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Energy Forum Tonight & BEAT’s Opinion

Senator Ben Downing is holding an energy forum tonight, Wednesday the 14th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington.
The Senator is the co-chair of the state legislature’s Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy committee, so his opinions and decisions are very important.
BEAT will not be able to attend the energy forum tonight, but sent this email to the Senator to be sure he knows where we stand.

As you know, we feel that corporations have way too much influence over our state politics! This is our number one issue because it effects everything else. Please, support the resolution to ask for a constitutional amendment to specifically protect the free speech rights of PEOPLE not corporations. SD 1488 was filed by Senator Eldridge. In addition, please work to resuscitate the Clean Elections Law that Mass. voters overwhelmingly passed, but the Legislature repealed in 2003.

BEAT feels VERY STRONGLY that by combining the Secretary of ENERGY with the Secretary of Environment, we have lost most environmental review and control of industrial energy projects that the state likes and thinks can be passed off as being “green”. This has resulted in little to no proper review of some biomass facilities and wind facilities.

Industrial scale energy production is still industry! It deserves REAL, meaningful review. The “streamlining” is just another way of saying that the state is not going to provide that real review. Once again, corporate interests win.

BEAT opposes the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act. Habitat fragmentation is still the biggest threat to biodiversity – all the more so because of global warming. We must maintain and enhance linkages among our already protected areas, and indeed maintain real protection of our already protected areas. It is critical that we do not allow industrial energy production to destroy that protection.

We must also protect open space and farmland from development as industrial energy facilities. We should be REQUIRING every big-box store to be at zero net energy – or better. There are many better locations for industrial scale projects. For example: Every parking lot could have tall solar panels to shade the cars while producing energy.

We must not allow industrial energy to destroy our environment by avoiding environmental review!

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Where Old Computers Go to Die
Who should be responsible for “e-waste”?

Thursday, December 08, 2011
By Maureen Turner, Valley Advocate

In 2009, Americans bought 438 million new computers, televisions, phones, tablets and other consumer electronics, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In many cases, those new items replaced older models left obsolete—or, at least, no longer desirable—by the industry’s constant push to create, and sell, ever-new updates and features.

So what happens to those so-last-year phones and laptops? Five million tons of electronics are sitting “in storage,” the EPA says; 2.37 million tons, almost half of them televisions and computer monitors, are ready for “end-of-life management”—in other words, the tech graveyard. And only 25 percent of those tons are collected to be recycled.

If waste disposal is a worrisome problem in the U.S. in general, disposal of electronics comes with its own specific worries. As the EPA notes, “The intensive energy and diverse material inputs that go into manufacturing electronics represent a high degree of embodied energy and scarce resources.” And because electronics are made with lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxins that can leach into groundwater, they pose significant public health risks if not disposed of properly.

Recently, Massachusetts lawmakers took a big step toward addressing the problem of electronics disposal. On Nov. 15, the legislative Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture voted favorably on a bill that would make manufacturers responsible for collecting and disposing of old electronics. Such a law, supporters say, would save money for both consumers and cash-strapped municipalities, and would inspire the industry to focus on making products that can be easily recycled.

<MORE>

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Tainted Drywall: How Companies Kept Silent While Homeowners Suffered

by Joaquin Sapien
ProPublica, Dec. 7, 2011

At a hearing in Washington, lawmakers pressed product safety and health regulators about their three-year investigation into contaminated drywall, expressing frustration with their progress on all fronts.

Defective drywall, most of it imported from China, releases sulfur gas that can corrode electric wiring and trigger respiratory irritation. An investigation published last year by ProPublica and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune showed there are nearly 7,000 homes built with bad drywall nationwide, but enough material was imported to build at least 100,000 homes. Read the full story

Do You Have Tainted Drywall?

Are you dealing with tainted drywall? Is it causing health problems, or damage to your home? If so, we at ProPublica want to hear your story.

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Innovative Community Wastewater System Restores Stream

Windmill Gap Creek is a small stream in West Virginia. A designated trout stream with naturally reproducing trout, Windmill Gap Creek is a popular destination for anglers.

Many houses in the community of Ashland were built in the early 1900s and had limited wastewater treatment. Homes and businesses were built on small lots, very close to Windmill Gap Creek, and over the years malfunctioning septic tanks began to pollute the creek. The wastewater caused putrid odors, dramatic discoloration, and compromised wildlife.

In 2001 and 2002, devastating floods increased local awareness of wastewater-related health hazards as drinking wells became contaminated with raw sewage throughout the county.

Because of the rough terrain, small lot sizes and close proximity to the stream, a traditional sewer system could not be developed for the Ashland community. Therefore, the Canaan Valley Institute (CVI), a nonprofit organization, designed an alternative decentralized wastewater treatment system. Today, this project provides wastewater treatment for 23 homes and a renovated company store and café in the Ashland community.

