The BEAT News December 11, 2008

Free Conservation Restriction monitoring and baseline support!
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust has received a grant from the Massachusetts Service Alliance for two Regional Land Stewards through the state’s new Commonwealth Corps program.

The Stewards are now available to work with you (for free) to:
1) Help monitor conservation restrictions (CR)
2) Establish CR baselines

These services are available for municipal-owned and land trust-owned land and conservation restrictions.

The land or CRs must be located in the communities served by the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership. These include Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Bernardston, Erving, Gardner, Gill, Greenfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, Leverett, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Pelham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shutesbury, Templeton, Warwick, Wendell, Westminster, and Winchendon.

If you need help with CR monitoring or preparing baselines for conservation properties, please contact Jay at the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership at 978-248-2118 or [email protected]
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“Take Back The Filter”

  1. Please ask your local Whole Foods to participate in Brita filter collection!
  2. Search Take Back The Filter

Please ask your local Whole Foods to participate in Brita filter collection!
12/09/08: As we announced in our 11/18/08 update, Whole Foods Markets will be collecting used Brita filters for recycling as part of Preserve’s Gimme 5 program beginning in January. However, we have recently learned that each individual Whole Foods Market manager can decide whether or not to participate in the program.

If you would like to be able to return your used Brita filters, as well as all other #5 plastics, to your local Whole Foods, please contact the store near you and let the manager know.

Contact info for all stores in the U.S. and Canada can be found here:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/all/index.php

This program will work best if customers are able to return their filters while shopping rather than having to mail them in.
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Will Congress Protect Clean Water?

Just before Thanksgiving representatives from nearly 40 other major environmental organizations, including Clean Water Action, met with President-Elect Obama’s Transition Team to discuss the environmental priorities for the next administration.
We believe passing the Clean Water Restoration Act should be at the top of the next administration’s list of priorities – because protecting America’s waters cannot wait, and that’s what we told the President-elect’s team.

As a result of weakened regulations and poor enforcement from the Bush administration, today nearly 60% of our nation’s water is unprotected from pollution and damaging development. This includes the drinking water consumed by 110 million Americans, and more than 20 million acres of wetlands that provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.

The Clean Water Restoration Act would protect these waters and wetlands, and reassert the original intent of the Clean Water Act – which is to protect all of America’s waters.

We’re pleased with the positive reception we received from the Obama transition team when we discussed the importance of moving swiftly to protect our nation’s waters in the first 100 days of the new administration.
But the new Congress must act to send the Clean Water Restoration Act to the president’s desk for his signature. And that’s why we need you to take action today.

Can you take just a moment to e-mail your Senators and Representatives and urge them to send the Clean Water Restoration Act to the president’s desk within the first 100 days of the new administration?

Send an e-mail to your Senators and Representatives today.

In the past eight years, we’ve lost much of the progress our nation has made since Congress first passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. With pollution and development threatening the drinking water of millions of Americans and thousands of miles of wild waterways and wetlands, we can’t afford to wait any longer to protect all of America’s waters.

Please, take action today, and let your Senators and Representatives know that clean water is at the top of your list of priorities.
E-mail your Senators and Representatives today.
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LEED 2009, The Next Generation

LEED 2009 is slated to be released in March. The newest generation of LEED has welcome changes including regional-specific credits, weighting of credits based on Life Cycle Analysis, and a streamlined point structure across rating systems.

At Greenbuild 2008, US Green Building Council (USGBC) and GBCI provided needed clarifications about LEED 2009. ‘LEED 2009 At a Glance’ provides a thorough summary of LEED 2009 and what it means for the specific rating systems. USGBC offers FAQ’s about LEED 2009 and a timeline for the rollout of LEED 2009 to answer logistical questions relating to LEED 2009. And ‘Major Changes Announced for LEED AP Credential Program’ discusses in-depth alll of the changes to the LEED AP program.

