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CET cuts green ribbon and dedicates new green access ramp on April 22 at 11 a.m.
This is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day

The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) will host a Green Accessibility Ramp dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, at 11 a.m. at its office at 112 Elm Street in Pittsfield . CET staff, Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto, City Councilor and Green Commission Chairman John Krol, MA Director of USDA Rural Development Jay Healey and builder Eric Taylor of Restorations Inc. will be in attendance.

This event is planned to mark the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.  CET recently completed construction of the environmentally friendly accessibility ramp at the Elm Street office. The ramp incorporates green building practices and environmentally preferable products including decking of locally sourced black locust wood (Forest Certified), the installation of Techno Metal Posts for supports, and framing using wood infused with recycled glass. Hand and safety railings are made of aluminum which requires no additional maintenance over its lifetime. An automatic, electric door opener has also been installed to make public access to CET easier. The Ramp was designed by Hill Engineers with input from CET’s Green Team and constructed by Restoration Inc. of Dalton .

More information on the green features will be available, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. CET staff will be able to provide information on how other businesses can green up their offices and operations.

Light refreshments and apple cider from Bartlett’s Orchard will be served.

A portion of the ramp was funded through a $10,000 grant from the Pittsfield Community Development Office.

Contact Jamie Cahillane at 413-445-4556 ext. 14 for more information.
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EWG Action Fund’s Healthy Home Checklist
http://www.ewg.org/healthy-home-tips/checklist?utm_source=kidsng&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=hht

Ready to create an eco-healthy home?

We created this Healthy Home Checklist for you to use as you walk through your home — and open your bathroom cabinet, look under your sink, and check those laundry supplies. It’s an easy, hands-on way to create a less toxic environment for your family. When you’re done, you’ll breathe easier (literally!) knowing that you’ve tackled the toxics that matter most in your home.

Click here to send us an email letting us know how you did. Got lots to change or is your home already eco-healthy?
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National Wildlife Federation Releases Short Film: The Climate Invasion!
ELM Bulletin, Thu, April 8, 2010

“The horrifying hordes of Climate Invaders are upon us – creeping up from lower elevations, attacking from foreign countries, and settling into areas where once they were unable to survive.”
– from “They Came from Climate Change!” by National Wildlife Federation

This is no joke. Deer ticks, mosquitos, fire ants, cheatgrass, bark beetles, poison ivy and more are advancing with the changing climate and invading more of the United States. If you think this sounds like a bad horror movie, well… we agree with you!

NWF last week released a report and a terrifically bad 1950s B-movie trailer called “They Came from Climate Change”.  Watch the video and see the report at: www.nwf.org/invasion
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DRIVE SLOWLY!  FROGS, TOADS AND SALAMANDERS ON THE HOP
MASSLAND E-NEWS
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Land Conservation Community
April 1, 2010
Volume 10, Number 05

‘Tis the season for amphibians on the move, especially on warm, rainy nights.  Salamanders, spring peepers, wood frogs, and toads will be hopping and crawling across Bay State roadways on warm wet nights, heading to vernal pools and other wetlands to mate and lay their eggs. Reports of amphibians chorusing and on the move have already come in to Division of Fisheries and Wildlifeduring the heavy rains of  March.

The height of spring amphibian activity comes during rainy nights when spring peepers are heard calling. Thousands of frogs, salamanders, and toads are moving across roadways on warm rainy nights, and many are squashed by vehicles traveling after dark.  Some local communities and conservation groups host salamander crossings where traffic is slowed to allow for safe progress of amphibians. Other local conservation groups meet at known “Big Night” crossings to share this seasonal phenomenon with the public or look for new road crossings to document the presence of nearby vernal pools. Consider doing your daily errands before dark or during dry evenings as a way to reduce amphibian traffic mortality.

Vernal pools are unique wildlife habitats best known for the amphibians and invertebrate animals that use the pools to breed. Also known as ephemeral pools, autumnal pools, and temporary woodland ponds, vernal pools typically fill with water in the autumn or winter due to rising ground water and rainfall and remain full through the spring and into summer. Vernal pools dry completely by the middle or end of summer each year, or at least every few years. Occasional drying prevents fish that eat eggs or tadpoles from establishing permanent populations. Many amphibian and invertebrate species rely on this unique breeding habitat free of fish predators.

If you see amphibians crossing a road, count how many of each species you see and make note of the exact location, then report the crossing hot-spot to the state on their Linking Landscapes website.

