Environment

Udall Welcomes Committee On Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing On Gold King Mine Disaster

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Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Tom Udall welcomed an announcement by Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming,chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), that the committee will hold an oversight hearing to examine the harmful impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gold King Mine spill on Indian Country.

Udall and fellow committee member Sen. John McCain of Arizona, wrote a letter earlier this month to Barrasso and SCIA Vice Chairman Jon Tester of Montana requesting the hearing.

The hearing, titled “EPA’s Gold King Mine Disaster: Read More

NMED, State Engineer, RMSC Win Injunction

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NMED News:

Santa Fe – Today, Gov. Susana Martinez’s executive agencies – the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) – along with 12 other co-plaintiff states (States) prevailed in their motion to block the Aug. 28 implementation of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). 

Chief Judge Ralph Erickson granted the States’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota, and ruled that the North Dakota Read More

Game Commission Votes 7-0 For Cougar Trapping

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New Mexico Game Commission votes to endorse the NMDGF recommendations to drastically expand trapping, snaring and killing cougar across New Mexico. Courtesy/APNM

APNM News:

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico Game Commission voted to endorse the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish’s (NMDGF) extreme recommendations to drastically expand trapping, snaring, and killing across New Mexico as part of revisions to the 2016 Bear & Cougar Rule.

By a unanimous vote, the Game Commission endorsed the NMDGF proposals to:

  • allow cougar trapping using leg-hold traps and snares on state trust
Read More

Council Recognizes Los Alamos Co+op Market As 2015 Business Recycler Of The Year

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Environmental Services Manager Angelica Gurule and Public Works Director Philo Shelton recognize the  Los Alamos Co+op Market as the 2015 Los Alamos County Business Recycler of the Year and present Co+op Board President Tracy McFarland with the award. This is the second time the Co+op has received this award. Print Screen/LADP

Staff Report

The County Council this evening recognized the Los Alamos Co+op Market as the 2015 Los Alamos County Business Recycler of the Year.

Public Works Director Philo Shelton Environmental Services Manager Angelica Gurule presented the Read More

Luján And DeGette Call For Oversight Hearing On Spill

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CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Representatives Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Diana DeGette of Colorado have called for an oversight hearing on the Gold King Mine spill that released 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas and San Juan Rivers. 
 
Both members serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. DeGette is Ranking Member on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
 
The lawmakers sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy requesting
Read More

Advocates Call To Reform Federal Coal Lease Program

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BLM News:
 
DENVER ― Thursday, Aug. 20, nearly one hundred New Mexicans representing over a dozen organizations gathered at a session hosted by the Bureau of Land Management to testify in support of reforming the outdated federal coal lease program.
 
“Coal mining and coal fired power plants have had devastating impacts on the Navajo Nation for over 50 years,” said Colleen Cooley, energy outreach coordinator of Dinè Care. “Despite big promises from polluters about the benefits of coal mining and coal energy, many on the Navajo Nation are still at poverty
Read More

Seed Harvesting Hikes Begin Friday

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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

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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

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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