NM Lawmakers Write EPA On Gold King Mine Spill
STATE News:
- Lawmakers Call for Point Person to Oversee Agency’s Response
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján expressed their concern with the EPA’s response to the Gold King Mine spill that has sent three million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River.
In the letter, the lawmakers called on EPA to improve communication with federal, state, and local officials and with members of the public, urging the agency to appoint one point person to oversee the Read More
Lujan On Mine Spill: ‘EPA Caused This Mess And They Must Take Full Responsibility To Clean It’
The normally ‘crystal clear’ Animas River today in Aztec following Wednesday’s EPA mine spill. Photo by Randy Foster
The Animas River today in Aztec following Wednesday’s EPA mine spill. Photo by Randy Foster
STATE News:
FARMINGTON – U.S. Rep Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today after participating in a public meeting in Farmington with federal, state, and local officials and members of the community to provide information on the Gold King Mine spill that Read More
Governor Touring Waste Spill In Animas River
Gov. Susana Martinez
STATE News:
Farmington — Today at 3:30 p.m., Gov. Susana Martinez will tour the massive waste spill in the Animas River that EPA officials have admitted to causing.
The Governor will then go to Berg Park in Farmington to share the state’s response to this incident. Read More
NMED Informs Residents On Gold King Mine Spill
NMED News:
SANTA FE – San Juan County officials along with New Mexico Environment Department Cabinet Secretary Ryan Flynn and New Mexico State Engineer Tom Blaine held two informational meetings Friday on the Gold King Mine Spill coursing through the Animas River.
San Juan County communities and news media were updated with the most current information on state and local responses, with information on the movement of the sediment and on currently imposed public safety precautions.
“The New Mexico Environment Department is on the ground taking independent water quality samples every Read More
NMED Issues Precautions For EPA Gold King Mine Spill
NMED News:
- Contaminated Plume Now in New Mexico
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Environment Department continues working with local, regional, and federal stakeholders to advise San Juan County citizens of safety precautions, while updating those affected about the Gold King Mine Spill’s pulse location and effects.
Adherence to the following important safety measures is critical during and after the period of time while the Gold King mining wastewater release courses through the Animas and San Juan Rivers and the surrounding communities. It is likely precautions will be needed for several Read More
Luján Statement On Waste Spill In The Animas River
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray LujánCONGRESSIONAL News:
SANTA FE ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today on Wednesday’s toxic spill of mine waste that has reached the Animas River:
“The Animas River is a vital source of water to communities in San Juan County and this spill that has released heavy metals into the water is of great concern. The EPA must act swiftly and thoroughly to mitigate the effects of this spill.
“I am closely monitoring the situation and my office has been in close contact with EPA to see that the appropriate
Contaminated Plume From Gold King Mine Toxic Spill Expected To Pass Aztec/Farmington Area This Evening
Gold King Mine toxic spill. Courtesy photo
NMED News:
SANTA FE – A contaminated plume from the Gold King Mine toxic spill is expected to pass the Aztec/Farmington area this evening, according to New Mexico Environment Department.
The spill occurred Wednesday when an EPA team probing contamination at the abandoned mine accidentally released a million gallons of orange-hued waste water into a local river system, according to the EPA. The waste water contains sediment and metals that had been held behind a barrier near the mine. It spilled into Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas River in Read More
Opposition Mounts To Proposal Increasing Cougar Hunting And Trapping In New Mexico
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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;
‘Art, Wind And Fire’ Event At PEEC Tuesday
Artwork by Rumi Vesselinova shows the landscape after the Las Conchas Fire. Courtesy/PEECPEEC 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
Major flash flood Sept. 14, 2013 at Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS
BANDELIER News:
Attorney General On PRC Refusal To Study Costs And Benefits Of Wind And Solar Energy In New Mexico
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
Wildflower Expert Larry Littlefield At Library Thursday
Larry J. Littlefield, co-author of ‘Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico.’ Courtesy/MPLMPL News:
It’s a great year for wildflowers! With all the rain that has fallen on New Mexico this year, wildflowers are emerging in record numbers.
The new field guide “Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico: Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano” has been published just in time for wildflower enthusiasts to find out more about this year’s bounty.
Author Larry J. Littlefield is the featured speaker at Mesa Public Library at Read More
World Politics Of A Changing Energy Landscape July 22
CIR News:Scenes From ScienceFest At Bradbury Science Museum
A visitor watches a video Saturday inside the Bradbury Science Museum in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Many interactive exhibits fill the Bradbury Science Museum, drawing people of all ages. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Visitors have poured into the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos during the three day ScienceFest festival that began Thursday.
People of all ages participated in interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities and listened to dynamic speakers meant to engage kids, families, and individuals who are interested Read More