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Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan approved!

Massachusetts Teaming With Wildlife announced that the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan has been officially approved by US Fish and Wildlife!

To see the Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan, visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/cwcs/dfw_cwcs.htm or see a brief summary at www.statewildlife.nwf.org/ma.

What that means is we now need to start work on funding its implementation. Please join the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition is to show decision makers how important wildlife habitat protection is in Massachusetts. We now need your help— Action Alert! Call the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and your State Representative

Visit the Environmental League of Massachusetts website, which is being updated regularly with more and more information about Teaming with Wildlife, the Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan, the funding campaign, and upcoming events. Visit us regularly as www.environmentalleague.org (click on Teaming with Wildlife) or at www.statewildlife.nwf.org/ma.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Megan!

Megan Amundson
Legislative Director
Environmental League of Massachusetts
14 Beacon Street, Suite 714
Boston, MA  02108
617-742-2553
[email protected]

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Wind Power in the Wild

There will be a public forum on siting of wind power with panelists representing both wind power and land conservation–"Wind Power in the Wild" at the upcoming Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s Building Energy Conference in Boston.

Here’s the information: http://buildingenergy.nesea.org/highlights.php
Wind Power in the Wild

Tuesday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater at the Seaport World Trade Center. FREE.

Panelists: Bill McKibben, author, Michael Kellett, RESTORE, Eleanor Tillinghast, Green Berkshires, Inc., Steven Terry, Green Mountain Power

Moderator: Jim Braude, TV & radio host

Moderated by Jim Braude, Host of NECN’s NewsNight and Wired and Co-host of Eagen and Braude, 96.6 FM Talk. Join us as wilderness and renewable energy advocates discuss how to achieve ecological AND energy security in the Northeast. If the fundamental purpose of renewable energy is to lighten our load on the earth, then energy advocates must consider how these “cleaner, greener” sources of energy affect wildlife and ecological systems. Conversely, land conservation and wilderness advocates must determine what level of ecological impact is acceptable if renewable energy is to become more than a mere novelty in the context of our changing climate and resource limitations.

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Here is an interesting link regarding invasive species.  http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/strategicplan041805.pdf   Strategic Recommendations for Managing Invasive Plants in Massachusetts Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group  Final Report • February 28, 2005

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Natural Resource Damages Updated Schedule

The MA SubCouncil has strived to maintain an expedited schedule as discussed at the September 2006 MA SubCouncil Public Meeting.  However, the MA SubCouncil has experienced delays and is still developing the list of Proposed Alternatives to receive NRD funding. The time period for developing such a list was extended due to a period of discussions, from October thru mid-January 2007, between the Housatonic River Trustees for USFWS and EOEA regarding the potential for consideration of additional projects as requested by the EOEA Secretary in October 2006.  The MA SubCouncil has recently determined that these additional projects will not be considered for funding as part of the Round 1 Restoration.   At this time, the current schedule is anticipated as follows:

March 2007 – Draft Restoration Plan released & Public Comment period begins

April 2007 – Public Meeting

April 2007 – 30-day Public Comment period ends

June 2007 – Final Restoration Plan released

Summer-Fall 2007 – Scope of Work developed for projects and contracts executed

A refined schedule will be discussed in further detail as posted on this website and at the future Public Meeting.  We apologize to the extent this schedule may affect the ability to fund restoration project activities during the 2007 field-season. For more information go to NRDs website.

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PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Name & Citation of Regulation(s): 310 CMR 7.25 Architectural Coatings: Best Available Controls for Consumer and Commercial Products

Brief Explanation and Rationale for Proposed Changes:

Massachusetts is currently in non-attainment of the federal 8-hour ozone standard. Ground-level ozone is a photochemical oxidant that can adversely affect human health and the environment. Ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of sunlight and heat. The proposed regulations are part of MassDEP’s efforts to reduce emissions of ozone precursors in order to attain the 8-hour ozone standard by 2010 and to mitigate Massachusetts’ contribution to ozone violations in downwind states. MassDEP will include these regulations in its 8-hour ozone SIP and will take credit in the SIP for the emissions reductions that will result from these regulations. In addition, many VOCs are toxic and therefore reducing VOC emissions from consumer products and AIM coatings will reduce exposure to toxic chemicals.

