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Thank you to Rachel Branch, producer of the television show Solutions Rising for including a “BEAT” series for people to learn more about the fracked gas pipelines proposed to bring gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania across New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire to a gas hub in Dracut, MA. The show interviews many people providing information about the proposed pipelines as well as the many alternatives to these pipelines.

First Day Hikes: Dozens expected on Mount Greylock trail
to mark 25-year tradition

Dozens of men, women and children are expected to hike the base of Mount Greylock Reservation on Friday to mark a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition born in Massachusetts 25 years ago. Mount Greylock is among the 11 state parks participating in the annual First Day Hikes, sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. As reported by Dick Lindsay, The Berkshire Eagle Online, 12/30/15

Intervention Deadline has been set by FERC for January 6, 2016/ Training workshops scheduled

Kinder Morgan has formally filed and FERC has accepted their application and given a deadline for filing a MOTION TO INTERVENE of January 6, 2016. It is possible to either submit a document as an e-Filing, or use FERC’s “(doc-less) Motion to Intervene”. No Fracked Gas in Mass has provided complete information and instructions on their website as well as a schedule of Intervenor Training Workshops.

Campus activists unite in call for
divestments at colleges

Campus activists who often fight in parallel with one another for their respective causes are now starting to form alliances as they turn up the pressure on some U.S. colleges to financially divest from industries that run counter to their beliefs. Student groups that have long called on colleges to stop investing in fossil fuels have begun working alongside students demanding divestment from the prison industry, a movement that has gained momentum recently with support from black student organizations. By Collin Binkley, The Associated Press, posted in The Berkshire Eagle online edition, 12/29/15. 

The Environment: Under climate goals, emissions need to drop below zero

If governments are serious about the global warming targets they adopted in Paris, scientists say they have two options: eliminating fossil fuels immediately or finding ways to undo their damage to the climate system in the future.

 

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Jobs

Conference Coordinator – Northeast Sustainable Energy Association

Christodora/Manice Education Center (MEC) – Various positions

Land Protection Specialist, Western/Central Mass – Mass Audubon

Land Protection Specialist – Mass Audubon

Ecological Restoration Specialist (Environmental Analyst II) – MA Division of Ecological Restoration

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First Day Hikes: Dozens expected on Mount Greylock trail
to mark 25-year tradition

By Dick Lindsay
The Berkshire Eagle Online
12/30/2015

LANESBOROUGH — Dozens of men, women and children are expected to hike the base of Mount Greylock Reservation on Friday to mark a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition born in Massachusetts 25 years ago.

Mount Greylock is among the 11 state parks participating in the annual First Day Hikes, sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The Greylock hike is scheduled for noon on the Bradley Farm Trail near the Visitors Center off Rockwell Road in Lanesborough and lasts about 90 minutes.

Massachusetts originated the First Day Hikes in 1992, and by 2012, all 50 states hosted the New Year’s activity.

Greylock has been a regular part of the DCR lineup of New Year’s Day hikes the past several years, drawing a mix of regular visitors and newcomers to the reservation, according to Becky Barnes, DCR’s mountain district manager for North Berkshire, which includes Greylock. She expects 80 to 100 hikers on Friday, about average for the event.

“We have some of the same hikers, some new, but always very busy every year,” Barnes said.

State park officials say the hikes are a great way to promote outdoor winter recreation, something DCR Commissioner Leo Roy wholeheartedly endorses — and partakes in when he can.

“I love the ability to walk out the door and take advantage of our parks,” he said. “The out-of-doors is my cathedral.”

Roy plans to hike Blue Hills State Reservation in Milton, which was the site of the original First Day Hike. Twenty years later, all 50 state park systems joined together to sponsor America’s State Parks First Day Hikes, which has become the signature nationwide program for the National Association of State Park Directors. Last year, over 997 First Day Hikes were held in state parks across the country with a record-breaking 41,153 people logging 79,892 miles of hiking, according to the DCR.