Some elements of LEED 2009 will be clarified by USGBC in the coming months. Learn about upcoming events that address changes to LEED including an Introduction to LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance this Thursday afternoon from 12:30-1:30pm.
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PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS

To: MassDEP’s Regulations List-Serv and Commissioner’s Advisory Committee

Name & Citation of Regulation(s): 310 CMR 4.00, Timely Action Schedule and Fee Provisions, 310 CMR 9.00, Waterways regulations, and 310 CMR 40.0000, Massachusetts Contingency Plan of the Waste Site Cleanup program.

Brief Explanation and Rationale for Proposed Changes: MassDEP will hold public hearings on its Fee Regulation Package 2009-1 which includes amendments to 310 CMR 4.00, Timely Action Schedule and Fee Provisions, along with associated amendments to 310 CMR 9.00, Waterways regulations, and 310 CMR 40.0000, Massachusetts Contingency Plan of the Waste Site Cleanup program.

The proposed changes will amend permit or annual compliance fee categories for environmental programs including Water Pollution Control Title 5, Water Supply, Watershed Management, Wetlands and Waterways, Environmental Laboratory Certification, Air Quality, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, and Mercury Management. They also implement fee changes required by statutory amendments to the Waste Site Cleanup program, Chapter 21E. These amendments are part of MassDEP’s twice-a-year updates of the Department’s fees for various programs.

Web Link to View Draft Regulations: http://mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/proposed/feespkg_2009_1.pdf

Public Hearing Information: Public Hearings will be conducted under the provisions of Chapter 30A of the Massachusetts General Laws on:

Friday, January 16, 2009 —  Springfield – 10:30 a.m.
DEP Western Regional Office, 436 Dwight Street,  (413) 784-1100

Friday, January 16, 2009  —  Worcester – 2:00 p.m.
DEP Central Regional Office, 627 Main Street, (508) 792-7650

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 —  Boston — 10:00 a.m.
DEP Headquarters, One Winter Street, (617) 292-5500

Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearings. In addition, written comments will be accepted at the address below until 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2009.  Please submit three copies of any written testimony.  Written testimony must be submitted to:  Jay Eberle, 3rd Floor, Department of Environmental Protection, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.

Please call Jay Eberle at (617) 556-1067 if you have questions concerning the public hearings or would like to request a copy of background documents on the proposed regulations. For special accommodations or to receive this information in alternate format call Donald Gomes ADA Coordinator 617-556-1057, TDD# 1-866-539-7622 or 617-574-6868.
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Of waste and want not…
Did you know that Americans produce an estimated million tons of extra waste every week between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? That’s 5 million tons altogether, on top of the ordinary waste we produce. We have some ideas on how to reduce all this waste… You might save a few bucks, or help the environment, or both. Starbucks or movie gift card? A good used book? Or try our eco-shrub idea: take a cardboard poster tube, put it in a Christmas tree stand, and then gather interesting branches from the yard to make a tall bouquet of boughs. String it up with lights and baubles, and after the holidays, dismantle it and keep the cardboard tube to use next year.
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North Berkshire Audubon takes part in Christmas Bird Count Saturday Decmeber 20th

North Berkshire Audubon invites all interested area bird watchers to take part in the 109th Christmas Bird Count on Saturday December 20th.  Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas will take part in counts from December 14, 2008 through January 5, 2009.  It is an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists will head out on an annual mission to count the number of individual birds they see during a 24-hour period. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house in the middle of winter, often before dawn.

The information gathered during the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations – and to help guide conservation action.

There are several groups going out around the north Berkshire region, or you may count the birds at your feeder during the day.   At the end of the day, all participants are invited to take part in a pot luck dinner for the compilation and sharing of the days stories and sightings. The dinner will be held at Sheep Hill in Williamstown beginning at 6:00 PM.

North Berkshire Audubon is an informal group of nature enthusiasts which sponsors bird and nature walks in and around Williamstown.  For more information about the group or the Christmas Bird Count please contact Leslie Reed-Evans  [email protected]  413-458-2494.