This project was supported entirely by grant funding and was backed by community residents, all of whom attended public meetings and signed a statement that they were willing to connect to the system. This project provides a model for other communities trying to address infrastructure needs through a nontraditional approach. It also demonstrates how stakeholders—including community members and outside agencies—can work together to improve water quality.

Following installation of the Ashland community decentralized wastewater treatment system, monitoring data have shown significant improvements in water quality. Fecal coliform levels dropped by more than 98 percent. The West Virginia DEP will propose removing the 2.8-mile segment of Windmill Gap Creek from the state’s list of impaired waters in 2012.

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2012 NOFA/MASS Winter Conference to Be Held at New Location

WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY
January 14, 2012

WORCESTER, MA – Worcester State University is the new 2012 host of the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. (NOFA/Mass) Annual Winter Conference on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The use of a new venue is the result of an expansion in conference registration over the past five years to over 900 participants. The conference features workshops, a keynote speech, exhibits, vendors and a catered organic lunch provided by Worcester State. The community event is designed for farmers, gardeners, consumers, landscapers, homesteaders, and policy advocates. “Anyone who eats will be interested in attending the NOFA conference,” said Conference Coordinator Cathleen O’Keefe, “..there are workshops for teens, children, and adults. Workshop topics range from farm management to ensuring a fair, equitable, regional food system, to food preservation and healthy living. There are also great practical skills workshops like knot tying & chainsaw safety.”

This year, the 2012 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference will feature keynote speaker John Jeavons of Ecology Action, in Northern California. Jeavons is known internationally as the leading researcher and method developer, teacher, and consultant for the small-scale, sustainable agricultural method known as GROW BIOINTENSIVE ™ mini-farming. Jeavons’ food-raising methods are being used in 141 countries and by such organizations as UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Peace Corps. Jeavons will also be teaching an all-day seminar on Designing and Planning Your Garden/Mini-Farm for the Future.

For gardeners there are workshops on Practical Seed-Saving Skills, Basic Organic Gardening, or Low Tunnels for Vegetables. Consumers might enjoy the sessions on Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms or Maple Syrup 101. Livestock workshops include Pigs and Pork Products on the Small Farm, So You Want to Raise Grass-fed Beef, or Raising Chickens in an Urban Backyard. Foodies can whet their appetites by attending Making Fresh Mozzarella, Curing Ham, and Using a Pressure Canner.

Dennis Irish, Vice President of Marketing, Government and Community Relations at Vanguard Health Systems offered a perspective on the importance of the NOFA/Mass conference: “We in the health care field feel that the opposite of hungry is not full. It’s healthy. To the extent that we can improve the quality of nutrition – the consumption of fruits, vegetables and organic food, our patient-base will benefit from it both physically and mentally. We’re looking forward to presenting at the conference.”

Conference registration is $65 per person with discounts available for NOFA members, certified farmers, students, teens and children; seminar registration is $120. Early-bird registration discounts available before January 1st. Beginning Farmer Scholarships are available for anyone who has been farming for less than 10 years. Complete conference information is available at www.nofamass.org.

The conference is sponsored by Whole Foods Markets, Stonyfield Farm, Farm Family, Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange, Farm Family, Clements Law Office, LLC, Greenleaf Foundation, Franklin Community Cooperative, Vermont Compost, Frontier Natural Products, Neighboring Food Coop, Boston Organics, Groton Wellness, RMA, Groundscapes Express, Lancaster Ag, Albert’s Organics, Chelsea Green Publishing, Fertrell, Harris Seeds, The Weston A. Price Foundation.

Mindy Harris
Public Relations Coordinator
Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass)
310-663-0054 | [email protected]
www.nofamass.org

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Funding opportunity: Merck Family Fund’s Sustaining Our Environment Program

“The goal of the Merck Family Fund’s Sustaining Our Environment program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to create policies for sustainable production practices. To meet this goal, the Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations that address one of the following three priority areas: Promoting Energy Efficiency, Conserving Ecologically Valuable Land, and Making Paper Production Sustainable. To promote energy efficiency, the Fund supports state and regional policies in the Northeast and Southeast that provide incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency implementation. To conserve ecologically valuable land, the Fund provides grants for land conservation projects in the Southeast. To make paper production sustainable, the Fund seeks to increase the rates of recycled paper in large paper sectors, reduce sourcing from endangered forests, and maximize clean production. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year. The upcoming deadline for invited proposals is February 1, 2012. Visit the Fund’s website to learn more about the Sustaining Our Environment program.”

http://www.merckff.org/programs.html

Erik

Erik Hoffner
Orion magazine

***Orion is winner of the 2010 Independent Press Award in the category of General Excellence***

http://www.orionmagazine.org
http://www.twitter.com/Orion_magazine
http://www.facebook.com/Orionmagazine