Roy believes the promotion has been a boost to participating parks in the commonwealth.

“Our parking lots are full with hikers enjoying the outdoors and fresh air,” he said.

The hikes — free of charge — are led by each park’s staff and at Mount Greylock usually encompass two or more groups due to the large turnout, often a social gathering for many of the participants.

“I am surprised the number of people who come that don’t like to hike alone; they love being on a guided hike,” Barnes said.

DCR officials encourages proper attire for the walk through the woods. Hikers should wear study, waterproof footwear and layered clothes as temperatures are expected to be in the 30s. For extra stability on the trail, hikers can bring ski poles or hiking poles.

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Intervention Deadline has been set by FERC for January 6, 2016

No Fracked Gas in Mass

Kinder Morgan has formally filed and FERC has accepted their application and given a deadline for filing a MOTION TO INTERVENE of January 6, 2016. You can either submit a document as an e-Filing, or use FERC’s “(doc-less) Motion to Intervene”. As an intervenor, you gain the right to participate in a hearing, file a brief, and challenge a FERC decision (you don’t have these rights if you simply file comments).  Intervening does not require you to hire a lawyer or participate further, it simply keeps the options open for you.

WHO CAN INTERVENE? Individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities and other entities can intervene. You will be asked to fill in reasons that you are (or your organization is) a stakeholder in this matter. It is best if you type up your comment before, and just copy and paste it into this box.  The regulatory requirements specify what you should include in your motion; be sure to provide sufficient detail to show that you have or represent an “interest which may be directly affected by the outcome of the proceeding”.  This can include your status as a landowners, ratepayer, etc.  Also state that you are opposed to the project.

You will need to register with FERC to access this part of the site and intervene. It’s free and relatively easy.

» Step-by-Step instructions and samples available HERE on No Fracked Gas in Mass

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 Campus activists unite in call for divestments at colleges

By Collin Binkley, The Associated Press
The Berkshire Eagle
12/29/2015

BOSTON — Campus activists who often fight in parallel with one another for their respective causes are now starting to form alliances as they turn up the pressure on some U.S. colleges to financially divest from industries that run counter to their beliefs.

Student groups that have long called on colleges to stop investing in fossil fuels have begun working alongside students demanding divestment from the prison industry, a movement that has gained momentum recently with support from black student organizations.

Coalitions created this year at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and the University of Pennsylvania have pressured their institutions to drop investments in fossil fuels and prisons and in companies that have ties to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, demands that students previously pursued separately. At Tufts University near Boston, divestment groups against fossil fuels and Israel banded together with a coalition opposing investments in private prison companies.

“There’s a consciousness with the younger generations that these are not single issues,” said Zakaria Kronemer, a national organizer for the Responsible Endowments Coalition, a New York nonprofit group that helps students campaign around what they see as crucial social-justice issues. “It doesn’t make sense for us to be working in silos anymore.”

Beyond the call for divestments, students have thrown other causes into the mix. After fighting to get Columbia University to divest from fossil fuels, a student group organized a coalition with five other campus groups that tackle issues such as racism, sexual assault and workers’ rights. Together, as the Barnard Columbia Solidarity Network, they issued merged demands to campus administrators.

“I don’t think they’ve dealt with anything like this,” said Daniela Lapidous, a senior and a group member. “Only by building these coalitions will we win any of our demands.”

The collaborations have had some success. After students staged a joint sit-in this year, the president of Wesleyan agreed to endorse divestment from the prison industry.

Advocacy groups that help students organize say they expect to see more crossover coalitions at colleges. Already, students from several universities are trying to establish a national umbrella group that would unite students across schools and causes. National environmental groups have offered online training to students on the perks of solidarity.

“Increasingly, the climate movement has seen how deeply intertwined the climate crisis is with issues of racial and economic injustice,” said Jenny Marienau, a divestment campaign manager for the environmental group 350.org. “I don’t think it’s just a numbers game, though. I really do think there’s deeper alignment.”

