diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_unit_standalone.yml b/.github/workflows/test_unit_standalone.yml
index 01a1543..e01f7b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_unit_standalone.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_unit_standalone.yml
@@ -33,21 +33,21 @@ jobs:
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
       
     - name: setup python # ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         
     #- name: create conda env
     #  run: $CONDA/bin/conda env create -f environment.yml
         
-    - name: activate conda
-      uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
-      with:
-        activate-environment: bmi_lstm
-        environment-file: ./environment.yml
-        #python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        # this may not be necessary? tbd..
-        auto-activate-base: false
+    #- name: activate conda
+    #  uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
+    #  with:
+    #    activate-environment: bmi_lstm
+    #    environment-file: ./environment.yml
+    #    #python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+    #    # this may not be necessary? tbd..
+    #    auto-activate-base: false
         
     - name: install packages
       run: |