Find out much more about what vernal pools are, what they look like, and what creatures use them in Massachusetts! Consider ordering a Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools, published by the Division’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and the Vernal Pool Association. Beautiful photographs and descriptive text are combined to aid in the identification and study of amphibians, reptiles and many invertebrates. The Field Guide may be ordered by calling the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program at (508) 389-6360. Visit the Division’swebsite at www.mass.gov/masswildlife <http://www.mass.gov/masswildlife> and click on the Natural Heritage button for other information about ways to certify and protect vernal pools.  Another useful website with information on vernal pools, crossing signs, and other educational materials can be found at the Vernal Pool Association at www.vernalpool.org <http://www.vernalpool.org/>
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MASS. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS FOR SALE ON TREEBAY!
MASSLAND E-NEWS
The Newsletter of the Massachusetts Land Conservation Community


April 1, 2010
Volume 10, Number 05

Massachusetts’ Environmental Assets For Sale as Treebay Launches Online Auction at:
www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com <http://www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com>

(Treebay is a project of the Appalachian Mountain Club, Environment Massachusetts, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Council of Churches, Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, and the Trustees of Reservations.)

With massive budget cuts looming, state can no longer afford to protect our environment

Boston, MA – Massachusetts’ environmental resources will be put up for auction to the highest bidder according to the founders of Treebay, who today launched their online auction website www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com <http://www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com> .  Treebay is auctioning off the environmental resources the state can no longer afford to maintain in the face of continual budget cuts over the last decade and even more cuts anticipated in next year’s state budget, which is currently being deliberated by the state legislature. Treebay Executives expect tremendous interest in items that have never before been available for private consumption.

The state’s economic woes have given way to new opportunities in the private sector. Treebay is offering a wide variety of items from state parks and endangered species to water monitoring equipment for the do-it-yourselfer. New auction items will continually be posted for bidding as they become available. Items currently available include Ashland State Park, Plymouth Rock Pilgrim Memorial, and Streeter Point Recreational Area, which the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) can no longer staff. It will also include hazmat suits for your loved ones in the face of the Department of Environmental Protection’s limited ability to proactively find hazardous waste sites and oversee existing cleanups. These items are expected to be hot commodities both with citizens and with entrepreneurs looking for a way to capitalize on the state’s heritage.

The ambitious founders of this commercial enterprise have been patiently awaiting the day when they would be able to acquire some of the state’s most valuable resources. The environmental programs in Massachusetts have seen a 44% drop in funding over the last decade, when adjusted for inflation. The Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for protecting our air, water, land, and health from environmental threats, has lost 27% of its employees over the last five years. The Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is responsible for maintaining and staffing our state parks, pools, and beaches, has lost 18% of its employees over just the last two years. This has meant that fewer people are on the ground maintaining our parks, monitoring our water quality, regulating polluting facilities, and enforcing our environmental laws.

“Treebay has been a dream of ours for almost a decade,” said Ivana Polluti, Founder and CEO of Treebay Unlimited. “Back in 2002 and 2003 when Massachusetts’ environmental agencies were first being slashed we began to plan for the day when funding would dry up and the state would no longer be able to protect the environment. And here we are today!”

“In 2003, Massachusetts ranked 49th out of 50 states in funding for environmental programs as a percentage of the total state budget,” said Nancy Goodman, Vice President for Policy at the Environmental League of Massachusetts. “A recent Beacon Hill Institute Report, out of Suffolk University, found that we spend less than half the national average per capita on parks. With the upcoming FY2011 budget, our environmental programs will look even worse.”

“We spend less than 1% of our state budget on parks and environmental protection – just over 0.6%,” said Megan Amundson, Political Director of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters. “It is a shame that the state budget has come to this. But personally, I’ve had my eye on Revere Beach for a while now. I’m hoping that shows up on the auction block soon. It’s just miserable having to share such a small span of sand with so many people each summer.”

“The consequences of underfunding environmental protection will reverberate for decades to come,” said Ben Wright, Advocate for Environment Massachusetts. “Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution guarantees that ‘the people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment.’ What does it say when lawmakers are no longer willing to fulfill the requirements of our constitution and do not fund our environmental programs?”

For more information on environmental funding and recommendations for adequately funding our environmental agencies, visit the Green Budget FY2011: On the Brink at www.environmentalleague.org <http://www.environmentalleague.org> .

To bid on our environmental resources, visit www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com <http://www.MassEnvironmentForSale.com> .

For more info, contact Megan Amundson, Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters
Cell: 617-462-3633 or [email protected]
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Mass. DEP posts RFR for FFY11 Section 319 NPS Grants Program

MassDEP is pleased to announce a Request for Responses for the FFY 2011 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Competitive Grant Program. Please see the RFR* for response guidelines, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, information to include with the application, and a schedule for response submittal. A non-mandatory informational meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2010 at MassDEP Central Regional Office at 10 a.m. Please see MassDEP web page for directions. To be considered for funding, all applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 to: Jane Peirce, 319 RFR Coordinator MassDEP Central Regional Office 627 Main Street, 2nd Floor Worcester, MA 01608

*to access the RFR, go to http://www.comm-pass.com, click on “Search for Solicitations”, enter BRP 2010-03 into the “Keywords” box, click on the “glasses” symbol on the “open” solicitation, and then click on the “Specifications” tab. See also the excerpt below:

The Department of Environmental Protection (the Department), Bureau of Resource Protection, is pleased to issue this Request for Responses (RFR) for the Federal Fiscal Year 2011 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Program.