Students against fossil fuel investments, for example, point to a recent report from Columbia predicting that rising temperatures will pose a health risk at prisons.

But some critics say it’s a reach to draw connections between fossil fuel divestment and other movements.

Bradford Cornell, a professor of financial economics at the California Institute of Technology, said the debate over fossil fuels is straightforward, focusing on the costs and benefits of using those fuels. Cornell is also the author of a 2015 report finding that divesting from fossil fuels can hurt universities’ investment returns.

Even with the help of newly formed coalitions, though, students have struggled to get colleges to disclose their investments. The Wesleyan group, named the Coalition for Divestment and Transparency, criticized the school because students have no way of knowing if Wesleyan invests in contentious industries.

Of the 30 public universities with the largest endowments, only nine released any of their investment holdings in response to a recent Associated Press records request. None of the 20 private colleges with the top endowments — the smallest of which tops $3 billion — provided any records.

Colleges guard their investments closely, contending that disclosure would tip their hand to competitors. Some students and faculty say colleges should invest only in socially responsible ways, but colleges and financial experts counter that endowments are meant primarily to generate revenue.

Often, administrators can’t even trace all their institution’s investments.

Most big universities now invest in hedge funds, said Jessica Matthews, head of the mission-related investing practice at Cambridge Associates, which advises colleges on investments. While those types of funds pose a challenge to divestment, she added, there are some fossil-free hedge funds available to schools.

Research has been mixed on whether divesting from fossil fuels would hurt a university’s endowment. Some colleges counter that it’s better to work with companies on changes rather than cut ties with them.

Still, Matthews said she sees some evidence that universities are heeding the calls of campus activists. Over the past two years, more than 70 colleges have sent inquiries about divestment, a surge over previous years. Most have been focused on fossil fuels, she said, but there has been growing interest in prison divestment.

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The Environment: Under climate goals, emissions
need to drop below zero

By Karl Ritter, The Associated Press
The Berkshire Eagle Online
12/24/2015

STOCKHOLM – If governments are serious about the global warming targets they adopted in Paris, scientists say they have two options: eliminating fossil fuels immediately or finding ways to undo their damage to the climate system in the future.

The first is politically impossible — the world is still hooked on using oil, coal and natural gas — which leaves the option of a major cleanup of the atmosphere later this century.

Yet the landmark Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 countries on Dec. 12, makes no reference to that, which has left some observers wondering whether politicians understand the implications of the goals they signed up for.

“I would say it’s the single biggest issue that has to be resolved,” said Glen Peters of the Cicero climate research institute in Oslo, Norway.

Scientists refer to this envisioned cleanup job as negative emissions — removing more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than humans put in it.

Right now we’re putting in a lot — about 50 billion tons a year, mostly carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels for energy.

There are methods to achieve negative emissions today but they would need to be scaled up to a level that experts say could put climate efforts in conflict with other priorities, such as eradicating hunger. Still, if the Paris climate goals are to be achieved, there’s no way to avoid the issue, said Jan Minx of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate change in Berlin.

“My view is, let’s have this discussion,” he said. “Let’s involve ourselves in developing these technologies. We need to keep learning.”

The Paris Agreement was historic. For the first time all countries agreed to jointly fight climate change, primarily by reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Governments vowed to keep global warming “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with preindustrial times. But even 2 degrees of warming could threaten the existence of low-lying island nations faced with rising seas. So governments agreed to try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F), which is just half-a-degree above the global average temperature this year.

That goal is so ambitious — some would say far-fetched — that there’s been very little research devoted to it. In Paris, politicians asked scientists to start studying how it can be done.

Minx and others said it’s clear the goal cannot be reached without negative emissions in the future, because the atmosphere is filling up with greenhouse gases so fast that it may already be too late to keep the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees C.

“We are late with climate policy. We need to buy back some time,” Minx said.

That means allowing warming to exceed 1.5 degrees temporarily and then bringing it down by removing carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere.

