Environment

DOE Begins Acquisition Planning For Operation Of Hanford WTP Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste Facilities

Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) facilities at the Hanford site in Washington State. Courtesy/DOE

DOE News:

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought notice Thursday for operation of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) facilities at the Hanford site in Washington State.

The DOE Office of Environmental Management is currently in the acquisition planning phase for a new contract to operate WTP DFLAW facilities. This RFI solicits input, via capability statements, Read More

Posts From The Road: Petrified Forest & Painted Desert

Painted Desert: The Painted Desert offers a variety of colors and formations depending on your location in the park. The north end of the park is primarily shades of red as seen here. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Paint It Red: A couple of miles south of the first image one can see the color scheme changing from all reds to more yellow tones as well as layers of white mixed into the landscape. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Up Close: As the sun lights the end of a log the brilliant and rich colors of the petrified wood are revealed. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

 

By GARY WARREN Read More

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall To Join Leading Scientists To Discuss Nexus Of Coronavirus And Nature Crises

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and world-renowned scientists Thomas Lovejoy and Enric Sala will lead a press call At 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 20, to discuss the intersection between the coronavirus pandemic and the nature crisis. 

The speakers will explore how the global collapse of nature is increasing the risks of pandemics and other disasters across the globe. Habitat loss, overexploitation of wildlife, and climate change have contributed to the increased spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, from animals to humans. Read More

Daily Postcard: Signs Of Spring On North Mesa

White blossoms of a cherry tree on North Mesa against the vibrant blue sky. Photo by Madelyn G. Crotzer

Pink blossoms of an apple tree at a North Mesa home after last night’s snowfall. Photo by Madelyn G. Crotzer

Hopeful signs of spring on North Mesa: vibrant fuchsia tulips brave the snow in a residential flowerbed and lift spirits. Photo by Madelyn G. Crotzer Read More

Collecting Shed Antlers Illegal At Bandelier, Valles Caldera

NPS News:

One of the signs of spring in the Jemez Mountains is deer and elk shedding their antlers.

People like to collect these “sheds”, which is fine on private land or areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the US Forest Service.

However, it is illegal on the Valles Caldera National Preserve or Bandelier National Monument and other National Park Service areas.

The National Park Service was establish in 1916 and administers NPS lands using the 36 Code of Federal Regulations. The 36 Code of Federal Regulations prohibits the removal of any park property, which includes antlers, Read More