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Celebrate Toxics Action Center’s work with us!

As a lawyer with the National Environmental Law Center, I know that it’s hard work to take on deep-pocketed or politically connected polluters, and no group does it better than Toxics Action Center. Their team is made up of the bravest and hardest working fighters for clean and healthy communities I’ve ever met. That’s why I’m honored to be on the host committee for this year’s annual Toxics Action Center party to celebrate victories cleaning up and preventing pollution in Massachusetts.

And there’s a lot to celebrate this year! You probably heard the news that with the retirement of the Brayton Point coal-fired power plant in Somerset and the closure of Mount Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts will soon be coal-free. Along with the incredible momentum building to stop the Kinder Morgan fracked gas pipeline, so much progress has been made to move Massachusetts towards a healthier energy future.

That’s why I really hope you’ll join me and the rest of our host committee on Sunday night, November 9th, to raise a glass to Toxics Action Center and the courageous community activism that they are an essential part of. 


Sandisfield Pipeline Scoping Meeting

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a notice for the Connecticut Expansion Pipeline Project (Project) involving construction and operation of pipeline and facilities by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Tennessee) in Albany County, New York; Berkshire and Hampden Counties, Massachusetts; and Hartford County, Connecticut. That includes a pipeline “loop” and facilities in Sandisfield and a pipeyard during construction in Tyringham.

The Scoping meeting in the Berkshires will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 7 to 9 pm at the Sandisfield Art Center, 5 Hammertown Road, Sandisfield, MA.

You can also comment on-line at the FERC website http://ferc.gov/  Docket No. CP14-529.  For more information about how to use the FERC website visit BEAT’s About the FERC Process page.

Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in their Environmental Assessment. Please note that the scoping period will close on November 10, 2014.

  • BEAT Notes: 
    We are disappointed that FERC is choosing to do only an Environmental Assessment rather than a more rigorous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This project would have a severe impact on Otis State Forest. We do not believe it is in the public interest to take land that was permanently protected using the people’s money, out of that protection for something as environmentally destructive as a fracked gas pipeline. The state of Massachusetts has not finished their study of the costs, benefits, and risks of ways the state can best meet our energy needs for the future.
    This is a Scoping Meeting, so the public should be asking FERC to study things like
  • identify where all the vernal pools are and the associated upland habitat required by the amphibian species that require the vernal pools for breeding habitat.
  • identify and map all areas that could potentially require blasting in order to bury the pipeline.
  • identify and map all areas of invasive species currently in and along the right-of-way and develop a plan to remove the invasive species and restore the ecosystem
  • test the water quality of all wells, wetlands, and waterways to provide “before” data, to assess any environmental impacts that may occur during or after construction if this pipeline were allowed to be built.
    require a complete assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions that this additional pipeline would lead to – including both the emissions during construction and the increased emissions resulting from the extracting and burning of the increased amount of fracked gas that would travel through the pipeline.
  • BEAT feels that telling FERC that this is public land that public monies have been used to purchase because the state felt this area is environmentally important – this area should be avoided because the impacts cannot be minimized or mitigated, and in considering this area FERC should prepare a full EIS.
  • We would also suggest that until the state of Massachusetts has finished their study of how to best meet our energy needs, this pipeline expansion is premature – of course, this gas is for Connecticut, not Massachusetts.
    Do not tell FERC where you know there are specific environmental assets. That information should be held as a way to evaluate whether the Environmental Assessment was thorough or missed important environmental information.

The Latest on the Stop the Pipeline Front

There are new hand-out materials available on No Fracked Gas in Mass’ – Resources > Town / Activist Resources section.
If the links below don’t work, visit the page link: http://www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/town-group-resource-materials/

STATE-WIDE PETITION
This is an easy way to take action, and quite crucial!
We’ve drafted a “Petition to Ban New Natural Gas Pipelines and Champion Sustainable Energy” with over 12,000 signatures so far, let’s keep gathering for the incoming administration!

Online Version – share through personal emails or social media, link on your website. People can sign online.
Downloadable Version for Printing
Signature Sheets
For going about collecting signatures at the local gathering spots, cafés, shopping centers, club and civic organization meetings, churches, tables at large events or even door to door!

INFO-SHEET BOOKLETS

— Burden of Proof: the Case Against the Proposed NED Pipeline
Our 30 page white paper on why the pipeline is the wrong direction for the Northeast
» DOWNLOAD PDF COPY HERE
Print your own to share with town officials and lawmakers if you like.

Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Pipeline: Wrong Choice for Massachusetts – A Single Page Fact-Sheet outlining the pipeline project and its impacts
» State Legislator-focused copy
» Congressional-focused copy

– Understanding and Using FERC
(2-sided, cut in half for hand-out flyers)

Just Say No! – Information for Landowners
(Single sided, letter size)

Pipeline Info Half-page Info Sheet – Up to date as of 10/7/14
(2-sided, cut in half for hand-out info flyers)

MassPLAN Jobs Info Handout
(2-sided, cut in half for hand-out flyers)

Farmers’ Declaration of Opposition
A sign-on letter for farmers and their customers who are opposed to the pipeline.

