Environment

Udall, Heinrich Announce $500K For Outdoor Projects

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

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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,
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Sunset Scenes Over Los Alamos And White Rock

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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
 
Photo by Phillip Noll
 
Photo by Phillip Noll
 
Photo by Phillip Noll
 
Photo by Phillip Noll
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WIPP: Radiological Contamination Mitigation Continues

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

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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
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LANL: Young, Jupiter-like Planet Discovered

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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

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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

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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

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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