The task would be enormous. One recent study said hundreds of billions of tons of carbon dioxide would have to be removed in the second half of this century.

That has led some scientists to consider controversial geoengineering solutions like fertilizing the oceans with iron to make them absorb more carbon.

But the more viable methods being discussed today include planting more forests, which absorb carbon dioxide naturally as they grow, and combining bioenergy with carbon capture technologies.

Bioenergy comes from burning biological sources such as trees or crops. That results in zero net emissions, if the carbon dioxide released when one tree is burned is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed when a new tree grows up.

However, if you also capture the emissions from the bioenergy plant and bury them underground, you are actually removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Although the technology exists, it has received very little attention from policy makers, advocates say. There’s only one large-scale biomass facility worldwide using the method: a bioethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois.

“It’s been treated as an esoteric, maybe unnecessary field of research,” said Henrik Karlsson, who heads Biorecro, a Swedish company that specializes in the process.

The obstacles are many. Carbon capture technology is very expensive. And then there’s the issue of finding places to store the carbon dioxide once you’ve captured it.

Typically it is injected into rock formations deep underground, but “people don’t like carbon stored under them,” said Peters. “It’s not just a few tons. It’s billions of tons a year.”

Another problem is that to reach a point where the method actually generates enough negative emissions to enable the 1.5-degree target, bioenergy would need to be much a bigger part of the global energy mix. It’s just 10 percent today.

Critics say that could mean converting millions of acres of farmland used for food production to grow biocrops, which could clash with Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, which says the battle against climate change must be carried out “in a manner that does not threaten food production.”

Right now the idea of achieving negative emissions may seem like a pipe dream. Governments are still trying to stop record emissions from growing even higher, while allowing developing countries including India and China to expand their economies.

Oliver Geden of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said the temperature goals governments adopted in Paris don’t match the actions nations are taking to limit emissions.

“It’s so easy to have this kind of target,” he said. “I don’t understand that given the history of the (U.N. climate talks), everyone is taking this seriously.”

Peters said achieving the 1.5-degree C target is “pretty unlikely” and that even the higher temperature target would be difficult and most likely require negative emissions.

“It’s really hard to see that 2 degrees will remain on the table unless you have some fundamental technological breakthrough,” he said. “There are just too many competing interests.”

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Jobs

We are looking for a dynamic super hero to join the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association staff as our Conference Coordinator in Greenfield, MA. The ideal candidate will be as passionate about coordinating conference speakers, registration, continuing education credits, and event planning logistics as they are about our mission, which is to advance the adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment. This position requires excellent organizational, interpersonal and computer skills. We have a great culture here – we play almost as hard as we work. We’re fans of lean impact, Seth Godin, and other entrepreneurial approaches.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Conference Coordinator is responsible and held accountable for the following duties:

Coordinate Speakers

  • Attend all conference content planning meetings to provide administrative support for smooth and successful outcomes.
  • Work with Operations Director and Conference Chairs to organize conference content worksheets and communication systems.
  • Assemble and record contact information for and provide logistics to volunteer speakers contributing to BuildingEnergy Boston, BuildingEnergy NYC, and The BuildingEnergy Bottom Lines Business Summit.
  • Work with track chairs to confirm speakers and contact rejected speakers.
  • Assemble, send and collect signed contracts for workshop speakers, as well as release forms for all speakers.
  • Upload to nesea.org and conference app, sessions and workshop titles, descriptions, speakers’ names, bios and photos

Coordinate Registration

  • For BuildingEnergy Boston, BuildingEnergy NYC, and other NESEA events:
  • Help oversee the development of online registration pages
  • Provide customer service to people with inquiries about the registration process
  • Process registrations online
  • Design and print attendee name badges
  • Maintain badge stock and ribbon inventory
  • Generally support the whole registration process
  • Coordinate on-site registration support

Coordinate Continuing Education Credits

  • Understand, maintain, and keep updated NESEA’s CEU program
  • Collect learning objectives for all educational opportunities
  • Apply for CEUs in timely, accurate manner
  • Issue certificates to appropriate participants