Businesses Opposed to the Pipeline
Fill out the form to have your business listed as part of the opposition to the proposed pipeline. We will list your business at MassPLAN.org and elsewhere in our campaign.

INFO-CARDS
Great for quick hand-outs in a crowd.
Info Business-Cards
All the basics, made to fit those tear-off business card sheets. Print 1 side for the basics, or two for more explanation and a link to the petition.
Info Post Cards
All the basics, two sided. Letter size sheet cuts into four 4.25″ x 5.5″ cards


Massachusetts Low Demand Analysis

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has retained Synapse to conduct a low demand modeling analysis. The purpose of the modeling analysis is to consider various gas demand scenarios and to evaluate a range of solutions to meet Massachusetts’ short and long-term resource needs, considering greenhouse gas reductions, economic costs and benefits, and system reliability. (http://synapse-energy.com/project/massachusetts-low-demand-analysis)

New England’s energy infrastructure has become increasingly stressed due to various market conditions, leading to near-term supply inadequacy and cost impacts, especially during winter months. DOER seeks to compare a range of energy solutions considering greenhouse gas reductions, economic cost and benefits, and system reliability to meet Massachusetts’ short- and long-term energy needs. As such, DOER has retained Synapse to evaluate varying solutions for meeting Massachusetts’ energy needs while striking a balance between reliability, cost, and the environment.

As part of the modeling analysis process, Synapse and DOER will be soliciting stakeholder input and feedback at several key junctures. Raab Associates, Ltd. will be working with Synapse and taking the lead on the stakeholder engagement process. All materials from stakeholder meetings—including notes, slides, and agendas—will be made available on this page. The expected schedule for this process is outlined below. Any changes in meeting dates will be posted to this page.

Participants in stakeholder meetings may submit comments and suggestions via e-mail within three business days after each meeting. The e-mail address to which comments should be sent is lowdemandstudy@state.ma.us.

October 30, 9am-4pm – Stakeholder Meeting: Review results of feasibility study of alternative resource penetration and supply curves for 2015, 2020,
2030; Detailed discussion of modeling process
Location: Hearing Room A at DPU, One South Station, Boston

Nov. 4 – Written comments due

November 20, 9am-4pm – Stakeholder Meeting: Review results of modeling
runs and their implications; Present an outline of final report
Location: Conference Room, One Ashburton Place, Boston

November 25 – Written comments due

December 23, 2014 – Planned release of final report

Pre-registration for stakeholder meetings is required. To RSVP to a stakeholder meeting, please e-mail Susan Rivo at Susan@RaabAssociates.org.


MassDEP Adopts New Regulation Amendments – Effective October 24, 2014

As the last step the MassDEP’s Regulation Reform Initiative, the Wetlands Program is pleased to announce that the final regulation revisions pertaining to the Wetland Protection and Water Quality Certification regulations. On October 24, 2014, the final regulations will be published in the Secretary of State’s Massachusetts Register and will become effective as of that date.

After three years of extensive work in drafting regulation amendments with input from advisory committees and other stakeholders, conducting public hearings, reviewing and incorporating public comments, MassDEP has promulgated extensive revisions a number of environmental regulations culminating in revisions to: 314 CMR 9.00, 401 Water Quality Certification of the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, M.G.L. c.21, §§26-53 and 310 CMR 10.00; Wetlands Protection Act MGL c. 131, s. 40. As part of this effort, prior amendments to the Waterways regulations, 310 CMR 9.00, under the Waterways Act MGL c.91 became effective in May 2014. The regulation changes are intended to save applicants, commissions, and MassDEP time and resources while maintaining fundamental environmental protections.

A Summary of these revisions with regulatory citations are located at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/water/resources/a-thru-m/macc2014wwregref.pdf

Following receipt of the official publication of by the Secretary of State’s office, the regulations will be posted on the MassDEP website at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/regulations/regulations-and-standards.html#12 . Applicable Forms will be posted within the two weeks on MassDEP’s website at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/approvals/wetlands-and-waterways-forms.html

The following Regulatory Revision workshops will be conducted in November:

  • Wednesday, November 12 – MassDEP Western Region, 10 am to 12:30 pm
    Ludlow Town Hall, 488 Chapin Street
  • Thursday, November 13 – MassDEP Northeast Regional Office, 10 am to 12:30 pm
    205B Lowell Street, Wilmington
  • Tuesday, November 18 – MassDEP Central Region, 10 am to 12:30 pm,                                                                      MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road
    Westborough, Southeast Conference Room
  • Thursday, November 20 – MassDEP Southeast Regional Office, 10 am to 12:30 pm
    20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville

Contact your Regional Wetland Circuit Rider or Coordinator if you have questions or would like to request additional training workshops: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/watersheds/massdeps-wetlands-circuit-rider-program.html#GettoKnowYourRegionalCircuitRider


 North Adams Ashuwillticook Bike Trail Open House

The City of North Adams and BRPC are working to identify a feasible route for the North Adams section of the Berkshire (Ashuwillticook) Bicycle and Walking Trail.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 29 at the Greylock School (100 Phelps Avenue) to learn about the preliminary route of the section between Williamstown and North Adams, the potential benefits and impacts of a bike path, and to provide YOUR input.