888-909-6568

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is Seeking Applicants for $1 million in Environmental Justice Small Grants for 2012, Grant Solicitation is Now Open

EPA has announced it is seeking applicants for $1 million in environmental justice small grants expected to be awarded in 2012. EPA’s environmental justice efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

The 2012 grant solicitation is now open and will close on February 29, 2012. Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues. EPA will host four pre-application teleconference calls on December 15, 2011, January 12, 2012, February 1, 2012 and February 15, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants represent EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

Environment Justice Small Grants 2012 Request for Proposals and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2012.pdf

*More details on the teleconference calls (excerpted from RFP):

G. PRE-APPLICATIONASSISTANCE
Applicants are invited to participate in conference calls with EPA to address questions about the EJSG Program and this solicitation. The following are the conference call dates and times. Please call or send an e-mail to Sheritta M. Woodruff at (202) 564-1771 or [email protected] or your regional point of contact (see below), and provide the following information:(1) your name; (2)the name of your organization; (3)the address of your organization;(4) your phone number;(5) and the preferred date for the call. If you cannot reply by e-mail, you can also register by calling your regional EJ Coordinator [for EPA Region One/New England, that person is Heather Ross, (617) 918-1073, [email protected]].

Date Time (EST)
December 15, 2011 1:30 –3:00p.m.
January 12, 2012 3:30 –5:00p.m.
February 1, 2012 1:30 –3:00 p.m.
February 15, 2012 3:30 –5:00 p.m.

In accordance with EPA’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy (EPA Order 5700.5A1), EPA staff will not meet with individual applicants to discuss draft proposals, provide informal comments on draft proposals, or provide advice to applicants on how to respond to ranking criteria. Applicants are responsible for the contents of their applications/proposals. However, consistent with the provisions in the announcement, EPA will respond to questions from individual applicants regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement.

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Job Opening: Narragansett Baykeeper

Position Description
The Narragansett Baykeeper is a permanent, full-time position of Save the Bay (http://www.savebay.org). The individual in this role is responsible for leading Save the Bay’s Narragansett Baykeeper program, which is the organization’s on-the-water advocacy and watchdog presence. The Narragansett Baykeeper is a licensed program of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of more than 200 similar organizations worldwide. The Baykeeper serves as a knowledgeable and credible expert on water quality, pollution, coastal ecology, and resource management. This individual responds to environmental threats and emergencies, supports Save the Bay’s advocacy efforts, and builds constituencies for the protection, restoration, and science-based management of Narragansett Bay. The Baykeeper reports to the Director of Advocacy and works with a team of advocacy and habitat restoration professionals, including our South County Coastkeeper.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Supports STB’s advocacy initiatives, including legal, legislative, regulatory, and public communications.
  • Works with state and federal agencies to address pollution problems, use conflicts, and emergency response.
  • Provides rapid response to ecological or environmental threats and crises.
  • Identifies and documents pollution problems and participates in Bay monitoring activities.
  • Engages with Bay users and stakeholders.
  • Represents STB before stakeholder groups.
  • Develops and manages the Baykeeper program, including budget and annual plans.
  • Participates in and supports the activities of the Waterkeeper Alliance.


Secondary Responsibilities

  •  Reviews coastal development proposals.
  •  Engages with government agency personnel and elected officials.
  • Works with academic institutions on Bay science and research.
  • Supports fundraising and donor cultivation activities.
  • Serves as a resource to STB’s Program & Policy Committee and Board of

Directors

  • Collaborates with and supports STB’s communications department on communication goals and strategies, including promoting STB’s ecological monitoring programs.
  • Responds to information requests.
  • Supports STB’s environmental education programs.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Deep ecosystem-based knowledge of estuaries and coastal habitats.
  • Four year college degree in environmental studies, marine science, or related fields.
  • Minimum of five years of experience working on estuary, coastal or ocean-related issues.
  • Environmental law training desirable.
  • Strong commitment to coastal environmental protection and restoration.
  • Graduate degree preferred, in environmental studies, marine science, oceanography or related fields.
  • Ability to operate and navigate a power boat safely.
  • Ability to work long hours, including nights and weekends.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team.
  • Energetic, creative, outgoing, engaging and self-directed.
  • Skilled at cultivating relationships with other stakeholders.
  •  Ability to perform duties well under the pressure that comes with dealing with controversial issues.


Salary and Benefits

The Narragansett Baykeeper is full-time salaried position with flexible hours, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits package.

To Apply

Send your resume to [email protected] or to Maureen Fogarty, Director of Operations, Save the Bay, 100 Save The Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905.

EOE. Submission deadline December 31, 2011.

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