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

  • Detail oriented, highly organized, ability to multi-task and be flexible.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google products, Dropbox, and other digital collaboration tools.
  • Highly developed customer service and problem solving skills.
  • Ability to work efficiently and effectively with staff teams and a diverse group of NESEA members.
  • Ability to work with NESEA work plans and timelines.
  • Commitment to the overall sustainability of NESEA and its mission.
  • Desire to learn about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and whole systems thinking.
  • Availability and willingness to travel regionally.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

  • Four-year degree preferred.
  • At least 3 to 5 years of experience in a nonprofit association or small business desired.
  • Demonstrated track record in establishing and maintaining constructive communications and healthy working relationships.

COMPENSATION

  • $16.50/hour, 40 hours/week
  • Eligible for health insurance after 90 days of employment
  • 4 weeks (160 hours) paid time off (combined paid and sick time, start accruing after first pay period)
  • 13 paid holidays
  • Eligible for 401k after 90 days (organization will match up to 3%)

HOW TO APPLY

  • Send an email to jobs@nesea.org, subject line “Conference Coordinator”
  • In the email, tell us what super-powers you possess, why you’re interested in the job, and why you think you’d be a good fit
  • Attach your resume
  • Additional points if you have prior event planning and cat herding experience

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Christodora/Manice Education Center (MEC) – Various positions

Christodora’s goal is to build leadership skills and academic success through an awareness and understanding of the natural environment. Christodora’s Manice Education Center (MEC), located in a pristine outdoor setting in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, is hiring a number of positions. Follow the links below for more information. MEC annually serves approximately 850 youth with an array of programs, including 3-day field trips for NYC schools, and 1-3 week summer camping programs that have a focus on backpacking and canoeing expeditions.

Assistant Director

Wilderness Program Supervisor

Logistics Coordinator

Outdoor Education Camp Counselor

Outdoor Education Resident Camp Assistant Counselor

AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Resident Camp Assistant Counselor

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Land Protection Specialist – Western/Central MA Mass Audubon

Location: Easthampton, MA
Sanctuary: Arcadia
Works under the supervision of the Director of Land Protection, and with other Mass Audubon Land Protection department staff, to identify, evaluate and implement land protection projects – with primary focus on central/western MA – consistent with Mass Audubon land protection policy and procedures.

ResponsibilitiesPrimary

  • Negotiate with private landowners, public agencies, businesses, and other organizations concerning land acquisitions, transfers and sales.
  • Provide technical assistance to private landowners and conservation partners regarding conservation options and techniques.
  • Assist with development of baseline information, monitoring and record keeping relative to Conservation Restrictions (CR’s) held by Mass Audubon.
  • Provide advice and assistance to Mass Audubon staff, Board, volunteers and sanctuary committees on land protection issues.
  • Evaluate land protection proposals to ensure consistency with Mass Audubon policies and objectives.
  • Assist with duties relative to system for tracking existing Mass Audubon land holdings and conservation restrictions.
  • Promote the financial and legal advantages of land conservation with donors and sellers, promote gifts and bargain sales of land.
  • Ensure the timely and accurate completion of tasks required to acquire and dispose of land or interests in land, including the preparation of administrative, financial and legal documents.
  • Prepare written reports, proposals and plans as required.
  • Attend department meetings and serve on committees as requested by Director.
  • Provide training for Mass Audubon staff on land protection issues.

Fundraising

  • Seek out and promote gifts and grants to support Mass Audubon land protection efforts.

Budget Development and Management

  • Assist in the preparation and implementation of an operating budget for land protection, and make recommendations on capital budget allocations for land.

Community Relations

  • Respond to public and media inquiries on land issues. Assist in the preparation of public relations material.