Projects funded under this program must address the prevention, control, and abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS).  Implementation projects funded under 319 must be comprehensive projects that result in restoration of beneficial uses or achieving or maintaining state water quality standards.

As always, the Department encourages all types of eligible, competitive proposals from all watersheds, although preference may be given to projects that are located in watersheds targeted for implementation funding as part of the Five-Year Basin Cycle that supports the Department’s ongoing basin-wide water quality activities, or that implement FFY 2011 Priority Projects as outlined in this RFR.  Targeted basins for 2011 under the Five Year Basin Cycle (Years 3 and 4) are the Deerfield , Millers, Shawsheen, Ipswich , Buzzards Bay , French, Quinebaug, Merrimack , Parker, Boston Harbor , Narragansett/Mt. Hope Bay, Cape Cod and Islands .

In particular, the Department encourages proposals that will implement Massachusetts ’ Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analyses, or that will implement recommendations made in Diagnostic/Feasibility (D/F) or other credible studies for waters that do not meet Water Quality Standards.  Project evaluation will substantially favor work that will result in meeting water quality standards and/or restoring beneficial uses  (i.e., in removal of the waterbody from categories 4 or 5 of the Final Massachusetts Year 2008 Integrated List of Waters).    Links to the Integrated List and  TMDL reports can be found on the Department’s web site at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.htm . Water quality assessments and other resources are at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm#wqar

In accordance with Massachusetts procurement requirements, DEP and other EEA agency staff may no longer provide assistance with proposal development or otherwise discuss program requirements with applicants.
Should any administrative questions arise, they may be directed to:
Jane Peirce
s. 319 Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator
DEP/DMS, 627 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
ph: 508-767-2792
fax: 508-791-4131
[email protected]

The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition
….Creating a Network of Watershed Partners.
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Long-eared Owl in Sheffield 1-7-10 009;   VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Volunteer Job Title:  Front Office Admissions Reception

If you enjoy the world of nature and value its protection, you could be a valuable asset to Mass Audubon’s Berkshire office in Lenox.  We seek volunteers who can help us enhance and extend our connections between people and nature.  We value people who share a common respect for the conservation of habitat and a wonder for the creatures who inhabit it.  We look for volunteers who enjoy interacting with our community of members and those visiting wildlife in all its seasons.

Job Description:  To assist in the front office by greeting and registering our members and visitors; fielding inquiries (on the phone and in office) regarding our sanctuaries, public programs, and tending gift shop sales.

Skills Required:  Enjoy the public, a bit of copying and folding. Will need to become familiar with the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary trail system.

Please Contact:  Rene Laubach or Lynn Unwin at (413) 637-0320 if you are interested in becoming a member of our team.  Thank you.

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
472 West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA  01240
413-637-0320
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Registration Underway for Canoe Meadows Community Gardens Project

According to Sanctuary Director René Laubach, another season of organic community gardening is about to begin at Mass Audubon’s Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield.  The public is invited to participate in the project at the Pittsfield site.  Mass Audubon rents space in its popular organic gardens to members and nonmembers alike.  Participants have been growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs at the two-acre gardens site for over three decades.  “The camaraderie and learning among gardeners is exceptional “, according to Laubach, who adds, “and it is probably the most scenic location to plant a garden in Berkshire County.”

In order to participate, all community gardeners must attend an organic gardening workshop offered free of charge at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox on either Wednesday, April 14 at 7-8:30 p.m., or on Saturday, April 17, at 2-3:30 p.m.  The workshop will be conducted by Master Gardener Diane Wetzel of Pittsfield, who is also the volunteer coordinator of the project.  Gardeners in the program are also required to sign a pledge committing them to organic gardening.

The garden sites, which measure 15 feet by 20 feet each rent for $27 for Mass Audubon members and $35 for non-members.  Gardeners may rent multiple sites if they wish.  Currently, a special $29 half price Mass Audubon family membership offer is in effect.  In addition, past gardeners who successfully refer new gardeners to the project will receive a $10 rebate on their rental fee.

Persons interested in participating are urged to contact Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries in Lenox to register for the workshop and to find out more about the Canoe Meadows Community Gardens Project as soon as possible by calling 413-637-0320.
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Municipalities Would Gain Several Million Dollars with Bottle Bill Update

Groups tout DEP report which shows savings on litter cleanup and trash fees

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued a report that itemizes how much cities and towns will benefit from updating the Massachusetts bottle bill, legislation which has been pending for years in the state legislature and is getting a big push this spring from a broad coalition, including the League of Women Voters, Mass Municipal Association, the Environmental League of MA, and many more.