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 Liquid Assets — a documentary about water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure — will be shown on WGBH out of Boston on Sunday Jan 4, 2009 at 6:30 pm.  This is an effective tool for raising public awareness about the challenges of water management.  You can see the trailer and get additional information at http://liquidassets.psu.edu/.
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Great Barrington Architect Receives Residential Design Award from WMAIA

Local architect Stephen Gerard Dietemann was presented a residential design Honor Award by the Western Massachusetts American Institute of Architects for his house located at 140 North Plain Road in Great Barrington on Thursday, December 4, in Sunderland, Massachusetts.   The house was completed in 2005 and has been previously displayed in Berkshire Living Magazine and presented on Home and Garden Television.   The design jurors commended Dietemann for his creative use of a difficult site and commented favorably on his original use of contemporary materials on both the exterior and interior of the house.   The jurors also noted favorably that the building’s design playfully drew part of it inspiration from the form of the train cars passing to the east while simultaneously opening the south and east walls to views of both the nearby Housatonic River and the Berkshire hills beyond.    Finally, they applauded the many ‘green’ and sustainable aspects of the house and the site design.

Dietemann, a member of the Great Barrington Planning Board and a member of the local Green Building Council, is located at 42 Hillside Avenue in Great Barrington.
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DCR SELECTS 12 COMMUNITIES FOR CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL HERITAGE LANDSCAPE SURVEY
from the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission today announced the selection of 12 communities to participate in the Heritage Landscape Inventory Program. The program is part of DCR’s Historic Landscape Preservation Initiative, which provides technical assistance and training to help preserve historically significant landscapes throughout Massachusetts.  Since 2001, the Heritage Landscape Inventory Program has given direct technical assistance to help communities identify, document, and plan for the protection of heritage landscapes that are vital to the history, character, and quality of life in the region. Participating communities this year are Bernardston, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hatfield, Leverett, New Salem, Palmer, South Hadley, Southwick, Ware, Westfield, and Whatley.

The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program will provide an opportunity for these communities and the regional planning agencies to work together to plan for the protection of resources and engage residents in smart growth planning initiatives,” said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “Through this initiative, DCR and our partners will be able to provide these communities with technical assistance in the protection of the special landscapes that help define the communities of the Connecticut River Valley.”

DCR has worked with 96 communities to date through the Heritage Landscape Inventory
Program, partnering in the past with the Essex National Heritage Commission, the Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study Committee, the Freedom’s Way Heritage Association, the John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, and the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership.

For more information on the Heritage Landscape Inventory Information, please visit DCR’s website at www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/Inventoryprog.htm. For more information about the Connecticut River Valley Reconnaissance Survey, contact Jessica Rowcroft at DCR (617-626-1380).
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DCR ASKS PUBLIC’S HELP IN TRACKING SEAGULLS FROM QUABBIN AND WACHUSETT RESERVOIRS
from the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has begun a program to track the habits and flight patterns of seagulls near the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs, and is asking the public’s help in reporting any sightings of tagged gulls.

With funding from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) Water Supply Protection Trust, DCR staff members have begun catching and tagging seagulls around the reservoirs in an effort to track their feeding habits and daily whereabouts. That information will be used to help identify local food sources for the birds and determine the best way to try to prevent them from spending the night at the reservoirs.

From fall through spring, thousands of gulls spend the night sitting in the water at the reservoirs. For almost 20 years, DCR has used various techniques to scare the birds away from the MWRA intake pipes and prevent their droppings from polluting the water. While those techniques – which involve setting off loud noises near the gulls, for example – have proven effective, DCR is looking for a more ecological and efficient approach.

The existing gull harassment program has worked well, but we can do more and do it more effectively,” said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “Keeping the gulls away from the reservoirs will help the MWRA maintain the Quabbin and Wachusett as some of the highest-quality water sources in the nation.”