The public meeting will be set up as an open house from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There will be an informational presentation at 6:30 PM. The event is family friendly, and refreshments will be provided.

Please direct questions to the North Adams Office of Community Development: (413) 662-3000 x3025 or mgreer@northadams-ma.gov.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

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New Law Will Help Small Farms and Fishing Operations

MARLBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 17, 2014 — A new law passed by the Massachusetts legislature and signed by Governor Patrick as part of the economic development package will go a long way to help small and new farmers, fishermen and consumers.

Massachusetts has long had an Investment Tax Credit for incorporated farm, fishing and manufacturing operations. Purchases or leases of tangible property such as livestock, equipment, boats and some buildings garnered a 3% tax credit. Changes in the law this past July extends this credit to non-incorporated farm and fishing operations as well.

“This is an important change for many farmers” said Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, President of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation. “We’ve seen about a 30% increase in the number of farms in the last decade, but a much smaller increase in the amount of farmland. Clearly we have an increase in smaller farms in Massachusetts – most of which aren’t incorporated and will benefit from this credit.”

Representative Carolyn Dykema sponsored the legislative language. “Agriculture is a growing part of our local economies.  By offering tax credits to those small businesses, we encourage investment and job creation at the local level. These are jobs that will never go overseas.”

Beth Casoni of the Massachusetts Lobsterman’s Association also praised the extension of the tax credit. “The cost of running a fishing business in the Commonwealth is increasing, and we have many more restrictions than fisherman in other parts of the world. This will help level the playing field.”

The Department of Revenue projects that the new law will put between $400,000 and $1.2 million back in the pockets of these businesses annually. Dykema and Bonanno agree that this is not just a benefit to farmers, but to taxpayers as well. “This is an incentive for farmers and fishermen to invest in and grow their businesses” according to Bonanno.

“Helping farms and fisherman prosper and grow will also not only strengthen the economy, but benefit consumers as well. Helping Massachusetts food producers helps increase food security, and make healthy food that much more accessible for every resident” said Dykema.

Getting this change to state law passed was a priority of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, a non-profit membership organization of 6,000 farmers and advocates for local agriculture, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Its mission is “to protect the rights, encourage the growth, and be of service to its members, in the best interest of agriculture.”

Contact: Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, tel. 978-361-5650, fax 508-481-4768, email: rich@mfbf.net, 249 Lakeside Ave., Marlborough, MA 01752

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Berkshire Grown Expands Holiday Farmers’ Markets Schedule

New markets added during January and February

Great Barrington and Williamstown, Mass.—Berkshire Grown will host Holiday Farmers’ Markets from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays, November 22 and December 13, 2014 and January 17 and February 14, 2015 at Monument Valley Middle School (313 Monument Valley Road in Great Barrington) and on Sundays, November 23 and December 14, 2014 at Williams College Towne Field House (82 Latham Street in Williamstown). These popular events feature locally grown and produced foods and gifts, plus live music, lunch fare, and activities for children, during months when farmers’ markets are not open in the region. Admission is free.

“Berkshire farmers tell us that the Berkshire Grown Holiday Farmers’ Markets have become a essential source of income for them,” said Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown. “We have decided to support them even more in our sixth season by adding two new markets — one during Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend and the other during Valentine’s Day weekend, when the market theme will be ‘Love Your Farmer.’”

Major sponsors of the Holiday Farmers’ Markets include Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and Williams College. Berkshire Grown received funding from MDAR to promote Massachusetts Grown…and Fresher! at the markets. As part of Williams College’s ongoing commitment to sustainable food and local agriculture, the college is again co-sponsoring the markets by donating the Williamstown venue, as well as providing funding toward the event. The Williams College Sustainable Food and Agriculture Program and The Zilka Center for Environmental Initiatives are supporting the markets as a community partnership to further incorporate the principles of sustainability into the fabric of campus life. For more information on the college’s ongoing commitment to sustainable food, visit sustainability.williams.edu.

In addition, Berkshire Grown is grateful for generous support from the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Berkshire Co-op Market, Berkshire Organics, Greater Berkshire Agriculture Fund of The Carrot Project, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Kimball Farms, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and Sweet Brook Farm.

Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape; its mission is to “Keep farmers farming!”  Through events, workshops, promotions, advocacy, and education highlighting locally grown and produced food, Berkshire Grown helps to create a thriving local food economy. For more information or to become a member of the non-profit organization, see berkshiregrown.org or call 413.528.0041.


Grant Opportunity for Northeast Farmers

The Rodale Institute has recently partnered with Amy’s to give away approximately $25,000 this year to organic farmers with over 20 acres (5 grants of $5,000 each) for projects like building needs, certification of organic acreage, purchase of equipment to help grow and expand farm, and funds to purchase organic seed.

Click here to read more and to apply.

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