The proposed regulations will reduce emissions of VOCs from consumer products and AIM coatings, and therefore, will have a positive environmental effect. By proposing regulations consistent with other Ozone Transport Commission MOU states, the regulations will provide consistency to manufacturers and other regulated parties. The regulations include flexible measures such as variances for economic hardship, innovative product exemptions, and opportunities for alternative testing.

Web Link to View Draft Regulations:

http://mass.gov/dep/public/publiche.htm .

Public Hearing Information:

Public hearings will be conducted on the following dates at the following locations to receive comments on the proposed amendments. Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the hearings.

February 28, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
MassDEP, 2nd floor conference room
One Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
Directions: http://www.mass.gov/dep/about/organization/depdir.htm

March 2, 2007, at 3:00 p.m.
MassDEP Western Regional Office, 3 rd floor Court Room
436 Dwight Street, Room
Springfield, MA
Directions: http://www.mass.gov/dep/about/region/westernr.htm#directions

MassDEP will accept written comments until 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2007. Please send written comments electronically via e-mail to: [email protected]. Paper copies of written comments also may be sent to: Azin Kavian, MassDEP, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108, RE: Best Available Controls for Consumer and Commercial Products Comments.

Publication in Massachusetts Register

Regulations sent to Secretary of State’s Office on January 5, 2007 for publication in the Massachusetts Register on January 26, 2007.

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CALL FOR ENTRIES!
Lifecycle Building Challenge designing this building, and the next …

The  U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Building Materials Reuse
Association,  the American Institute of Architects, and West Coast Green
invite  professionals  and  students  to  participate  in  the Lifecycle
Building  Challenge,  a  competition  seeking  designs  and  ideas  that
facilitate adaptability, deconstruction, and reuse.

Registration closes on April 15, 2007.

In  the  United  States,  buildings  consume 60% of total materials flow
(excluding food and fuel) and construction and demolition waste accounts
for  about  one  third of total waste generated each year.  With current
building trends, over 27% of existing buildings will be replaced between
2000  and  2030,  and over 50% of buildings in 2030 will have been built
since  2000.   Developing  innovative design techniques now will make it
easier to disassemble and reuse building materials in the future.

Students,  architects,  reuse  experts,  engineers, designers, planners,
contractors,  builders,  educators,  environmental  advocates, and other
interested  parties  nationwide  are invited to submit designs and ideas
that  support  disassembly  and  anticipate  the  future use of building
materials in the following categories:

1) entire buildings
2) building components
3) tools and strategies

Outstanding  entries  in  each  category  will be recognized at an Award
Ceremony at the West Coast Green Conference + Expo in San Francisco this
September,  and  free  passes  to the conference will be provided to all
winning entrants.

For more information and examples, please visit:
www.lifecyclebuilding.org.

Lifecycle Building Challenge
Email: [email protected]

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Berkshire Grown Names New Director
(from Berkshire Recored, January 26-February1, 2007)

Great Barrington-Berkshire Grown, an organization that promotes local agriculture as a vital part of a healthy Berkshire economy, has named Barbara Zheutlin as its new Exectutive Director.

Ms. Zheutlin replaces Danielle Mullen, who has been Berkshire Grown’s Executive Director since April 2004. Ms. Mullen is resigning so she can spend more time with her new baby.

Barbara Zheutlin has been a member of the Berkshire Grown board since April 2006. She is also a co-founder of Share the Bounty, an organization that raises funds to purchase shares in local farms that are donated to food pantries. Last year, Berkshire Grown became the fiscal agent for Share the Bounty. As Berkshire Grown’s new director Ms. Zheutlin will continue to oversee Share the Bounty.

"…the importance of small farms far exceeds their visual charm. At a time of energy shortages, when our food is becoming increasingly industrialized and vulnerable to disruption, we must encourage our community to support local farmers," Zheutlin said. "If we want to maintain our rural landscape, some of it must produce food we can eat. This is a cause I am committed to. We must bring our farms to our schools, to our food pantries, and to our tables."