Property

  • Help assess the maintenance and security aspects of proposed land and building acquisitions and present recommendations to Director. Conduct initial Environmental Site Assessments on properties.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in natural resource management, land use planning, business, biological sciences or related field.
  • Three years experience in land conservation/planning, real estate, or business in a related natural resource field.
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills.
  • Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook).
  • Valid driver’s license, and willingness to travel frequently in western/central MA and throughout the state,
  • Ability to traverse a variety of terrain (hilly, wooded, rocky, marshy) on foot.
  • Must pass a background records check (CORI, SORI and driver’s).
Compensation and Benefits Competitive salary and full benefits package.
How to Apply Please email your resume and cover letter to:
Elaine Kile
Job# 2657
Location: Lincoln, MA
Sanctuary: Lincoln Headquarters
Works under the supervision of the Director of Land Protection, and with other Mass Audubon Land Protection department staff, to identify, evaluate and implement land protection projects consistent with Mass Audubon land protection policy and procedures.

Responsibilities

  • Negotiate with private landowners, public agencies, businesses, and other organizations concerning land acquisitions, transfers and sales.
  • Provide technical assistance to private landowners and conservation partners regarding conservation options and techniques.
  • Assist with development of baseline information, monitoring and record keeping relative to Conservation Restrictions (CR’s) held by Mass Audubon.
  • Provide advice and assistance to Mass Audubon staff, Board, volunteers and sanctuary committees on land protection issues.
  • Evaluate land protection proposals to ensure consistency with Mass Audubon policies and objectives.
  • Assist with duties relative to system for tracking existing Mass Audubon land holdings and conservation restrictions.
  • Promote the financial and legal advantages of land conservation with donors and sellers, promote gifts and bargain sales of land.
  • Ensure the timely and accurate completion of tasks required to acquire and dispose of land or interests in land, including the preparation of administrative, financial and legal documents.
  • Prepare written reports, proposals and plans as required.
  • Attend department meetings and serve on committees as requested by Director.
  • Provide training for Mass Audubon staff on land protection issues.

Fundraising:

  • Seek out and promote gifts and grants to support Mass Audubon land protection efforts.

Budget Development and Management:

  • Assist in the preparation and implementation of an operating budget for land protection, and make recommendations on capital budget allocations for land.

Community Relations:

  • Respond to public and media inquiries on land issues. Assist in the preparation of public relations material.

Property:

  • Help assess the maintenance and security aspects of proposed land and building acquisitions and present recommendations to Director. Conduct initial Environmental Site Assessments on properties.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in natural resource management, land use planning, business, biological sciences or related field.
  • Three years experience in land conservation/planning, real estate, or business in a related natural resource field.
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills.
  • Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook).
  • Valid driver’s license, and willingness to travel frequently and extensively throughout the state,
  • Ability to traverse a variety of terrain (hilly, wooded, rocky, marshy) on foot.
  • Must pass a background records check (CORI, SORI and driver’s).
Compensation and Benefits Competitive salary and full benefits package.
How to Apply Please email your cover letter and resume to:
Elaine Kile
Job# 2616

Ecological Restoration Specialist (Environmental Analyst II)
Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration

Date of posting: 12/15/15 Closing: The position will remain open until filled.  However, first consideration will be given to those candidates that apply within the first 14 days. The Ecological Restoration Specialist (Environmental Analyst II) serves a dual role as a wetland ecologist and ecological restoration project manager.  As a wetland ecologist, the Restoration Specialist will serve as a technical expert in support of DER’s work, from flow restoration to river and wetland restoration and salt marsh restoration. As a project manager, the position will manage an interdisciplinary suite of ecological restoration projects. The position manages project development and implementation activities for 7-10 active projects at any given time.  The Restoration Specialist’s project management portfolio may include salt marsh restoration, freshwater wetland restoration, stream continuity, river restoration, or other project types to be determined based on future needs.  Interested candidates can learn more about DER and view the full job announcement here: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/der/ To apply online, please visit the MassCareers website at https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=150002F7. For more information about the position, please contact Beth Lambert at beth.lambert@state.ma.us or 617-626-1526. return to top

 

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