With growing awareness of the waste and public expense that come from throwaway containers, an expanding coalition has been pressing the Legislature to finally expand the nickel deposit system to cover water and other “single serve” beverage containers that now end up as litter in parks, on roadsides, and in landfills.

The DEP report, “Municipal Benefits of an Updated Bottle Bill,” shows that municipalities can expect to save between $4.3 to $7 million annually, by avoiding cleanup and disposal costs for these beverage containers. “This would amount to a savings of roughly $1 for each resident of the Commonwealth, each year,” said Claire Sullivan, Executive Director of the South Shore Recycling Cooperative, an association of 13 communities south of Boston . “For example, Weymouth and Plymouth could each expect to save about $50,000 per year. Duxbury’s DPW Director independently estimated his cost to manage the beverage containers that aren’t in the deposit system at $10,000.”

“The Bottle Bill is the state’s most successful recycling and litter prevention program. Since its inception in 1983, over 30 billion containers have been redeemed, contributing to a healthier environment, cleaner and safer communities, and a stronger economy,” said Phil Sego, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Sierra Club. “But to keep up with the times and consumers’ tastes, the bottle bill must be updated.”

“Every year, we send over 1 billion containers to our landfills, enough to fill Fenway Park to overflowing,” said Janet Domenitz, Executive Director of Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). “If these water, juice, and vitamin drink containers had a deposit, we’d eliminate litter, reduce trash, and save taxpayer dollars, as the DEP report shows. We need an update now.””

The report is available at www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/exbbmuni.pdf
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Audubon Nature Camp Unveils Restructured Program

Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has announced its 2010 camp season, and it has a new look this year.  The camp is the area’s only day camp program focused entirely on interaction with nature.  Launched in 1947, nature camp has introduced several generations of children to the wonders of the natural world in a safe, friendly, and non-competitive setting.  The 1,300-acre Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox is home to the unique co-ed and ACA accredited camp for children ages 5 to 13.

“We decided that the camp program needed to be more flexible and accessible to families” said sanctuary director René Laubach.  “So instead of requiring one or two week sessions depending upon the camper’s age, we are now offering only one week sessions–each with a different theme–and allowing campers to sign up for as many sessions as they wish, regardless of age.”  The new approach also includes five year olds for the first time.  Some sessions for campers nine and older feature an overnight campout as part of the camp week for an additional fee.  “In the past, all campers of a certain age participated in the overnight, and so we decided to give people more options”, continued Laubach.  “Today’s youth are largely disconnected from nature and we aim to reintroduce today’s kids to the wonders of nature through the camp experience, and that is good both for kids and our environment”, said Laubach.

Registration is currently underway and a camp brochure can be obtained by phoning the sanctuary at 413-637-0320, or by email:  [email protected].   The brochure is also posted on-line at the Mass Audubon website:  www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Pleasant_Valley/camp valley/camps.  Limited financial aid is available and applications for aid must be received by May 14.  Please call Pleasant Valley for more information about camp.

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
472 West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA  01240
413-637-0320
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Notice of MEPA Consultation Session
Bank Stabilization, Green River – GREAT BARRINGTON

EEA #:    14569

An Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office for this project. The proposed project consists of the installation of 671 cubic yards of 1.5-2-inch diameter blocky rock in a 5,400 square foot (sf) area along 600 linear feet (lf) of the left bank of the Green River, as well as the excavation of 15,042 cubic feet of compensatory storage in an adjacent unused former corn field. Environmental impacts include the alteration of 0.48 acres of land, 600 lf of Bank, 5,400 sf of Land Under Water, 20,743 sf of Bordering Land Subject to Flooding, and 26,143 sf of Riverfront Area. The project requires an Order of Conditions from the Great Barrington Conservation Commission (and on appeal only, a Superseding Order of Conditions from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)), a Chapter 91 Permit and Section 401 Water Quality Certificate from MassDEP, and review by the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program. Because the project does not involve financial assistance or a land transfer from the Commonwealth, MEPA jurisdiction is limited to the subject matter of rare species and wetlands.

A consultation session will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues, if any, are significant for this project. Opinions as to the extent and significance of possible environmental impact will be welcome.

Date:   Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Time:   11:00 AM
Location: Great Barrington Town Hall, 334 Main Street, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, GREAT BARRINGTON. Followed by site visit.

Comments on the project will be welcome in writing prior to April 27, 2010. A Certificate on the ENF, will be issued on May 7, 2010.

Project Contacts:  Jim Toth, 978.544.5620,

Pursuant to the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, this Meeting Notice is available in alternative formats upon request. Questions on the meeting may be answered by contacting Purvi Patel, MEPA Analyst at 617.626.1029.

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