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The Sheffield Land Trust presents its ninth annual Winter Lecture, "Going Wild: Edible Wild Plants and Mushrooms of New England," with Russ Cohen

Saturday, February 10th from 3-5pm at Dewey Hall off Route 7 in the Center of Sheffield, the Sheffield Land Trust is hosting its annual Winter Lecture and Tea ­ this year the program is "Going Wild: Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms of New England." Noted naturalist Russ Cohen will introduce over 70 of the tastiest species of wild plants and mushrooms in the region, illustrated by a stunning slide show. The plants range from those which are well-known, like daisies and dandelions, to plants people may never have even heard of, like calamus and carrion flower. He’ll include about a dozen of the of the most delicious (and easiest to recognize) mushroom species as well – from morels in the spring, black chanterelles in the summer and hen of the woods mushrooms in the fall, all of which he’s found locally.
Russ grew up roaming the woods of Eastern Massachusetts, but his first formal exposure to edible wild plants occurred at Weston High School, where as a sophomore he enrolled in an "Edible Botany" course. By his senior year, he was teaching the class. Today, Russ works for the Riverways Program, but in his own time leads dozens of classes and walks a year for groups across the region. Russ will return in the fall to lead the Land Trust’s Conservation Property Walk, where he expects to encounter many of the species that will be covered in slide show. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn some delicious facts about our natural community. Following the lecture the traditional delicious tea will be served, and you will be able to speak with Russ and purchase an autographed copy of his book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Please arrive early as seating is limited. For more information, contact the Land Trust at 229-0234 or send e-mail to [email protected].

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON RUSS COHEN: Cohen is a professional environmentalist and wild foods enthusiast, and led an "edibles walk" for the Land Trust in 1997, and the Land Trust is thrilled to welcome him back. Russ currently resides in Arlington, MA. He grew up in Weston, MA, (where his parents still reside) and spent much of his free time in the woods, thereby cultivating a strong spiritual connection to nature. Russ’s first formal exposure to edible wild plants occurred at Weston High School, where as a sophomore he enrolled in an "Edible Botany" course. By his senior year, he was teaching the class. In 1989, he caught the mushroom hunting bug on a trip to the Soviet Union and added edible wild mushrooms to his repertoire. Russ received his bachelor’s degree in land-use planning from Vassar College in 1978 and a masters in natural resources and a law degree from Ohio State University in 1982. He has been employed by the Riverways Program of the Massachusetts Dept. of Fish and Game since 1988 and has served as its rivers advocate since 1992. Past employers also include The Nature Conservancy, the Land Trust Alliance and the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Russ has received several awards for his rivers work, including an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2003 and a "Heritage Hero" award from the Essex National Heritage Commission in 2006. Russ is in his 33rd year of teaching about wild edibles. Last year, he led more than 30 classes/walks from May to October for some two dozen organizations, including the Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

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CPA II

The Community Planning Act will be filed in the state legislature by January 10, 2007. This state zoning and land use reform bill is essentially the same as it appeared in the 2006 legislative session, with the exception of four additional amendments. (The amendments concern zoning variances, special permit approval, special permit duration, and modifications to subdivision plans.)

If you have questions about the bill, please feel free to contact Don Keeran, the Coordinator for the Coalition for Zoning Reform:

Don Keeran, Coordinator
Coalition for Zoning Reform
Toll Free: 1-877-955-4142
[email protected]

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ELM’s 2008 Green Budget

The Environmental League of Massachusetts has released their Green Budget 2008 (pdf) with recommendations on how much money should be allocated to various environmental budget lines for the next fiscal year (2008). The Green Budget 2008 has been endorsed by 50 conservation and health organizations across the state, with recommendations for the Environmental Affairs budget.

In the Green Budget are recommendations to provide $1 million for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) within the Department of Fish and Game to help implement the Wildlife Action Plan.

In the FY2004 budget the NHESP lost all of its operating funding from the state, which had amounted to around $800,000 a year. It now functions on only a combination of bond money, voluntary donations from Massachusetts residents in the form of a check-off box on the state income tax return, and federal funds.

NHESP is one of the programs within MassWildlife that implements the State Wildlife Action Plan. In order to continue to receive federal funding to implement our Action Plan, the state must match dollar for dollar what the federal government is willing to provide, which was around $900,000 in FY2007.

Much of the $1 million recommended in the Green Budget for NHESP would qualify for the agency’s federal match to implement the Wildlife Action Plan.

You may contact your legislators to give them your views on this plan. Click on their name to email or give them a call.

Senator Benjamin Downing 413-442-4008
1st Berkshire District Representative Daniel Bosley 413-663-7486
2nd Berkshire District Representative Denis Guyer 413-684-0033
3rd Berkshire District Representative Christopher Speranzo 413-447-7225
4th Berkshire District Representative Smitty Pignatelli 413-243-5534

By supporting $1 million for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts could receive matching Federal money to implement the State Wildlife Action Plan.

See Mass Audubon’s Legislative Primer webpage.

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