Week ending Friday, January 21, 2022

 

Air Hazards

Smog and smoke clouds that now frequently plague California and other parts of the West are making breathing more dangerous for residents of the region, according to a new study. Researcher Deepti Singh of Washington State University, Vancouver and colleagues found that exposure to ground-level ozone and the fine-particle pollution from more frequent wildfires has increased by 25 million “person days” from 2001 to 2020. Short-term effects from the pollution include breathing difficulties and worsening heart and lung diseases, such as asthma. Exposure to both types of pollution at the same time compounds the health risks, and...

Ongoing community concerns prompt Superfund listing

[Part One of the Jackpile Mine toxic legacy story looks at what happened before there were environmental standards for reclaiming the land.]

The EPA-run Superfund program, established by Congress in 1980, was relatively new when the BLM and BIA plan was approved in 1985, [Paul] Robinson [of Southwest Research and Information Center] said, and the plan was not evaluated on whether or not it met the EPA’s regulations for contaminants like uranium in the water. Further complicating cleanup is that mines aren’t covered by the Atomic Energy Act, which oversees the cleanup of former uranium mill sites.

“This little glitch is a...

MILAN— The New Mexico Department of Transportation District Six Engineer is asking motorists to avoid travel as winter weather is predicted across west-central New Mexico.

Maintenance crews are prepared with personnel and equipment for the upcoming storm and will work to support law enforcement and emergency responders.

The National Weather Service is forecasting hazardous weather and dangerously cold temperatures until Thursday, Feb. 3.

“Our crews work extremely hard to keep our roads clear of snow and ice; however, it’s important for drivers to remember to drive for current road conditions to include reduced visibility,” District Six Engineer Lisa Vega said. “We strongly...

Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., has been hospitalized in Albuquerque following a stroke that occurred Jan. 27.

Chief of Staff Carlos Sanchez issued a statement saying the senator experienced dizziness and fatigue and checked himself into Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Santa Fe, before being transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque for further evaluation.

He was found to have suffered a stroke in the cerebellum, affecting his balance.

As part of his treatment plan, he underwent decompressive surgery to ease swelling.

He is currently under the care of UNM hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Luján’s office remains open and will...