Together, the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs provide drinking water for 2.2 million people and 5,500 industrial users in eastern Massachusetts. The reservoirs contain one of the most abundant and high-quality water supplies in the world.
Ria Convery, spokeswoman for the MWRA, said her agency strongly supports DCR’s efforts to track the patterns of gull behavior as a way to control that population.

The MWRA is delighted that DCR is taking these steps to protect the waterway,” Convery said.

To date, DCR employees have tagged more than 200 ring-billed, herring, and great black-back gulls. Each species has its own tag color, and each tag has an individual number. The tags are easily legible without binoculars. With help from the public, DCR has been able to record the whereabouts of many of the birds at various times during the day, week, and season. Sightings already have been received from central Massachusetts to Maine, as well as from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland.

Anyone who sees a wing-tagged bird is asked to try to obtain the alpha-numeric combination on the tag (e.g., A57) and report it using the contact information below. Common places to find these wintering gull species are at landfills, parking lots (particularly those with fast-food establishments), and ball fields. The public is urged to keep a look out for any wing-tagged birds while birding, grocery shopping, or at the kids’ soccer game.
DCR officials plan to use the information gathered from the program to make the agency’s harassment program more efficient, and possibly eliminate food supplies that would encourage the gulls to move elsewhere.

Mass Audubon is aware that the presence of large numbers of gulls on public water supplies poses potential health threats,” said Taber Allison, Mass Audubon’s vice president of conservation science and ecological management. “We support and have long supported DCR’s efforts to identify and reduce the availability of local food sources that attract the gulls to central Massachusetts.”

Anyone who sees a tagged gull is asked to notify DCR of the time and place the bird was sighted, and its tag color and number. Please contact Dan Clark at 508-792-7423, ext. 215 or [email protected]. Reports on the project, when available, will be posted on the DCR website: www.mass.gov/dcr.
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ACTION ALERT! – Mosquito Control GEIR Update – comments due 12/30/08

Mosquito control activities affect wetlands and other habitats across the state. In 2007, work took place in over 105 miles of streams/ditches, all exempt from the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. Continued progress on Best Management Practices is important, and the current public review process is an opportunity for conservation commissions to comment.

An update to the Generic Environmental Impact Report (GEIR) on mosquito control, EOEEA #5027 is presently undergoing public review. The documents are available at: http://www.mass.gov/agr/mosquito/mepa_filing_102408.htm.

Background
On February 15, 2008, MEPA issued a Certificate requiring the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB) to file an EIR update within 6 months, summarizing work and documents produced during the past 10 years. The SRMCB did not meet that deadline, but they did file the current update including current operational plans, comments and responses to comments from last year’s MEPA review, memos on the 2006 aerial spraying, and several other documents. The SRMCB also has issued an RFP to hire a consultant to prepare the previously required update materials, and requested an extension from MEPA until the end of March, 2009 to complete this work.
Progress has been made in documenting the activities of the mosquito control districts and the SRMCB. In addition to the documents recently filed with MEPA, the SRMCB has prepared a standardized annual reporting form that all nine of the mosquito districts completed for 2007. These reports are available at: http://www.mass.gov/agr/mosquito/annualreports.htm.

Information Needed: Effects of Mosquito Control Activities: More information is needed on the effects of mosquito control practices on mosquitoes, human health, and the environment including but not limited to mosquito predators.

Suggested comments:

• Support the ongoing review process and the hiring of a consultant to enable SRMCB to complete the required update.

• Standardized monitoring systems are needed along with Best Management Practices that optimize effectiveness and minimize environmental side effects. This requires funding and tools such as GIS based mapping to analyze management techniques applied and trends over time on a geographic basis.

• Support inland stream restoration projects such as culvert widening, restoration of channelized streams, and stormwater system upgrades to reduce mosquito breeding areas and improve habitat for fish and other mosquito predators.
• Comment on your experiences with mosquito control in your community.

Comments are due 12/30/08 and should be sent to:
Secretary Ian A. Bowles
EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office
Nicholas Zavolas, EOEA No.5027
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston MA 02114

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