the affected rivers are working quickly to minimize the short-term and long-term public health and economic challenges caused by the tragic spill.

Recovering from the spill will take a full and coordinated approach from the Environmental Protection

LANL: Young, Jupiter-like Planet Discovered

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2015

Jupiter-like planet. Couresy/LANL

LANL News:

A team of researchers has discovered a Jupiter-like planet within a young system that could provide a new understanding of how planets formed around the sun.

The new planet, called 51 Eridani b, is the first exoplanet discovered by the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), a new instrument operated by an international collaboration headed by Bruce Macintosh, a professor of physics in the Kavli Institute at Stanford University. It is a million times fainter than its star and shows the strongest methane signature ever detected on an alien planet, which should Read More

Ban Lifted On Water Supply Connection To Animas And San Juan Rivers And Public’s Recreational Use

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2015

NMED NEWS:

Governor Susana Martinez’ Long-Term Impact Review Team in Place

FARMINGTON – New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, Game and Fish Department Director Alexa Sandoval and Health Department Secretary Retta Ward Saturday lifted the ban on San Juan County’s drinking water systems’ supply connection to the Animas and San Juan Rivers and on the public’s recreational use of the rivers.

The ban is lifted with certain prudent health practices, following the Aug. 5 Gold King Mine Spill.

“Because the waters of the Animas and San Juan Rivers are now meeting all applicable Read More

Governor Announces Long-Term Impact Review Team to Monitor EPA-Caused Spill In Animas River

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

Effects of the massive 3 million gallon waste spill in the Animas River flowing through Aztec last week. Photo by Randy Foster

STATE News:

FARMINGTON — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced the creation of a multiagency, long-term impact review team to monitor the effects of the massive 3 million gallon waste spill in the Animas River that EPA officials have admitted to causing.

After touring the spill by helicopter for the second time in less than a week, the Governor made the announcement with cabinet secretaries and directors of the New Mexico Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Game Read More

Conditions Are Perfect For UNM-LA Mushroom Hike

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

Boletes mushrooms. Courtesy/UNM-LA

UNM-LA News:

The recent rains have made local mountainsides green, wildflowers dot the mesa tops, and the wild mushrooms abundant if one knows where to look.

That’s why UNM-LA Community Education is excited to offer a mushroom hike 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Experienced mushroom forager Thomas Peña is leading the hike.

“This year’s precipitation is going to be a real boon for the mushrooms,” Peña said. “Normally, the area where we hike is quite green and lush, but this should be a banner year.”

This one-day outing will have students hiking in the beautiful Read More

Wildflower Walk With Chick Keller Aug. 17

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

Los Alamos wildflower. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

With the continued rain, we’ve been having lately, beautiful wildflowers abound. Join PEEC’s Jemez Mountain Herbarium curator, Chick Keller, for a Wildflower Walk at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 to discover what some of them are and where they can be found.

This will be an easy walk to identify some of the wildflowers that can be found in and around Los Alamos. The group will meet at the Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, and the group will carpool to the trail that Keller will select based on what is blooming at the time. The walk is free and there Read More

Experts Present ‘Coyotes In Our Midst’ At Nature Center

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

A coyote spotted in Corrales. Photo by Project Coyote

PEEC News:

From deserts to mountains, coyotes are one of the most adaptable species in New Mexico. However, not everyone welcomes the resilience of this local predator.

To learn more about this canine, meet New Mexico Project Coyote representative, Judy Paulsen, and Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Wildlife Biologist Dave Parsons, as they speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Los Alamos Nature Center, about the challenges and opportunities coyotes provide to both urban and rural communities.

This presentation reveals the fascinating Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Visualizing Nature With Art

Submitted by Chris Clark on August 14, 2015

Maple leaf. Courtesy photo

Maple leaf painting by Cathy Hillegas. Courtesy image

PEEC Amateur Naturalist

By ROBERT DRYJA

Visualizing Nature with Art

The natural world can be visualized with a digital technology in a variety of ways.

A digital photograph may have its contrast, spectrum, or color saturation manipulated to create a more interesting image or emphasize some characteristic. The maple leaf photograph is an example of this.

The leaf is lit from behind in order to emphasize the rib pattern in it. The contrast also has been increased

Luján Meets With EPA Administrator McCarthy

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2015

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

STATE News:

FARMINGTON – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today after participating in meetings and briefings with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy over the past two days on the Gold King Mine spill.

Luján met with McCarthy in Durango, Colo., and Farmington. Earlier in the week he spoke with McCarty on the importance of visiting New Mexico. Luján, along with New Mexico Senators Udall and Heinrich, also sent a letter to McCarthy to express their concerns with EPA’s response.

EPA Administrator Read More

PNM Has New Plan For San Juan Generating Station

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 13, 2015

SIERRA CLUB News:

New Plan Includes Clean Energy Credits and Offers Opportunity to Revisit Future of SJGS in 2018

ALBUQUERQUE – Today the Public Service Company of New Mexico released a new plan for the future of the San Juan Generating Station as part of their ongoing negotiations with the Public Regulation Commission.

In response, Nellis Kennedy-Howard, Senior Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, released the following statement:

“PNM’s new plan for the San Juan Generating Station offers an opportunity for PNM to commit to retiring Read More

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